Ph.D. Degree Requirements and Course Pathways

Total Degree Requirements: Minimum 69 Credit Hours
18
Core Area Hours
24
Major/Concentration Area Hours
12
Cognate Hours
15
Dissertation Hours
Core Area (18 Credit Hours)

Research Core (15 Credit Hours)

Choose One (3 credit hours):
  • EPRS 8500 - Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education I
  • EPRS 8530 - Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education I
Research Methodology Courses (12 credit hours total):
A two-course sequence (6 hours) plus two advanced methods courses (6 hours)
Quantitative Methodology:
  • EPRS 8540 - Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education II
  • EPRS 8550 - Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education III
  • EPRS 8600 - Computer Use in Educational Research
  • EPRS 8820 - Program Evaluation and Institutional Research
  • EPRS 8830 - Survey Research, Sampling Principles and Questionnaire Design
  • EPRS 8840 - Meta-Analysis
  • EPRS 8660 - Bayesian Statistics
  • EPRS 9550 - Multivariate Analysis
  • EPRS 9560 - Structural Equation Modeling
  • EPRS 9570 - Hierarchical Linear Modeling I
  • EPRS 9571 - Hierarchical Linear Modeling II
  • EPRS 9900 - Research Design
Qualitative Methodology:
  • ANTH 8010 - Qualitative Methods in Anthropology
  • EPRS 8510 - Qualitative Research in Education II
  • EPRS 8520 - Qualitative Research in Education III
  • EPRS 8640 - Case Study Methods
  • EPRS 8700 - Visual Research Methods
  • EPRS 9120 - Poststructural Inquiry
  • EPRS 9400 - Writing Qualitative Research Manuscripts
  • EPRS 9820 - Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis
Single-Case Methodology:
  • EPY 8850 - Introduction to Single-Case Methodology
  • EPY 8860 - Applications of Single-Case Methodology
Historical/Philosophical Methodology:
  • EPSF 9850 - Historical Research in American Education
  • EPSF 9930 - Philosophical Analysis and Method
Measurement Methodology:
  • EPRS 7920 - Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment
  • EPRS 8920 - Educational Measurement
  • EPRS 9350 - Introduction to Item Response Theory
  • EPRS 9360 - Advanced Item Response Theory
Mixed Methodology:
  • EPRS 8850 - Introduction to Mixed Methods Research
  • EPRS 8860 - Advanced Mixed Methods Research

Social Foundations/Psychology of Learning (3 Credit Hours)

Choose One Course:
  • EPSF 8270 - Philosophy of Education
  • EPSF 8280 - Anthropology of Education
  • EPSF 8310 - Sociology of Education
  • EPSF 8320 - Politics and Policy in Education
  • EPSF 8340 - History of American Education
  • EPSF 9260 - Epistemology and Learning
  • EPY 8030 - Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
  • EPY 8050 - The Psychology of Instruction
  • EPY 8070 - Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning
  • EPY 8080 - Memory and Cognition
  • EPY 8180 - Learning and the School-Age Child
  • EPY 8200 - Advanced Developmental Psychology: Cognition and Intellect
  • EPY 8220 - Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization

Note: The Social Foundations and Psychology of Learning requirement must be completed during the first two years of the program.

Educational Leadership Major/Concentration Area (24 Credit Hours)

Required EPS Courses (6 Credit Hours)

EPS 9270 - Research in Educational Policy Studies (3 hours)
Must be taken during first year after admission
EPS 9260 - Issues of Race, Class, and Gender in Education (3 hours)
Must be taken in subsequent semester

Educational Leadership Specializations (18 Credit Hours)

Choose six courses (18 hours) from one of the three specializations below. These specializations are designed for candidates who have career aspirations to positions in academia and related areas.

Leadership and Administration Specialization

Georgia Leadership Certification: Students who pursue this specialization can earn Georgia Leadership certification. Contact the program coordinator for certification requirements and Georgia Professional Standards Commission prerequisites.

