Program Objectives
The Educational Leadership and Administration Ed.D. program offers students opportunities to develop the added knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for administrative and leadership roles in a variety of educational settings. Typically, graduates of the doctoral program prepare for positions in three general career areas: (1) central-office and school-site leadership, (2) leadership in higher education, and (3) leadership in policy analysis and evaluation. The purpose of the Ed.D. program is to prepare outstanding scholarly leaders for key roles in diverse educational organizations. Upon completion of the Ed.D. program, students are expected to be able to:
- Apply educational theories, knowledge of historical and socio-cultural conditions, and philosophy of the public good for decision making about educational practice
- Lead diverse educational organizations through ethical stewardship of resources, insightful innovation and systematic change, shared power and authority, and the design of and participation in educational partnerships
- Understand, evaluate, and reflect on educational practice through qualitative and quantitative analysis, comprehensive system analysis, financial and economic analysis, and participation in professional educational associations
- Generate and use research data to inform decisions in action settings, analyze and cope with complexity, plan instructional improvement, and maximize the use of resources
- Demonstrate an understanding of access and inclusion through an analysis of equity
Unique Features of the Ed.D. Program
Emphasis on the Border Region’s Characteristics and Needs
El Paso is one of the largest cities along the U.S.-Mexico border, which makes it a unique place to work, live, and conduct research. Educational issues studied in this environment offer considerable insight into policy formation in urban, multicultural and international regions, as well as applications for educational reform across the United States.
Research in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Area
UTEP and El Paso’s K-12 schools serve a predominate bilingual population—mostly English and Spanish. Because of this, students enrolled in the doctoral program may get involved in research conducted in both Spanish and English.
Cohort Study
Entering students join a cohort of students who were admitted to the program at the same time and generally move through the program together. The cohort provides a sense of community and mutual support throughout students' doctoral journey, from orientation through the dissertation.