Dec 07, 2025  
2025-2026 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2025-2026 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Leadership, Ed.D.

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. There are two options to complete the program differing  in structure, credit requirements, and culminating projects.

Traditional Research Option
The traditional research option requires students to complete 61 semester credits. This includes coursework in leadership, education, research, and a selection of contextual electives. After completing their coursework, students must pass a comprehensive examination before writing a dissertation on a relevant topic.

Executive Option
The executive option requires students to complete 39 semester credits. This includes coursework in leadership and education, along with a capstone project that integrates the student’s professional experience, academic learning, and future goals. Designed for mid- to senior-level professionals with significant leadership experience, this option focuses on developing practical solutions to complex professional challenges.

Program Outcomes

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

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

Program Structure and Delivery

Students can choose from two curricular options: a traditional research option with a dissertation (61 credits) or an executive option with a capstone (39 credits). The executive option program is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals with significant leadership experience who are seeking to create solutions to complex professional challenges and has special admission requirements.

Both Doctor of Education options are delivered in an online format. Students participating in the traditional research option participate in three, four day (Wednesday - Saturday) summer residencies at the Minneapolis Campus.

Degree Requirements

Option 1: Traditional research (with dissertation)   

Option 2: Executive (with capstone)   

Faculty

Faculty members and advisers for the Doctor 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 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:

  1. Completed application form and,
  2. 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).
  3. All applicants for the traditional research option (with dissertation) must submit a statement of purpose 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.
  4. All applicants for the Executive option (with capstone) must submit a statement of purpose which includes:
    1. How their career trajectory through this program will make a difference in their organization and the community; in other words how this work will have a broader impact and,
    2. Given an example (outline) of a significant proposal for change; one they will have done or could do that shows their capacity to develop significant change projects and have the necessary support and resources accessible to implement such plans.
  5. One letter of recommendation that verifies professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability and,
  6. 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 Minneapolis Campus.

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