Program at a Glance
- Program
- Doctorate
- College(s)
- College of Community Innovation and Education
- Department(s)
- Ed Ldrshp & Higher Education
Prepare for leadership roles in PK-12 education with UCF’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Executive Track. Here, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to apply research to practice, lead educational organizations and support improved student outcomes. Graduates work in leadership roles across school districts, higher education institutions, state departments of education and other educational organizations.
This 54-credit, cohort-based program offers a sequenced curriculum tailored for working educators and administrators. Designed to complete in three years, the program includes two evening classes each semester through the dissertation phase, creating a manageable path to completion. You’ll learn alongside a cohort of school and organizational leaders, providing opportunities to collaborate, share different perspectives and expand your professional network.
Led by faculty with experience in school and district leadership, the program helps you deepen your expertise and strengthen your effectiveness as a leader. Coursework covers leadership, political and organizational theory, systems thinking, planning and evaluation, school law and finance, data-based decision-making, instructional leadership and human resource management.
Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to interpret and conduct research, apply data analysis to real-world challenges, and use technology to support educational research and evaluation. These skills are essential for educational leaders responsible for evaluating programs, guiding improvement efforts, and making informed decisions that affect students, staff and communities. During the Dissertation in Practice, you’ll also work with a school or district partner to address a real educational challenge as you apply research to issues facing PK-12 educational settings.
Educational leadership certification coursework is not included in the program’s plan of study. However, students may enroll in UCF’s Educational Leadership Modified Core Graduate Certificate to complete the coursework required for Florida Level 1 Administrative Certification.
Application Deadlines
- Fall
- May 1
- Fall
- December 1
Application deadlines subject to change, see the for up-to-date deadlines.
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Course Overview
Politics, Governance, and Financing of Educational Organizations
Gain a deeper understanding of policy development as a political process, and how governance and funding issues affect educational systems and organizations.
Planning, Research, and Evaluation Systems in Educational Administration
Learn how research, evaluation and planning systems guide leadership decisions.
Community Outreach for Educational Leaders
Gain a deeper understanding of how to build meaningful partnerships between schools and community organizations to better support students and families.
Skills You'll Learn
- Learn how legislative and charter provisions are related to the establishment of educational institutions
- Discover how to develop goals, strategies and policies for an effective school-community or organization-community relations program
- Learn how to influence educational policy through involvement at the local and state levels
- Use the science of learning to improve teacher effectiveness and PK-20 student outcomes
- Understand the function and importance of personnel management in organization systems
- Understand and apply organizational theories to complex problems of practice
Career Opportunities
- Assistant Principal
- Assistant or Associate Superintendent
- District-level Supervisor and Area Director
- Principal