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Program Description

The PhD in Educational Leadership and Research with a concentration in P12 Educational Leadership prepares scholars and leaders in the field of educational leadership. The PhD is a research degree, thus students are expected to engage in and present research while completing the degree. Outstanding students are nominated for the honor of attending the David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar in Educational Administration & Policy and/or being a Jackson Scholar. These two nationally prominent programs are sponsored by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). The Clark Seminar is also jointly sponsored by the American Educational Research Association, Divisions A and L and Corwin Press.

Graduates of this program have become professors of educational leadership at universities across the country; principals, central office administrators, and superintendents; and officials at the Louisiana Department of Education.

Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

1. Apply to the LSU Graduate School through the online application system.
2. Submit transcripts of all graduate work you have done to the Graduate School.
3. Submit official, current (less than 5 years old) GRE scores via mail to the LSU Graduate School. GRE score minimums are     400 verbal and 400 quantitative. However, the two scores must sum to 1000. For example, a score of 450 verbal and     550 quantitative sum to 1000. Applicants for whom English is a second language may submit TOEFL results in lieu of GRE     scores.
4. Schedule an interview with two professors. If you are not located in the south Louisiana area, the interviews can be     conducted by telephone at the applicant’s expense.
5. Arrange to complete a writing sample in the Department of ETPP. If you are not located in the south Louisiana area,     appropriate arrangements will be made for you to complete the writing sample.
6. Submit three letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from individuals who can attest to your ability to complete doctoral     work, including the dissertation. Letters not on letterhead will not be considered. Letters should indicate the specific     program to which you are applying.

Letters can be mailed to
Ms. Tara Gardner
College of Education
LSU Baton Rouge, LA 70803
fax: 225-578-9135
tstewart@lsu.edu

7. When all materials have been received, your file will be reviewed and a decision about your admission sent to the     Graduate School. The Graduate School will contact you about the admission decision.

¹ Equivalent courses must be approved by the student’s advisor.
² The fourth research methods course can be taken inside or outside of the College of Education and must be approved by the     student’s advisor
³ Continuous enrollment is required after passing the General Examination until the degree is awarded.
⁴ Admitted students are anticipated to have a Masters degree. Students who do not have a Masters must complete graduate     hours    equivalent to a Masters degree, generally 36 hours. These courses must be approved by the student’s advisor.

Milestones

1. Admission
2. Course work: 44 credit hours, including the departmental core and specialization courses
3. Residency: two consecutive semesters (fall-spring; spring-fall) of full-time enrollment
4. General Examination: a 2-3 day exam over the field of study
5. Proposal defense
6. Dissertation defense
7. Graduation

Useful links:
American Educational Research Association 
University Council for Educational Administration 
Southwest Educational Research Association 
Mid-South Educational Research Association