EdD in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership Emphasis

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Degree Level

Doctoral

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Business

Program

EdD in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Qualitative)

Current Education Level

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Citizenship Status

U.S. Citizen

Military Affiliation

No military affiliation

Country

United States

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Overview

Dive Into Leadership Theories Designed to Make a Difference

Offered by Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies, the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in K-12 Leadership degree program teaches competency in ethics, research and theory with a focus on educational policy development, staffing, organizational leadership and instructional supervision.

The coursework strives to help you acquire core skills that are immediately applicable in the field. Using an analysis-driven approach, you will examine best practices in leadership that support teams at all levels and the maintenance of a diverse learning infrastructure.

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Qualitative Research)

Offered By

College of Doctoral Studies

Class Settings

Evening

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $750 per credit [More Info]

Evening: $750 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 60

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 9 doctoral credits

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Doctoral)

Doctoral Degree
3.4+ GPA*

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

Masters Degree
3.4 GPA**

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA less than 3.4 may be accepted with specifications.
** Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA between 3.0 - 3.39 may be accepted with specifications. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will not be accepted.

Why GCU

Earn Your Doctorate in Organizational Leadership

In our qualitative EdD in organizational leadership program, you will be expected to contribute to the body of knowledge in the field through the development of an original research study, which may allow you to gain insight into how and why people think and behave a certain way.

You will attend in-person residencies, during which you can work closely with faculty to shape the focus of your research and develop your dissertation. Residencies also provide opportunities to connect face-to-face with peers and benefit from the exchange of ideas from a diverse spectrum of perspectives. The dissertation process is integrated directly into the curriculum. This means you can begin your research right away.

Education professionals with a K-12 leadership emphasis can position themselves to lead and inspire others within the educational community. This qualitative degree program can empower you to pursue a variety of education-related career paths, such as that of an education and childcare administrator at the preschool through postsecondary level. However, please note that this is not a teacher or administrator certification program.

Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research

This doctoral degree program focuses on qualitative research, which teaches you how to critically examine events to better understand an observed phenomenon. In contrast, our quantitative program teaches how to examine and analyze events through numerical data.

Similar Program Offerings

Christian Ministry

Special Education

Health Care Administration

Coursework

Reflect Upon Ethical Decision-Making and Servant Leadership

We strive to graduate learners who are effective communicators and are able to convey complex information to a variety of stakeholders. We are a Christian school with an emphasis on professional ethics and the Christian worldview. In our program, you will be taught how to address the challenges faced by modern K-12 schools through a strong foundation of ethical leadership.

Core competencies covered and skills taught include:

Educational policy development

Ethical decision-making

Servant leadership

Organizational leadership

Staffing, including supervision at the building and district levels

Long-range strategic planning

Accreditation

Earn Your EdD at an Accredited University

GCU strives to prepare education leaders to effectively tackle modern challenges in school systems with a priority on professional ethics and integrity. We are proud to be an institutionally accredited university — a reflection of the quality of our education. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Doctoral Studies shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Before applying to online school leadership programs, you may have some questions about your degree options. Browse through the prompts, compiled to help guide you.

An EdD degree is a terminal degree. It is the highest level of academic achievement in the field, which means that earning this degree can be a way to establish your professional reputation and demonstrate your academic accomplishments. With a doctorate, you may be prepared to pursue any number of leadership positions in K-12 settings.

There is no universal timeframe for earning an EdD with a K-12 leadership emphasis, as every doctoral learner will have a slightly different experience. Your timeline to completion can depend on your course load, scheduling preferences, transfer credits and other factors that are unique to you. For personalized guidance on how long it might take to earn your degree, fill out the form on this page and request a consult with a university counselor.

Do you feel ready to pursue the next stage in your K-12 education career, and are you eager to apply innovative solutions to challenges in the workplace? If so, then an EdD could be worth it for you. An EdD will also allow you to conduct your own original research, which can provide valuable insights and add to the body of knowledge in the field.

An EdD degree with an emphasis in K-12 educational leadership can be a good choice for current educators who are interested in professional growth. It may also be a good choice for current administrators and other education professionals who are interested in potentially pursuing the next stage in their career.

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

Major60 credits

Degree Requirements60 credits

To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.

Core Courses

RES-815

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.

RES-820A

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.

LDR-800

3 Total Credits

LDR-825

3 Total Credits

RES-831

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.

RES-832

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.

RSD-851

3 Total Credits

EDL-807

3 Total Credits

EDL-812

3 Total Credits

EDL-822

3 Total Credits

RES-841

3 Total Credits

RES-843

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners differentiate the epistemological foundations and explore the data trustworthiness, research ethics, and potential for bias in descriptive, case study, and phenomenology research designs. The process of building a rationale for design choice and aligning the research questions, interview questions, problem statement, and purpose statement is addressed. Sources of qualitative data are introduced for each design, and ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-841.

LDR-804

3 Total Credits

RSD-883

3 Total Credits

EDL-827

3 Total Credits

DIS-955

3 Total Credits

RES-873

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners explore qualitative data collection techniques and sources of qualitative data in the context of answering the research questions posed by a study. Consideration is given to the recognition of data saturation and the management of data. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs to prepare a written statement of data collection, and management activities. Prerequisites: RES-843 and one of the following: DBA-955 or DIS-955 or DHA-955 or PSY-955 or PCE-955 or TLC-955.

DIS-960

3 Total Credits

RES-883

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of qualitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-873 and one of the following: DBA-960 or DIS-960 or DHA-960 or PSY-960 or PCE-960 or TLC-960.

DIS-965

3 Total Credits

Continuation Courses

The course identified above represent the minimum academic course requirements only. Most students will also need to take one or more of the following Research Continuation Courses to complete a dissertation. Research Continuation Courses are 3-credit courses charged at the standard doctoral per credit rate.

DIS-966E

3 Total Credits

DIS-967E

3 Total Credits

DIS-968E

3 Total Credits

DIS-969E

3 Total Credits

DIS-970E

3 Total Credits

DIS-971E

3 Total Credits

DIS-972E

3 Total Credits

DIS-973E

3 Total Credits

DIS-974E

3 Total Credits

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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Earn Your Doctorate in Education

Prepare to lead and inspire others in K-12 schools.

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If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

^§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-July2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in July 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.

¹ Program has residencies that take place on or near GCU's campus.

EdD in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership Emphasis

EdD in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership Emphasis

Dive Into Leadership Theories Designed to Make a Difference

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Qualitative Research)

Earn Your Doctorate in Organizational Leadership

Flexible, Online Learning for Busy Professionals

Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research

Reflect Upon Ethical Decision-Making and Servant Leadership

Doctoral Curriculum Designed for K-12 Education

Earn Your EdD at an Accredited University

Frequently Asked Questions

Course List

Earn Your Doctorate in Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research

Earn Your Doctorate in Organizational Leadership

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Qualitative Research)

Earn Your Doctorate in Education

Flexible, Online Learning for Busy Professionals

Course List