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 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
Academically, I majored in marketing and even with how much marketing has evolved socially/digitally since my time at Saint Leo, I use so much of what I learned every single day. My international business courses have absolutely come in handy when doing business in other territories and overseas, knowing when I have to adjust to different standards.
Joey Gandolfo, class of 2008
Saint Leo was a smaller and more intimate environment than many other institutions. That intimacy helped to reinforce the value of building relationships that has stayed with me and benefitted my career.
Davion Cooper, class of 2011
I feel a natural and symbolic connection to the core values of the college and my own Catholic values. Saint Leo really lives up to its reputation for promoting a values-based education through the core values.
Lauren Boos, class of 2019
I think the sense of community at Saint Leo, the teachers, and those working with Saint Leo in many capacities, truly prepare their graduate and undergraduate students to become teachers and administrators. I don’t know of any other university where you get that sense of community. Even with the online programs, there is that feeling of being a part of the community.
Mike Lastra, class of 2015
My experience at Saint Leo was amazing. I had the flexibility to learn from home, while at the same time, having an available teacher to help me when I became stuck or confused. The fact that I completed my degree while working full time, raising two little kids, and being a wife to my husband. The focus that I had while completing my degree, to me, is a huge accomplishment.
Retania Patterson | Online Health Care Management Program
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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.
