The EdD in Educational Leadership: Pursue Excellence with APU’s Doctoral Program for Leaders in K-12 Education

Azusa Pacific University’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership brings together a network of practitioner-scholars to equip a broad range of educational practitioners who wish to expand and deepen their knowledge and enhance their capacity to lead, inspire, and educate within K-12 educational settings. Experienced faculty provide personalized guidance throughout the program, with face-to-face class meetings that are enhanced and supplemented by online instruction. Through the program you will cultivate visionary leadership and learn to integrate a Christ-centered perspective into professional practice, preparing you to make a transformative impact on schools and districts, and to best serve the families and students under your care. The program also provides a pathway to those who wish to become college or university faculty members who teach on K-12 educational issues.

EdD Program Highlights

• Attend intensive Saturday classes at APU’s main campus six times during the 16-week fall and spring terms and four times during the 8-week summer term.
• Experience coursework taught and designed by current superintendents and faculty researchers, adding depth and relevance to APU’s learning community of educators.
• Receive comprehensive support from faculty as you select an individual topic of study and complete original research.
• Draw fundamental connections between theory, research, and practice with an emphasis on applied research that leads to positive change in K–12 schools and districts.
• Benefit from classes that explore contemporary issues in education as they happen and evolve, enabling educators to remain at the forefront of knowledge.
• Develop the research skills needed to produce results and shape effective learning environments from a practitioner-scholar perspective.
• Benefit from a guided dissertation process embedded within coursework, empowering candidates to complete their doctorate on time.
• Finish your doctoral degree in three years through a streamlined, cohort-based program.

School of Education Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In addition, the School of Education receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is transitioning to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), making APU one of only three private schools in California with this distinction. Further, our credential programs are accredited by California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Our Educational Psychology program is also accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These notable accreditations set APU graduates apart from other candidates and ensure that your degree will be recognized throughout the United States and internationally.

University Reputation

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2023 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including First-Year Experiences and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 126 institutions in the “Best Western Colleges” section of its 2023 Best Colleges guide. APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2023 by College Factual and Niche. APU was included as a top-100 degree producer by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Azusa Pacific is also a Military Friendly School and Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 500 military-connected students and families, and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University.