Before earning an Ed.D., all doctoral applicants must obtain an education specialist (Ed.S.) degree from a regionally accredited institution or have completed 30 hours beyond a master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university. We offer an excellent opportunity through our Ed.S. program in Instructional Leadership. Should you need to obtain your Ed.S. degree, please contact us and we will be more than happy to share more information with you.

Through the 36–hour curriculum, candidates will explore the following concepts:

• The origin of policy issues, the educational policy infrastructure, and the interrelationship of education policy to school practice.
• Best practice for designing and implementing research methodologies, reading and interpreting research reports, and developing strategies for converting research into action.
• Authentic problems of practice in a field-based environment.
• The art and practice of negotiation and conflict resolution.
• How to implement a central focus on helping students articulate an explicit set of values and beliefs to guide their actions.
• Emerging organizational behavior theory and its application to the development of the school and school system of the future.

Students must complete 36 credit hours and maintain a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA while enrolled in the Ed.D program at Orlean Beeson School of Education. Please view our full list of completion requirements.

For more information about the graduate courses and electives offered at Orlean Beeson School of Education, please visit Orlean Beeson School of Education’s section of the Samford University Catalog.

View Curriculum

Application Deadlines

Fall term: July 15
Spring term: November 15

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program you must either:

• Possess an educational specialist degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Complete 30 hours beyond a master's degree (in any field from a regionally accredited college or university)

For an application to be considered complete, we must receive all of the following*:

• Online application for admission: Please be sure to list your personal e-mail address on the application
• $35 Application Fee: This non-refundable fee is payable by credit card and is waived for Samford alumni, and current Samford students, faculty or staff
• Official Transcripts showing bachelor’s, master’s and educational specialist’s degree. Transcripts are considered official only when they bear the issuing institution’s seal and arrive with the seal intact. Transcripts can be sent electronically to kbgilrea@samford.edu or by mail
• Dispositions form filled out by current supervisor. May not be the same contact as the letter of recommendation
• Letter of recommendation: one letter of recommendation uploaded to online application
• Professional resume
• Writing Sample: highlight one problem facing education today
• Interview with program director

To check the status of application items, you may login to your application account and view the list of application items received.

Apply Now

This program is designed for professionals with a passion for education and an unwavering belief in the importance of leadership development. If you have a desire to serve the education system in an administrative role, join this program and be pushed to your greatest potential.

Samford created a personalized learning experience that prepared me to be a better educational leader. I expanded my knowledge base with expert professors in their field and made many personal and professional connections. -- Wendy Story M.S.E. Instructional Leadership '13, Ed.S. '17, Doctoral Candidate

Our candidates are highly sought after, and many alumni are currently serving in notable leadership positions.

December 2020

Dissertation Title: Teacher Retention in Alabama's Urban Schools: A Quantitative Study
Student: Janelle Cousins-Billings
Chair: Dr. Les Ennis

Dissertation Title: An Analysis of Factors that Impact Special Needs Programming in Christian Churches
Student: Johanna Jones
Chair: Dr. Jane Cobia

Dissertation Title: Secondary and Post-Secondary Instructors' Perceptions of College Readiness in Gateway English
Student: Haley Nix, Eugene Dallas
Chair: Dr. Jane Cobia

Dissertation Title: Promoting Resilience in Teachers: An Examination of a Program Designed to Improve Teachers' Social-Emotional Competence
Student: Jessica Williams, Benjamin Styles
Chair: Dr. Mary Yakimowski

Dissertation Title: Educators' Beliefs on Evidence-Based Problem-Solving Mathematical Practices in High and Low Performing Urban Elementary Title I
Student: Ann Eskridge, Kenya Hall, Robert Stewart
Chair: Dr. Mary Yakimowski

Dissertation Title: A Case Study Exploring the Mindsets of Those in Residential Group Homes and Perceptions of Teachers and Students
Student: Meghan Owens, Ken Thornbrough
Chair: Dr. Mary Yakimowski

Dissertation Title: Teachers’ Perception of Social Emotional Learning: A Qualitative Study of Academically Successful Middle Schools with Low Socio-Economic Status 
Student: LaTausha Daniels, Dedre Warren, Angela Day
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

Dissertation Title: Educator Perspectives on the Most Useful Strategies for Minority Students in Acquiring Social-Emotional Learning Skills in an Urban School Setting: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Student: Catherine Finkley, Michelle Hayes
Chair: Dr. Les Ennis

Dissertation Title: Teachers Perceptions of Principal Leadership Styles in Schools with Effective Character Education Programs 
Student: Thomasena Garner, Edwards Williams
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

Dissertation Title: Exploring Educators' Lived Experiences of Facility Dogs in Elementary Schools: A Phenomenological Study
Student: Wendy Story, Laura Tate
Chair: Dr. Amy Benton

Dissertation Title: Implementation Of and Support For Comprehensive School Counseling Programs: An Examination of Alabama Program of Distinction Recipient
Student: Daniel Birdsong
Chair: Dr. Mary Yakimowski

Dissertation Title: Instructional Coaches in the High School Setting: Their Role, Relationships, and Influence on Teacher and Student Learning
Student: Brad Cooper, Mark Edwards, Brad Stapler
Chair: Dr. Mary Yakimowski

August 2020

Dissertation Title: Principals’ Perceptions of Essential Dispositions in Beginning Teachers
Student: Leathan Waid, Jonathan Morrison, Justin Stephenson
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

 Dissertation Title: Impact of STEM Certified Schools on Middle School Student Achievement
Student: Jamie Burton, Laura Junkin, Kevin Davis
Chair: Dr. Les Ennis

Dissertation Title: Teachers’ Perceptions of Practices in Nationally Recognized Schools of Character
Student: Keneisha Alford, Donna Brumlow
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

Dissertation Title: The Application of Aversion Strategies to Prevent School Violence
Student: Waller Martin, Charlie Gardner, John Rhodarmer
Chair: Dr. Jane Cobia

Dissertation Title: Chasing Equal: Examining Perceived Barriers of Black Women Aspiring to the Superintendency in Alabama
Student: Marie Feagins
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

May 2020

Dissertation Title: Instructional Practices in Title I Schools with High Performance in Third-Grade Reading
Student: Rhonda M. Booth and Rachel R. Evans
Chair: Dr. Jodi Newton

Dissertation Title: A Mixed-Method Study Examining Transformational Leadership on Elementary School Culture from Multiple Perspectives
Student: Evelyn Coffey, Leslie Maples and LaKeeta Perkins
Chair: Dr. Mary E. Yakimowski

Dissertation Title: A Study of Teacher Perceptions on the Impact of Technology-Enhanced Practices and Student Engagement
Student: Dawn Mann and Brandon Mann
Chair: Dr. Jane Cobia

Tuition

Please visit our Tuition and Fees page for more information, or contact the Graduate Admissions Coordinator.

Financial Aid

A financial assistance program administered by Samford One Stop has been established to aid students in attending Samford University.

Education students have the ability to utilize Stafford Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. As an education student, a FAFSA is required to receive either of these loans.

To learn more about financial aid options, please visit the Samford One Stop or call 205-726-2905.