Program: Leadership, Ed.D. - Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Apr 17, 2025

2019-2020 SGPP Catalog and Handbook

Program Description

The Doctor of Education in Leadership (Ed. D.) is a practitioner‐oriented program with a curriculum and schedule designed around the needs of adult learners. In order to meet the requirements of the degree, students must complete a minimum of 61 semester credits. This will include coursework in leadership, education, research, and a choice of contextual electives. After completion of their coursework, students will be required to pass a comprehensive examination before writing a dissertation on a relevant topic.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Education in Leadership program are expected to able to do the following:

Communicate effectively.
Engage in complex critical thinking.
Engage others with justice, empathy, compassion, and cultural competence.
Become capable contributors to our knowledge.
Create and nurture learning organizations.
Lead appropriate organizational change.
Operate in a complex, global environment.
Demonstrate leadership competencies.

Program Structure and Delivery

The program is delivered in one of two ways, face-to-face or in a blended format. Students in the blended format participate in three, five day (Thursday-Monday) summer residencies at the Twin Cities Campus, with online courses during the rest of the terms..

Degree Requirements

Required Orientation	0 cr.
Required Organizational Leadership Core	12 cr.
Required Education Core	15 cr.
Required Inquiry Core	12 cr.
Contextual Electives	9 cr.
Required Summative Activities	13 cr.
Total	61 cr.

Required Orientation

EDD800 Student Orientation (0 cr.)

Required Organizational Leadership Core (12 cr)

Required Education Core (15 cr)

Required Inquiry Core (12 cr)

Contextual Electives (9 cr)

Required Summative Activities (13 cr)

Faculty

Faculty members and advisers for the Doctorate of Education in Leadership program have earned doctorate or equivalent preparation in the areas they teach. Faculty members are selected for their combination of educational and professional expertise.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to specialist degree and doctorate degree programs at any time during the year. A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants must complete an interview with the program administrators as part of the admission process.

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel) and,
An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor and master degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits.(An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must have a course-by-course evaluation completed from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org). These would preferably be completed by World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators and must be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).
All applicants must submit a reflective essay which includes:
1. brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
2. statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and their reasons for seeking admission to this program and,
3. description of the areas which the applicant considers to be their strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
4. personal information the applicant wishes to share.
Three letters of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability and,
A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

Please note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Twin Cities Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403