Curriculum
The Doctorate in Educational Leadership degree at CSUSB requires completion of 60 semester units. The program design empowers you to complete your degree in three calendar years including summers. Courses are arranged into core, specialization, and dissertation units. Core courses provide a foundation in social justice, equity, leadership and research. Specialization courses refine student understanding of transformational leadership practices in PK-12 and Community College/Higher Education. Dissertation units are credit courses for directed independent study, where students make progress on milestones to the doctoral degree.
In each semester scholar-practitioners take two courses, each course spans 8 weeks. Scholars attend class every other weekend (Friday 5 PM-9 PM and Saturday 9 AM- 5 PM) in Fall and Spring Semesters. In Summer semesters, classes are every weekend.
Course Description
For current course descriptions, please view the current university catalog.
Core Courses
Fall Year 1
Offers guided practice in the critical review and application of current educational literature, the development of comprehensive research questions and/or hypothesis development, and design of basic quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods through a field based problem of practice approach. Three hours seminar and two hours activity. (3 units)
This course prepares educational leaders to promote equity and diversity in PK-20. In-depth focus on issues of race, class, gender, immigrant status, sexual orientation and identity, language, and other forms of marginalization. Students review theories, interpret policies, and develop inclusive leadership practices. (3 units)
Spring Year 1
Examines the relationships between theories of educational leadership, applied research, and practice in PK-12 school districts and community colleges. The course provides a context for understanding the current and emerging nature and roles of educational leaders and the importance of visionary leadership based on a shared vision and ethical decision-making. (3 units)
Explores governing educational policy, including significant laws, legal principles, recent litigation, teacher and faculty rights and duties, administrative behavior, board relationships and labor management relations. Focuses on connections between legislative and judicial action and the social, political and economic forces affecting education and leadership practice. (3 units)
Summer Year 1
Offers guided practice in developing and conducting qualitative research in education. Supports the design and application of qualitative studies adhering to rigorous research standards, data analysis and write up. (3 units)
Provides an in-depth overview of California's higher education system. Students will use critical thinking to analyze and evaluate the complexities of historical, philosophical, and socio-political aspects of higher education systems. Emphasizes impact of leadership on societal and legal issues affecting relationships between higher education and PK-12. (3 units)
Provides an in-depth overview of California's PK-12 education system. Students will use critical thinking to analyze and evaluate the complexities of historical, philosophical, and socio-political aspects of PK-12 education systems. Emphasizes impact of leadership on societal and legal issues affecting relationships between PK-12 and higher education. (3 units)
Fall Year 2
Offers guided practice in developing and conducting quantitative research in education. Supports the design and application of quantitative studies adhering to rigorous scientific standards, including data analysis and write up. (3 units)
Leadership ethics and the utilization of principles of personal balance in daily life and work. Covers decision-making theories and how decisions are made at various levels in PreK-12 and community college/higher education to effectuate positive and sustaining change. (3 units)
Directed independent study. Students prepare for their qualifying exam with faculty support. (0 units)
Specialization Courses & Dissertation Units
Spring Year 2
Field-based experiences that enhance leadership practice and provide for significant interaction in either PK-12 and/or community college/higher education settings. (3 units)
Methods of financing public education. Identifies budgeting and accounting techniques used by school districts and college leaders in support of the instructional process and considers legal requirements and public reactions to the financing of education and resource allocation to achieve student outcomes. (3 units)
Directed independent study. Students prepare for their proposal defense with faculty support.
Summer Year 2
Examines the leadership role of career and technical education in community colleges and its overall mission. Focus areas will include the relationships between PK-12 and community college programs with emphasis on state and federal regulations. (3 units)
Leadership roles in providing the array of pupil personnel services including counseling, school psychology, speech therapy, and other adjunct or related services. Examines the key role that these services represent in overall program design and operation. (3 units)
This course examines leadership issues surrounding human resources in PK-20 contexts, including: state and federal laws, union relations, employee hiring and evaluation, professional development, and capacity building. (3 units)
Fall Year 3
Presents teaching and learning theories, policies, and practices that leaders can engage to foster college student transition, persistence, and completion. Emphasizes leadership practices that coordinate resources, improve student learning, and foster academic achievement for diverse student populations in the community college and higher education sector. (3 units)
This course presents leadership skills, strategies, and models for leading, teaching, and learning. Emphasizes leadership for improving teaching strategies related to learning theories, instructional reform, and professional development for school improvement. (3 units)
Examines higher education governance and policy at the institutional, state, and federal level using organizational theories. The advanced course focuses on leaders applying practices that connect legislative and judicial action with social, political, and economic forces affecting higher education. (3 units)
Examines PK-12 governance and policy at the district, county, state, and federal level using organizational theories. The course focuses on leaders applying practices that connect legislative and judicial action with social, political, and economic forces affecting PK-12. (3 units)
Directed independent study. Students prepare their dissertations with faculty support. Dissertation focus is primarily on problems of practice and leadership roles that impact the regional service region. (6 units)
Spring Year 3
Leadership and administration of programs for students with disabilities, including the review of legislative authority and state and federal regulations. Emphasis will be placed on accessibility and inclusive practices. (3 units)
Establishes the understanding and application of assessment and evaluation to inform leadership practices that promote equitable student outcomes and sustain the health of higher education. (3 units)
Establishes the understanding and application of assessment and evaluation to inform leadership practices that promote equitable student outcomes. This course will focus on the concepts and processes of conducting program evaluation using a variety of evaluation models. (3 units)
Directed independent study. Students prepare their dissertations with faculty support. Dissertation focus is primarily on problems of practice and leadership roles that impact the regional service region. (6 units)
Directed independent study. Students prepare for their dissertation defense with faculty support.
Summer Year 3
Directed independent study. Students prepare their dissertations with faculty support. Dissertation focus is primarily on problems of practice and leadership roles that impact the regional service region.
(Anyone who has not completed by Spring 2022, must continuously enroll in each semester until the program has been completed) Dissertation work is contingent upon availability of faculty during the summer.
*Continuous Enrollment must be maintained through graduation.
Location
Courses are conveniently offered with the executive model. Each course is held on Friday evening and Saturday morning for four weeks. Students can meet at either CSUSB or PDC campuses. The course is video-streamed on Friday for PDC students and on Saturday all students meet at CSUSB. Some courses are offered as on-line hybrid.