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D

O C T O R O F

E

D U C A T I O N

Overview

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program is designed to meet the professional development needs of Christian

educational leaders. Birthed from Columbia International University’s long-standing commitment to Christian

school and Christian higher education, the Ed.D. program aims to develop educators to lead, model, think,

communicate, and research with biblical excellence. Students will grow in their ability to enhance God’s Kingdom

work in Christian educational institutions and to represent Christian education perspectives in the broader society.

Students are admitted in cohort groups during the summer. Courses are provided online and in summer intensives.

Ed.D graduates complete a concentration in Christian Higher Education Leadership, Christian School Leadership,

or Curricular and Instructional Leadership.

Purpose

The Ed.D. program strives to produce leaders who have a biblical perspective and mentor educational communities

while addressing needs through education.

Objectives

Students will demonstrate learning in specified areas of educational leadership. The program specifies

competencies which students must satisfactorily demonstrate for completion of the degree. Five competencies are

addressed in a summative portfolio of student assignments and projects, six are addressed in the qualifying exam

taken near the conclusion of coursework, and two are addressed through the doctoral dissertation.

The competencies are supported by program courses. All students must demonstrate satisfactory competence in

all required outcomes; no competencies will be waived. Students who do not take a specified program course or

elective which is associated with a specified competency must still prepare to demonstrate that outcome through

the portfolio or qualifying exam.

Students will understand:

Biblical perspectives, foundational theories, research findings, cultural/sociological dynamics, and

alternative models for educating diverse learners in contemporary Christian educational institutions. They

will also analyze, synthesize, and evaluate these elements so as to enhance Christian education.

Biblical perspectives, theoretical approaches, research findings, and alternative models of effective

leadership and functioning of organizations, groups, and individuals within organizations. They will also

analyze, synthesize, and evaluate these elements in order to enhance their understanding of quality

Christian education leadership.

The components and process of quantitative and qualitative research which produce new theory,

knowledge of effective practices, and solutions to educational questions and problems within an

educational institution.

Admission Criteria

A graduate faculty admissions panel reviews applicants, which includes an interview in person (or by phone) and

recommends acceptance according to their satisfaction of the following criteria:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution that provides a relevant foundation for doctoral studies in

educational leadership. An education or education-related field is the strongly preferred focus of the

master’s degree.

Performance in graduate coursework indicating an ability to be successful in doctoral-level studies

Command of the English language as evidenced in a writing sample that demonstrates the ability to do

doctoral research and writing

Christian maturity appropriate for leadership

Administrative or teaching experience (K-12th grade, higher education) and other evidence indicating that

the doctoral degree will enable the applicant to enhance his or her leadership role and contribution to the

cause of Christian education

90 | Columbia International University

College of Education