Department of Doctoral Studies

Dr. Angela Stanford, Chair

The Southern Arkansas University Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership terminal degree program is designed for professionals who are effective leaders and value diversity. The program provides doctoral-level training for building- and district-level administrators; two- and four-year college teachers and administrators; and community and government leaders with professional interests in primary, secondary, and/or higher education including economic factors, public health issues, and the impact on learning of local, regional, and state government policies. The program emphasizes the challenges and opportunities facing educators and leaders serving rural and diverse populations. The program takes an integrative approach to educational leadership, recognizing educators in rural and diverse communities must possess a depth of understanding of factors shaping students in rural schools, colleges, and communities.

Doctoral Program Options

The Ed.D. program offers three specialized focus areas tailored to students’ professional career goals: 

• Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership: Teacher Leadership, EdD   
• Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership: Superintendency Leadership, EdD    
• Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership: Higher Education and Community Leadership, EdD   

Alternately, students who enter the Ed.D. program with an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree can complete the program’s foundational plan of study without a specified focus area, as these students’ Ed.S. content will represent their professional focus: Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership, EdD .  

Doctoral Program Policies

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership is a fully online program requiring candidates to earn 60 hours above the master’s degree.

General Requirements

1. Admission must be granted to both the School of Graduate Studies and the Ed.D. program.
2. Concurrent enrollment is prohibited.
3. Because the program is fully online, no on-campus residency is required.
4. Only grades of A or B are acceptable in doctoral courses. Courses with grades of C or below cannot be used toward the doctoral degree requirements.
5. Courses may not be audited.

Transfer Credit

Up to nine hours of approved coursework may be transferred into the program. Students must notify their advisor of their plan to transfer credits prior to registering for the first semester. The coursework must meet graduate school guidelines and be approved by the program director and the graduate dean. All transfer hours submitted for approved program credit must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to the completion of the Ed.D. program.

Academic Advisor

The advisor is the key individual with whom a student works and the faculty member who monitors the student’s progress toward degree completion. An advisor is assigned at the notification of admission. The student and advisor will create a plan of study. The advisor will make recommendations when (a) additional coursework is required for students seeking licensure; and/or (b) deficiencies are determined by the advising committee.

Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive exams are given through the course EDFN 7803 - Comprehensive Exams . Students may not continue in the program until the course is successfully completed with a grade of A or B. If a student does not successfully complete the course on the initial attempt, they must retake it during a later term when adequately prepared. Scoring below a B the second time will result in termination from the program and the student will be dismissed.

Admission to Candidacy

Students are required to apply for doctoral candidacy after successfully completing EDFN 7803 - Comprehensive Exams .

Dissertation

Students are required to take a minimum of nine dissertation hours (DISS 7973 , DISS 7983 , and DISS 7993 ). The dissertation committee, comprised of up to four members, includes a) the chair, b) a methodologist, c) a content expert, and d) an optional member-at-large. This committee provides support and expertise throughout the dissertation process. The chair, who is responsible for guiding and supervising the candidate, must approve the dissertation research topic. To complete the dissertation, candidates will be required to successfully defend their research proposal, receive approval to proceed from the Southern Arkansas University Institutional Review Board (IRB), and successfully defend their dissertation by oral presentation. The oral defense is conducted by the dissertation committee and is open to invited guests of the dissertation committee and the candidate. Procedural direction for the dissertation process is outlined in the Ed.D. Handbook.

Continuous Enrollment

Students must maintain continuous enrollment in the program. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment will result in dismissal from the program. Exceptions are considered by petition to the Graduate Council.

Length of Time to Complete Degree

The degree must be completed within seven academic years from enrollment in the first course. Students anticipating exceeding the time limit because of extenuating circumstances (e.g. military deployments, health issues, etc.) may apply to the Graduate Council for an extension.