  • EPEL 8000 - Research in Educational Leadership and Organizational Culture
  • EPEL 8020 - Leadership for Change in a Diverse Society
  • EPEL 8260 - Theory in Educational Leadership
  • EPEL 8330 - Advanced Law, Policy, and Governance
  • EPEL 8420 - Advanced Instructional Leadership
  • EPEL 8500 - Central Office Leadership
  • EPEL 8620 - Psychological Aspects of Leadership
  • EPEL 8650 - The Principal
  • EPEL 8690 - Research-Based Decision Making for School Leaders
  • EPEL 8970 - Seminar in Educational Leadership
  • EPS 8360 - Educational Policy Making and Analysis
Leadership and Policy Specialization

Note: This specialization is not designed to meet Georgia Leadership certification requirements. It focuses on understanding educational leadership issues and their relationship to the policy arena.

  • EPEL 8020 - Leadership for Change in a Diverse Society
  • EPEL 8260 - Theory in Educational Leadership
  • EPEL 8330 - Advanced Law, Policy, and Governance
  • EPEL 8620 - Psychological Aspects of Leadership
  • EPS 8360 - Educational Policy Making and Analysis
  • EPS 8800 - Independent Study
  • EPS 8810 - Directed Reading and Research
  • EPS 8970 - Seminar in Educational Policy Studies
  • EPS 9980 - Research Seminar in Educational Policy Studies
  • EPSF 8280 - Anthropology of Education
  • EPSF 8320 - Politics and Policy in Education
  • EPSF 8630 - Critical Policy Studies
Leadership and Urban Education Specialization

Note: This specialization is not designed to meet Georgia Leadership certification requirements. It focuses on understanding educational leadership as it relates to urban education and issues that are associated with educating urban children.

  • EPEL 8020 - Leadership for Change in a Diverse Society
  • EPEL 8260 - Theory in Educational Leadership
  • EPEL 8970 - Seminar in Educational Leadership
  • EPEL 9000 - Concepts of Leadership and Research in Educational Leadership
  • EPEL 9970 - Advanced Seminar in Educational Leadership
  • EPS 8800 - Independent Study
  • EPS 8810 - Directed Reading and Research
  • EPSF 8010 - Cultural Studies in Education: Film
  • EPSF 8040 - Cultural Studies in Education: Gender
  • EPSF 8260 - Sociology of Inner-City Children
  • EPSF 8340 - History of American Education
  • EPSF 8640 - Critical Race Theory and Urban Education
Cognate Area (12 Credit Hours)

The cognate area provides opportunities to develop extended knowledge that is associated with your major field of study. Coursework should complement and enhance your Educational Leadership specialization.

Important: The major/concentration and cognate areas should represent a cohesive program of study that supports your research interests and career goals in educational leadership.

Educational Leadership Courses Available for the Cognate Area (9 Credit Hours)

  • EPEL 8270 - Theory and Decision Making
  • EPEL 8930 - Applying Theories and Developing Theoretical Frameworks
  • EPEL 9020 - Foundations for Inquiry in Educational Leadership

Other courses of cognate areas for educational leadership Ph.D. students can be found in Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, or courses from your chosen specialization that were not used in the major area.

Dissertation (15 Credit Hours)

EPS 9990 - Dissertation Research

Students must be continuously enrolled in dissertation hours after they advance to candidacy. The dissertation represents an original contribution to knowledge in educational leadership through disciplined inquiry.

15
Credit Hours Required

📌 Important Notes for Educational Leadership Students

  • Minimum of 24 credit hours must be earned at GSU
  • Maximum of 12 credit hours may be allowed for transfer into the doctoral program. They must be post-master’s coursework and not more than 7 years old at the time of admission to candidacy.
  • All coursework must be post-master's work
  • Cumulative GPA must be 3.50 or higher
  • Choose one specialization (Administration, Policy, or Urban Education)
  • Contact program coordinator for Georgia Leadership certification requirements
  • No coursework older than 7 years before candidacy can be used
  • Continuous enrollment is required after comprehensive examination