Educational Leadership

Doctor of Philosophy

College of Education

PhDEducationLeadership & InfluenceEquity & InclusionIn-Person
Back to Programs

Advance your career with a PhD in Educational Leadership

DePaul’s PhD in Educational Leadership program will prepare you with the skills you need to effectively lead organizations and implement systemic change within them. As a trained leader in education, you’ll learn to drive change and organizational growth with innovation and meaning.

In program coursework, you’ll

  • apply critical thinking and scholarship that involve equity and social justice
  • gain a comprehensive knowledge of the field and of research design and methods, with an emphasis on a particular area of interest
  • connect theory with practice, often in non-traditional and unconventional ways

As you pursue your PhD in Educational Leadership, you’ll choose one of two concentrations.

  • The General Concentration provides a rich knowledge base to analyze administrative practices with a focus on pre-K–12 education or any education related field.
  • The Higher Education concentration focuses on the specific needs of higher education institutions. You’ll be prepared for a leadership, administrative, policy or management position at a college or university or any related field.

In our PhD in Educational Leadership program, endorsements are available for principal licensure and superintendent licensure.

Lead your students to success

DePaul partners with Chicago Public Schools, the fourth-largest public school district in the country. We also have close ties with the Archdiocese of Chicago (the nation’s largest private school system), as well as suburban public, independent and charter schools throughout the Chicago area. Our long-standing relationships with these schools and systems will provide you with access to leaders in the field who can help guide your career.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Priority deadlines for scholarships are:

  • Fall: August 15
  • Winter: December 1
  • Spring: March 1
  • Summer: May 1
Admission Requirements
Submit an online application, official transcripts, résumé, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a writing sample.
Learn More
Required Courses
You’ll take six core courses, five research courses, an elective, five concentration courses and two dissertation courses.
Learn More
No.4
DePaul’s Educational Leadership doctoral program stands as the 4th largest in the country.

Alumni Network

As a trained leader in education, you join a community of educators in administration as principals, curriculum directors and superintendents, and directors of enrollment systems. Educational Leadership graduates are employed at a wide range of Chicago-area universities, community colleges, school districts, and private and public schools.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Learn More

Contact Information

For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission for DePaul’s College of Education at (773) 325-4405 or edgradadmissions@depaul.edu.

Take the next step

We’ll send you information about the degree, admission requirements and upcoming info sessions. Let’s get started.

Classes

      Career Options

      Career
      96%

      of Educational Leadership graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

      ExploreRelated Programs
      View All Programs
      loading
      347cbc9b84f860c4ee2f7560b7cc35d3d03e99ba.jpg

      Request Information today, start your future tomorrow

      Fill out this form.