Program Curriculum

Instructional Leadership Program

This terminal degree program is designed for school leaders to obtain their Ed.D and superintendent credentials in three years. The P12 (preschool through grade 12) School District Superintendent Certificate is embedded in the first year of the program. The superintendent credential is followed by two years of advanced leadership and research course work. The program culminates with two job-embedded applied projects focused on program evaluation and instructional leadership equity impacts in P12 schools and districts.

Ed.D with Superintendent Certification Degree Requirements

• 60 Semester Hours

Superintendent Strand (16 semester hours)

• EDUC 741: Educational Law, Policy, and Governance (2)
• EDUC 742: Human Resources in K-12 (2)
• EDUC 743: Educational Finance in P12 (2)
• EDUC 795a: Executive Leadership Internship I (1), taken three times for a total of 3 credits
• EDUC 744: Community & Family Engagement (2)
• EDUC 745 School Board Relations (1)
• EDUC 746: Crisis, Conflict, Emergency Management (2)
• EDUC 747: Central Office and Programmatic Leadership (2)

Educational Leadership Strand (18 semester hours)

• EDUC 700: Educational/Instructional Leadership Orientation & Introduction (3)
• EDUC 731: Educational Leadership: Instructional Leadership (3)
• EDUC 732: Current Trends and Challenges in Educational Leadership (3)
• EDUC 760: Evaluation and Supervision in Educational Leadership (2)
• EDUC 761: Educational Leadership: Equity and Social Justice (3)
• EDUC 762: Educational Leadership: Systems Leadership (3)
• EDUC 763: Collaboration and Contributions to the Profession (1)

Applied Research Strand (26 semester hours)

• EDUC 701: Educational Research I (4)
• EDUC 711: Educational Research II: Qualitative Research (2)
• EDUC 721: Educational Research III: Program Evaluation (2)
• EDUC 790: Program Evaluation Applied Project & Seminar (3)
• EDUC 791: Program Evaluation Applied Project & Seminar (4)
• EDUC 792: Applied Project Seminar (2)
• EDUC 793: Instructional Leadership & Equity Applied Project & Seminar (4)
• EDUC 794: Instructional Leadership & Equity Applied Project & Seminar (5)

Continuation Requirements:

To continue in the program, a candidate must maintain a 3.0 GPA, demonstrate dispositions in line with the NELP standards and those published by the Education Department, and successfully complete the Superintendent Portfolio and each Applied Project.

Program Requirements for Washington State Superintendent Certification

Candidates who successfully complete a program of professional studies in the department, who meet all related academic requirements for a degree or a certificate, and who meet all state requirements will be recommended by the department for a Washington State superintendent certificate.

Specific requirements for the Superintendent Certificate include completion of a supervised internship of 360 hours and completion of a professional portfolio.

Additional state requirements include a minimum age of 18, good moral character and personal fitness as evidenced by completion of Washington State Patrol/FBI background check via fingerprint clearance, completion of state certification application and payment of state certification fee.

Information regarding all state requirements and procedures for certification is available from the certification officer in the department. State requirements are subject to immediate change, candidates should meet with department advisors each semester and the certification officer for updates in program or application requirements.

Advanced Instructional Leadership Program

This program track is designed for individuals who have already completed a Superintendent credential program at another PESB approved administrator program.

Ed.D for Certified Superintendent’s Degree Requirements

• 47 Semester Hours

Advanced Educational Leadership Strand (3 semester hours)

• EDUC 795a: Executive Leadership Internship (1), taken three times for a total of 3 credits

Educational Leadership Strand (18 semester hours)

• EDUC 700: Educational/Instructional Leadership Orientation & Introduction (3)
• EDUC 731: Educational Leadership: Instructional Leadership (3)
• EDUC 732: Current Trends and Challenges in Educational Leadership (3)
• EDUC 760: Evaluation and Supervision in Educational Leadership (2)
• EDUC 761: Educational Leadership: Equity and Social Justice (3)
• EDUC 762: Educational Leadership: Systems Leadership (3)
• EDUC 763: Collaboration and Contributions to the Profession (1)

Applied Research Strand (26 semester hours)

• EDUC 701:Educational Research I (4)
• EDUC 711: Educational Research II: Qualitative Research (2)
• EDUC 721: Educational Research III: Program Evaluation (2)
• EDUC 790: Program Evaluation Applied Project & Seminar (3)
• EDUC 791: Program Evaluation Applied Project & Seminar (4)
• EDUC 792: Applied Project Seminar (2)
• EDUC 793: Instructional Leadership & Equity Applied Project & Seminar (4)
• EDUC 794: Instructional Leadership & Equity Applied Project & Seminar (5)