Educational Leadership and Administration

Chairperson: Elaine Radmer, Ph.D. 

The Department of Educational Leadership and Administration bases its graduate degree programs on the premise that leaders facilitate change first by examining themselves and understanding their context.  We believe educational settings are transformed when educators engage in inquiry together, informed by their community and by evidence.

This department offers a Master’s degree program one doctoral program and a Principal Certification program:  

• Master of Education in Educational Leadership
  • Washington State
  • On-line degree program
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
• Principal Certification 

Admissions to Master's programs

Selection of master's candidates is based on the information gathered from the materials identified below. Each applicant should submit the following materials to the Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) office:

1. A completed application form (see the School of Education website: http://www.gonzaga.edu/soe/grad)
2. A $50.00 non-refundable fee.
3. A written statement of purpose. Gonzaga University belongs to a long and distinguished tradition of humanistic, Catholic, and Jesuit education. The School of Education upholds the University tradition and exemplifies it through its dedication to preparing socially responsive professionals who serve with competence, commitment, and care. Additionally, the department’s mission is to prepare reflective educational leaders who promote student, professional, and organizational learning to address challenges and opportunities inherent in a changing world. With these perspectives in mind, please submit a typed statement of purpose that:
   1. Briefly describes your background.
   2. Describes why you are interested in the Gonzaga graduate program.
   3. Describes and gives examples of the strengths that you bring to the program that will help you as an educational leader.
   4. Describes leadership experiences that you have had in or out of the pre-K through 12 school setting.
   5. Describes and gives examples of your personal commitment to working with students, service to others, and advocating for all students.
   6. Shares with us what you expect to accomplish in acquiring a master's degree and what you hope you will accomplish once you have received your degree.
4. Two letters of recommendation, from recent supervisors, sent directly from the recommending persons to the Graduate Enrollment Management office with the Confidential Recommendation forms attached (see the School of Education website).
   1. Written Recommendation: Please write your letter of recommendation on school or district letterhead. It is crucial that you address all of the items; we score the candidate’s likelihood of success in graduate work and “fit” to our program against all of these criteria.
      1. Describe and give examples of the candidate’s ability to lead, or leadership experiences in the  pre-K through12 school setting.
      2. Describe and give examples of the candidate’s commitment to serving students.
      3. Describe and give examples of the candidate’s teaching ability.
      4. Describe and give examples of the candidate’s commitment to diversity and ability to advocate for the success of all students.
   2. Professional Dispositions: Please rate the candidate according to the scale five (5) strongly agree to one (1) strongly disagree. The last column on the rating sheet may be checked if you're feel you have “insufficient knowledge” of the candidate to make a judgment.
5. One official transcript from each college or university attended. International applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy. Final transcripts must bear a posted Bachelor’s degree. Only degrees and courses from a regionally accredited institution will be accepted.
6. A résumé that shows career history and highlights leadership experiences. List and describe any specific training and / or experiences you have had as a group / project leader, co-coordinator of change initiatives, or trainer. Please include length of service. Applicants, please structure your vita as shown below and explicitly address each of the bulleted items:
   • Work Experience: Describe your work history (most recent first), including location, length of service, and position
   • Professional Development/Training: List career related training and professional development programs completed within the past four years. Include the source of training, and the duration and year completed.
   • Technology Training: Briefly describe your level of training and experience in using information technology including computers, software, and telecommunications networks as tools for business, education, teaching, and personal use.
   • Volunteer/unpaid service: List and describe and voluntary/unpaid post-secondary employment and/or community service experience. Please include name of organization, length of service, and a brief description of duties.
   • Leadership Experience Please describe any specific training and/or experiences you have had as a group/project leader, co-coordinator of change initiatives, or as a trainer.
7. An official TOEFL score of at least 550 (minimum score of 80 if taken via Internet) by each international applicant who has graduated from a foreign college or university and whose native language is not English.

