If you've already demonstrated leadership skills in diverse educational settings, consider taking your career to the next level with a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
Why Study Educational Leadership?
Improving education is a national priority. We want to help you confront these challenges through innovation and excellence.
This program is designed to cultivate a strong network of school and college administrators to create change in teaching and learning. It's time to improve student achievement experiences in California and across the country.
Why Study Educational Leadership at CSUN?
Training California's Best Teachers
We're the #1 university for preparing public school teachers in California and each year our alumni are among the LAUSD Teacher of the Year award winners.
Inclusive Education and Equity-Focused Leader
We’re nationally known as a leader in inclusive education. We train teachers and administrators who engage in inclusive and equity-focused education. Our educators are ready to thrive across diverse, dynamic Southern California school districts.
Faculty Who Inspire
You won’t just be another face in a lecture hall — you’ll get to know your faculty members who are just as passionate about mentoring their students as you are about yours.
The Cohort Model
Our Educational Leadership Doctoral Program is based on the cohort model where a group of students moves through all classes and phases of the program together. This program uniquely offers two cohort strands:
- Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12
- Community College and Higher Education
As you move through these cohorts, you'll benefit from mutual academic, emotional, and logistical support from your colleagues. The collaborative learning and camaraderie helps you form long-lasting ties and professional networks.
What You'll Learn
Doctoral study is an intense, three-year experience. The academic expectations are higher, and there's a stronger focus on research. Thus, there is a larger time commitment than other graduate programs.
Advanced Knowledge and Skills
As a part of this program, you will study educational problems in-depth. You'll graduate with strong academic, analytical, writing, and research skills.
Collaborative Learning
Our faculty collaborates with community partners to offer the latest educational research and best practices to design relevant curriculum for every doctoral student. You'll take courses with colleagues working in organizations like yours, learning from one another as well as professors and mentors in the field.
Dissertation
Every student in this program completes a dissertation based on a review of literature and independent research. You'll explore a problem related to educational leadership, student achievement, and school/community college improvement.
You'll receive guidance on planning, researching and writing your dissertation through research methods courses, weekend seminars, and meetings with the chair of your dissertation committee.
Careers & Outcomes
Graduates of our doctoral program have obtained advanced teaching roles in the following school districts and charter networks, community colleges, and universities:
- Coordinator, assistant principal, and principal at a school site
- Assistant director, director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent at a school district
- Program coordinator, assistant director, and director at a community college or university
- Assistant dean, associate dean, dean, vice president, and president of a community college or university
- Professor of educational leadership (depending on terminal degree requirements)
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a doctoral student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Doctor of Education.
- Apply to both the university and the specific doctorate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a doctoral program at CSUN.