May 19, 2026  
2026-2027 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2026-2027 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Leadership, Ed.D.

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Program Description

Rooted in Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Catholic Lasallian heritage, the Doctor of Education in Leadership program is designed for experienced professionals and emerging scholars across education, healthcare, nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors who are committed to leading meaningful change within complex organizations and systems.     

The program fosters a collaborative and inclusive learning community that values the dignity and potential of every individual. Through a culturally, socially, and intellectually diverse environment, students are supported in their academic and professional growth while engaging in purposeful dialogue, reflection, and shared inquiry. Through a comprehensive and intentionally designed curriculum, students build leadership competencies, research expertise, and the ability to design and evaluate solutions that improve learning and organizational effectiveness. Graduates are prepared to lead across diverse systems with purpose, collaboration, and a commitment to equity and organizational effectiveness.

The program includes two curricular pathway options; the Ed.D. Executive Leadership pathway and the Ed.D. Traditional Research pathway. Executive Leadership graduates emerge as experienced change agents who translate doctoral learning into immediate organizational impact, expanding their influence from individual roles to systems and communities. Students demonstrate professional reflection and applied scholarship through the completion of a culminating Capstone Project that produces measurable organizational transformation.

Traditional Research Leadership graduates are prepared for advanced scholarly, leadership, and faculty roles, with strong research capacity, ethical grounding, and a long-term commitment to equity, access, and service in educational institutions and beyond. Students design and conduct original, methodologically rigorous research that contributes new knowledge to leadership and education and demonstrates depth in research design, analysis, and scholarly communication.

Program Outcomes

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

  1. Apply leadership theories and change frameworks to analyze and improve complex educational and organizational systems, with attention to ethics, effectiveness, sustainability, and human flourishing. 
  2. Demonstrate ethical, culturally responsive leadership that advances equity and responsible financial stewardship across diverse educational and organizational systems.
  3. Integrate adult learning, instructional design, assessment, and organizational learning theories to create environments that support professional growth and continuous improvement. 
  4. Employ research methods, data analytics, and assessment practices to evaluate programs and inform evidence-based decision-making.
  5. Demonstrate professional reflection and applied scholarship to produce measurable organizational transformation (executive); to design and conduct original, methodologically rigorous research that contributes new knowledge to the field (traditional research).

Program Structure and Delivery

Students may pursue the Doctor of Education through one of two curricular pathways:The Doctor of Education in Leadership is an online program. The program is cohort-based to foster professional networking and collaboration.

Degree Requirements

Students may pursue one of two curricular pathways:

Option 1: Leadership, Ed.D. Executive : 

  • 39 credits
  • ​Applied Capstone Project (in lieu of a dissertation)

Option 2: Leadership, Ed.D. Traditional Research :

  • 55 credits
  • Structured preparation for Comprehensive Exam, Proposal Development, and Dissertation Completion

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, with a start in either May or September. 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: 
    a. brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
    b. statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and their reasons for seeking admission to this program and,
    c. 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,
    d. personal information the applicant wishes to share.

  4. All applicants for the Executive option (with capstone) must submit a statement of purpose which includes: 
    a. 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,
    b. Give 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.
    c. One letter of recommendation that verifies professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability and,
    d. 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

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