Prerequisite

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required and a minimum of three (3) years of teaching experience is preferred.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership - Washington State

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership Program is an integrated program for educators who aspire to be effective teacher leaders or administrative leaders. We believe that educational teams become stronger when greater understanding exists about the roles of each of its members. Because the program integrates content and professional standards appropriate to both teachers and administrators, candidates also may elect to complete their principal or program administrator certification in conjunction with the master’s program. Theory and practice are explored from the perspective of both teachers and administrators, and coursework is differentiated depending on the candidates’ career goals.

The program is designed for working educators with a focus on linking theory and research to practical issues in teaching and leadership using candidates' local districts as the context for their study. Candidates are admitted into a cohort of educators from their local areas and experience the benefits of a collaborative learning community. Faculty travel to the candidates’ location. Courses are held in the evenings or on weekends depending on the needs of the cohort. As candidates work on assignments for each of the program courses, they have the opportunity to explore issues important to them in their own classrooms, schools, and districts. Each cohort is assigned a faculty advisor who works with them through the entire program. Currently, the program is approved to be delivered in the State of Washington.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership - Online Master’s Degree Program

The Department of Educational Leadership and Administration offers a 30-credit online program which strives to develop reflective, educational leaders who are committed to a spirit of inquiry and social justice and who guide their communities toward a rich, equitable, and comprehensive education for all students.

The program is designed for practicing educators who aspire to become more effective formal and informal leaders in the K-12 environment. An educational leader’s key task is to foster learning for everyone in that environment.

The 30-credit program consists of 11 courses delivered across four consecutive semesters. The 11 courses in this program are designed to help educators develop the knowledge and skills that will help them create a school environment in which everyone can realize their potential.

This online master’s program is, at heart, a community of learners. To enhance this community of learners, this program is designed as a cohort model. Members of the cohort begin the program with online courses that are mostly asynchronous. The online coursework is enhanced by personal one-to-one support via Blackboard, e-mail, telephone, and teleconferencing throughout the program.  During the summer, the cohort will meet together for synchronous sessions for a week.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Program Outline: 30 credits

Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Principal or Program Administrative Certification is designed for those individuals that wish to complete their master's degree with certification in the State of Washington.

The Department offers the following certification program:

Principal Certification

The Department of Educational Leadership and Administration understands that school leaders face many challenges, including legislated learning, under-funded programs, and the demands of a global economy, and increasing pressures for school reform, assessment, and accountability. School leadership programs begin with the assumption that school leaders do more than provide effective supervision. Today’s school leaders also work with peers, administrators, and parents to achieve school, district, and state goals. Research on school leadership indicates that student achievement is heavily influenced by the ethos of the school. An effective school ethos is characterized by faculty collegiality, collaboration, and a sense of community in which leaders demonstrate the courage to address tough issues, the commitment and care to improve conditions for everyone in the community, and the individual, personal and technical competence to be effective.

Admissions

Selection of candidates is based on the information gathered from the materials identified below. Each applicant should submit the following materials to the Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) office:

1. A completed application form (see the School of Education website: http://www.gonzaga.edu/soe/grad)
2. Two letters of recommendation from Principal / Colleague
3. Two nomination letters from Superintendent and Principal
4. A copy of your résumé
5. A written statement of purpose
6. A copy of your teaching or ESA certificate from WA State
7. A copy of your abuse course taken.
8. One official transcript from all colleges or universities attended, one must be degree barring. International applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy. Final transcripts must bear a posted bachelor's degree from an accredited university.

Prerequisites

A Master’s Degree from an accredited institution, a valid teaching or ESA certificate, currently employed in a K-12 setting in the state of Washington, and a minimum of (three) 3 years of K-12 experience.

The Principal Certification Program consists of 12 credits

Program Outline:

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership is a cohort-based program that consists of 51 credits distributed across 7 semesters: three summer semesters and two academic years. This hybrid program will enable candidates to continue working in their professions as they complete their doctoral studies. Summer courses are delivered in traditional face-to-face instruction in Spokane; courses during the two academic years are delivered online.

