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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
This K-12 educational leadership emphasis program enables you to explore key concepts in leadership practices, ethical stewardship and K-12 community building.
In your coursework, you will be taught the following topic areas:
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
We strive to make higher education as accessible as possible for working professionals. You can complete your coursework online1 using our intuitive e-learning management system, which offers opportunities for collaboration and intellectual discussions as well as access to your course materials. The online1 courses are designed to offer a flexible and convenient approach to doctoral learning.
The majority of this degree can be completed online,1 including your courses. You can also design and conduct your dissertation research remotely. However, you will need to travel to our campus in the Phoenix for in-person residencies, which are designed to provide close mentorship and hands-on experience.
Up to 9 doctoral credits
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Doctoral)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
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.
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.
