Why Earn Your Education Degree at Saint Leo University?
If you are ready to advance your teaching career, an online doctorate in education leadership at Saint Leo University will help you do just that. The College of Education & Social Services' online Doctorate in Education with concentration in School Leadership provides an advanced study program for those interested in furthering their education career, growing their knowledge base, and enhancing their professional practice.
Completing the online Doctorate in Education - EdD in School Leadership program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively engage educational stakeholders, promoting the success and achievement of students, schools, or other institutions. Graduates of Saint Leo’s EdD program become leaders in school and organizational change and improvement; knowledgeable leaders with the ability to use critical thinking skills to analyze and solve problems; create and sustain partnerships; effectively identify and apply components of action research, change theory, strategic planning and collaborative decision making.
Our EdD program graduates can expect to have acquired and refined the skills necessary for becoming organizational leaders, particularly, in the K-12 school setting. We're excited and honored for the privilege of taking part in this critical area of professional development. For this purpose, we are now offering the EdD through our flexible and convenient online format (along with one, on-campus residency held in July).
Learning Experience:
Online
Est. Time to Complete:
3-4 years
Credit Hours:
57 hours
Doctorate in Education Program Details
The online Doctorate in Education program is 57 hours with courses in fall, spring, and summer terms. Depending on each student's availability, our EdD School Leadership concentration can be completed in a three-year period.
Learn More: View Our Information Session
Learn Your Way:
Online, On Campus, or Near You
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What are the on-campus facilities like?
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
Education students enjoy plenty of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, as well as exciting departmental events.
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What are the benefits of earning your education degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
Are education centers near you offering education degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
What skills you will learn?
The online Doctorate in Education - EdD School Leadership concentration courses will prepare graduates to:
- Demonstrate the abilities required to complete applied research strategies
- Improve outcomes for students across all grades
- Lead schools and districts
- Manage change through data-informed decision making
- Facilitate successful teams of stakeholders, resulting in the ability to obtain and sustain school and student success
- Develop research-based school cultures that fully support successful student outcomes
- Identify needs, implement programs to address those needs, and sustain positive change based on data collection, analysis, and research
- Identify key components of human resource, finance, operations, transportation, and grant development for comprehensive support to student, school, and district outcomes
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How will you gain real experience?
This advanced degree prepares graduates for careers in school leadership by enhancing personal development related to:
Licensure Readiness
Students acquire the knowledge needed to pass state licensing exams, per each state’s Department of Education.
Elevating Results
Whether your goal is to engage adult learners, manage systemic change, assess progress through cyclic strategic planning, or all three - this program will provide the education necessary to be successful in all of these areas.
Access to the Most Current Information
The curriculum for our online Doctor of Education - School Leadership concentration adheres to the most recent national standards for educational administrators. Known as the Professional Standards for Education Leaders, or PSEL- the National Policy Board for Educational Administrators (NPBEA) has established these 10 principles to incorporate recent research for creating learning environments that deliver the most effective and consistent results for students.
What can you do with a doctorate in education degree?
Earning an EdD with a concentration in School Leadership qualifies graduates for a number of different career tracks. Some to consider are:
- School Superintendent
- Assistant Superintendent
- Director
- Principal
- Executive Director of an Organization
- Academic-Higher Education
What are the top education degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Administration | 8% (As fast as average) | $97,500 per year |
| School Executive | 8% (As fast as average) | $107,680 per year |
| Postsecondary Teacher | 12% (Faster than average) | $80,560 per year |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
College of Education & Social Services
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Saint Leo University’s College of Education and Social Services couples a transformative liberal arts tradition with highly specialized training in the education and social services fields. Through close faculty mentorships, practical field internships, and applied learning experiences, we prepare students for careers in education, social work, criminal justice, and human services. Our faculty remain active in their respective fields as researchers and practitioners, giving students close access to a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience.
With the ever-changing needs of today's students, we provide flexible degree programs. These include programs at University Campus and education centers with evening and weekend options, as well as online offerings. These degree programs are grooming the next generation of educators and social service specialists—a new breed of professionals with the talent and resolve to make a difference in the world.
Student Stories
"Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA program helped me immensely as a reader and a writer. Learning to read not only what is in a story, but paying careful attention to how it's written, is just one of the memorable gifts I received from this program's helpful faculty and encouraging environment."
Janna Correa, (Fiction, 2022)
This program allows growth as a writer and as a person. The experience was absurdly personal. Absurd because of the organic evolution fostered by its leadership and absurd because of the personal touches from the instructors. Why expect that? St. Leo is invested in its students. You get more than you bargained for.
Jimmy Sutman, (Poetry, 2022)
It can be intimidating to go back to school after decades of being in the workforce. But as a non-traditional student, I felt nothing but a warm welcome from Saint Leo faculty and my classmates. I started my first semester at another university and wasn't happy. I transferred to Saint Leo and learned more than I could have ever imagined in this program. Best decision I ever made. Thanks to my studies there, I'm getting ready to release my first book at the end of this year!
Lisa Moody, (Nonfiction, 2021)
Being a part of the Creative Writing program at Saint Leo was the right choice for me, as it allowed me to pursue my degree from another state while also working a full-time job. I was still able to have the invaluable experience of connecting with a group of like-minded writers through the in-person residency, and I still maintain those relationships today. Through your coursework in this program, you will both read and write quality work and have constant support and encouragement from professors who really do care about your future as a writer.
Susan Abercrombie, (Nonfiction, 2021)
I enjoyed the close-knit literary community that Saint Leo University provided in the Creative Writing Nonfiction program. The instructors are a very experienced, passionate, and supportive group. I am a confident and better writer because of the workshops, the effective and inspiring feedback from faculty, and peer support.
Tisha Arther, (Nonfiction, 2022)
When I started the MA in Creative Writing at Saint Leo University, I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know if I would be able to fit into the program. After I left my first day of residency, I never questioned the absolute certainty that I had finally found where I belonged as a writer. The faculty were knowledgeable and encouraging, my peers were talented and welcoming, and the university offered an experience catered to my success. Participating in this program absolutely changed the trajectory of my life - as both a student and educator.
Danielle Knight, (Fiction, 2020)
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Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.