Through the program, candidates will develop a five-chapter capstone that will be focused on identifying and dealing with a problem of practice on a scholarly and practical basis.  For the capstone projects, candidates will engage in scholarly inquiry to effectively leverage data in order to deal with a self-identified problem of professional practice. The capstone project is an evidence- based contribution to the problem of practice. Our short-hand term for the evidence- based contribution to the problem of practice is what we call “the deliverable.” The purpose of the deliverable is to make a positive system-wide impact on your problem of practice in your professional setting. The evidence-based contribution to the problem of practice can be developed and presented in whatever format you and the EdD faculty agree makes the most sense for your specific purpose and audience. Your work on your 5-chapter capstone, and your deliverable, will be supported by coursework and regular contact with doctoral advisors as well as communication with experts, practitioners, community members, and other stakeholders in the field. The program culminates with a presentation of the capstone project and a synthesis of the candidate’s work throughout the program.

Admissions

Admissions decisions will be made through the use of weighted criteria. The faculty of the EdD program will determine admission into the program based on a rubric-based evaluation of prior academic work, three recommendations, résumé, and a written statement. The weighted criteria for those elements will result in a decision to interview or not interview, either in person or via Skype or Zoom. 

In making our admission decisions, we consider the applicant’s leadership qualities, character, motivation, commitment to social justice through pre-K-12 education, ability to work independently and in teams, academic ability, and writing ability. Admission to this program requires a master’s degree or its equivalent and five (5) years of professional experience in the pre-K-12 school (or closely related) environment.

We gather this information through the following required application materials:

1. Evidence of a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in the pre-K-12 environment or other relevant educational experience.
2. Application form, in the EdD admissions packet, submitted to the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership in the School of Education.
3. Two official transcripts from the university at which highest degree was earned.
4. Evidence of an earned master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
5. Three letters of recommendation (two from current or recent supervisors, one from other stakeholder such as board member, university instructor, or community member, but NOT to include faculty who will teach in Gonzaga’s EdD program), all three of which are included in the EdD Application Packet. Please ensure that these three letters of recommendation adhere to  Department guidelines and are submitted directly from the recommending persons to the Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) office using the confidential recommendation forms (SOE website: School of Education). Department guidelines for letters of recommendation to the Doctoral program:
   1. Please write your letter of recommendation on school or district letterhead. It is crucial that you address all the items.
      1. Describe and give examples of the applicant’s ability to lead.
      2. Describe and give examples of the applicant’s leadership experiences in professional setting.
   2. Please attach the Confidential Recommendation forms in which you rate the candidate according to the scale five (5) strongly agree to one (1) strongly disagree. The last column on the rating sheet may be checked if you feel you have “insufficient knowledge” of the candidate to make a judgment. (See the School of Education website).
6. A current CV, vita, or résumé that adheres to the following Department guidelines:
   1. Identify your professional experience in the pre-K-12 environment or other relevant educational experience.
   2. Identify evidence of your leadership responsibilities with individuals, teams, departments, and/or committees.
   3. Identify your progression in the field with evidence of training, increasing responsibility in, or contribution to, the field, and/or volunteer service to the community.
7. A personal written statement of no more than 500 words. In this written statement, do these four things:
   1. Articulate your professional mission and purpose.
   2. Articulate what you expect to learn that will support you in your mission and purpose.
   3. Identify a problem of professional practice that you would like to address.
   4. Tell how addressing that problem will help you realize your mission and purpose.
8. An interview, via telephone, Zoom, Skype, or in person, with the Department Chair, Program Director, or another member of the EdD faculty.
9. A $50.00 non-refundable fee.

Gonzaga welcomes applications from international students. If you are an international student, please complete and include a Financial Declaration form, the Form I-20, a financial declaration form, and a copy of your passport picture page. Non-native English speaking students must present evidence of English proficiency sufficient for graduate-level work. Gonzaga University requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and that the official scores be sent from ETS. In lieu of the TOEFL*, Gonzaga will accept satisfactory completion of Level 108 of the University’s English as a Second Language program with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and the recommendation of the ESL faculty. Applicants should submit transcripts in both their native language and a professional, certified English translation. Photocopies are not accepted as official documents and may not be used for evaluation purposes.

Non-Matriculation

Due to the nature of the cohort model, the EdD program does not accept students on a non-matriculated basis.

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Prerequisites

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university is required, with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

At least five (5) years of professional experience in the pre-K-12 school (or closely related) environment.

Program Outline: 51 credits