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The College of St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) program is designed to support current and aspiring leaders in recognizing inequities in their professional settings and creating a plan of action to address them. The student-centered and inclusive environment will stimulate the best development of innovative thinking to solve today’s complex social problems.

We welcome and invite students from different professional experiences, social organizations and diverse backgrounds to join us in this intentionally intersectional program. From the very beginning of the program, you will collaborate with like-minded individuals passionate about fostering change, promoting equity, and championing inclusive excellence and social justice. Together, you’ll learn tools and strategies to drive innovation to effect positive change in your organizations and communities to help improve the lives of individuals.

The program is grounded in and informed by the Stender School of Leadership, Business and Professional Studies’ conceptual framework, which centers around ‘Leaders and Learners’ and is aligned with the College’s Benedictine values. Innovation, critical reflection and continuous improvement are embedded in the program.

Fast Facts

  • Grounded in change leadership, social justice and equity
  • Designed for leaders across industries such as education, healthcare, government and social work
  • Cohort model providing a dedicated learning community to meet the needs of professional adult learners
  • Online format with limited annual residency and live synchronous sessions to provide opportunities for student engagement
  • Optional international experience opportunities
  • Concurrent dissertation model
  • 60 total credits, including 12 credits of program concentration electives
  • Complete in four years
  • Program begins in June; priority application deadline is March 15

Receive Program Info and Financial Aid Options

  • Detailed program overview
  • Personalized financial aid
  • Individual admissions support

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This program is changing my life in ways I did not imagine. The faculty and staff are so supportive and hands-on. The cohort model has made our group a family!

Jennifer Niemi

Degree Details

Tuition

Tuition: $48,000/full program* ($800/credit)


* Tuition rates are for the 2024-25 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change. View 2023-24 rates

Program Overview

Problem of Practice (Dissertation in Practice) Starts Early with Faculty Support

From the onset, students will identify a problem of practice in their professional setting that becomes the foundation for the final capstone project.

As a student, you will be in a supportive learning community with dedicated faculty to begin working through the capstone project, which will focus on problems that matter to you and your community. This support will ensure you finish the program and earn your degree on time.

International Experience Option

We believe international experiences provide unique and compelling opportunities for aspiring leaders. These experiences allow for growth, learning and enhance an individual’s knowledge, skills and understanding of different cultures. The international experiences will be designed with graduate students in mind and will also be offered in collaboration with other college education abroad trips.

Cohort Model and Program Advisor

Online learning isn’t independent learning at St. Scholastica. You will become part of a special learning community that will ensure your success. With our cohort model you’ll move through the program with the same group of colleagues. You will also have support from the very beginning of the program from a dedicated advisor and faculty.

Excellent Online Education

We are not new to online learning and we know how to do it well. St. Scholastica’s education programs have a long history of offering programs in innovative ways that engage students and support their learning. Our philosophy is that “online learning should not mean you are alone.”

The same faculty that developed our nationally-recognized Master of Education program designed the online Ed.D. program.

Curriculum

Visit our Catalog to view the program, course and degree requirements, and learning outcomes. Be sure to create your course plan in consultation with your advisor.

Experiential Learning

To assist doctoral students in meeting their professional and personal goals, the program has designed an experiential learning course that allows students to create a flexible individualized experience where they can apply the effective strategies learned in the program.

  • Serve as a teaching assistant in a college course to improve your skills at a new level
  • Work closely with a respected leader who can serve as a mentor
  • Support the efforts of a grant writing office as you learn new skills for fundraising
  • Intern at a social service agency to learn more about effective strategies for improving the lives of clients

Accreditation and Memberships

AAQEP logoThe Teacher Education program at the College of St. Scholastica is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for a period of 7 years, from July 2019 to July 2026. The accreditation does not include individual education courses that the Educator Preparation Program offers to P-12 educators for professional development, re-licensure, or other purposes.

PART I: Publicly Available Program Performance and Candidate Achievement Data

Consortium Member

The College of St. Scholastica is a proud member of The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). St. Scholastica was invited to join a select group of colleges and universities committed to an EdD that prepares the next generation of national and international education leaders.

2021 CPED Consortium Member

Admission Information

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions and financing.

Application Deadlines

Applications will continue to be accepted until the program is filled.

Start term: Summer
Application priority deadline: March 15

Eligibility

The following requirements must be met in order for an applicant to be considered for admittance into the program:

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • 2 professional recommendations
  • Personal essay
  • Resume or CV
  • Minimum of 1-3 years of professional work experience preferred

Note: Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

Transcripts

Please order the following official transcripts:

  • Bachelor’s degree transcript showing degree conferred
  • Master’s degree transcript showing degree conferred
  • Any additional college transcripts
  • International transcripts: Please see the International Admissions page for additional requirements

Transcripts must be received on or before the application deadline. Order early in the application process!

Email official transcripts to transcripts@css.edu. Electronic transcripts must be from a certified electronic official transcript provider such as ParchmentDocufideScrip SafeNational Clearinghouse or other certified, online transcript services.

Mailed transcripts must be in the original sealed envelope from the school. Mail to:

The College of St. Scholastica
Transcript Processing
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811

Meet Our Faculty

Experienced, Dedicated and Distinguished Educators

Expect to be heard, to be challenged and to be involved. St. Scholastica faculty are world-class scholars and experts in their field who invest in your success. Our values of community, respect, stewardship, hospitality and love of learning reflect our faculty’s commitment to lifting up others and celebrating our common humanity.