Ed.S. to Ed.D.
Pathway from Ed.S. to Ed.D. in Leadership
An Education Specialist (Ed.S.) is uniquely positioned to advance into the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership program at Charleston Southern University (CSU) with several key advantages:
- Faculty Collaboration: Qualified faculty members from your former Ed.S. university may serve on CSU dissertation committees, fostering academic continuity and mentorship.
- Generous Transfer Credit: Up to 24 credit hours from the Ed.S. in Leadership degree can be transferred into CSU’s 60-hour Ed.D. in Leadership program, significantly reducing time to completion.
- Specialized Cohort Model: Ed.S. graduates will join a dedicated cohort designed to streamline their path to the doctorate, providing targeted support and faster progression through the program.
- Flexible Course Delivery: Courses are offered on campus, hybrid and fully online, providing flexibility for working professionals. Classes will be offered one night a week.
- Competitive Tuition: The program is competitively priced at $600 per credit hour, offering affordability without sacrificing academic quality.
This pathway offers a seamless, supportive, and cost-effective opportunity for educational leaders to earn a terminal degree while building on the strengths of their Ed.S. training.
One year of coursework, in addition to 4 dissertation courses (36 credit hours), are all that is needed as students transfer to CSU with an Ed.S. In lieu of comprehensive exams, Ed.S. to Ed.D. candidates will present a research presentation after all academic coursework is completed.
Courses Needed to Earn Doctor of Education in Leadership
Below is the course sequence needed to accomplish the Ed.D. in Leadership at Charleston Southern University:
- EDUC 701 Leadership Theory
- EDUC 702 Organizational Contexts for Change
- EDUC 703 Accountability in Leadership
- EDUC 704 Impact of Technologies on Leadership
- EDUC 705 Creativity and Innovation
- EDUC 706 Ethical and Character-Based Leadership
- EDUC 751 Diversity and Equity in Organizations
- EDUC 752 Analysis of Planning Models
- EDUC 753 Finance and Analysis
- EDUC 754 Educational and Organizational Law and Policy
- EDUC 755 Optimizing Operations
- EDUC 795 Leadership and Change
- EDUC 801 Behavioral Statistics
- EDUC 811 Research Designs
- EDUC 821 Qualitative Research Methods
- EDUC 822 Quantitative Research Methods
- EDUC 900 Dissertation Preproposal
- EDUC 901 Dissertation Writing
- EDUC 902 Dissertation I
- EDUC 903 Dissertation II
Ed.S. courses taken at previously attended university will be evaluated to determine if course credits are transferrable to CSU’s Doctor of Education in Leadership.
Admissions Process
Step 1: Review Application Requirements
The following requirements must be met to be eligible to apply for the Ed.S. to Ed.D. in Leadership program:
- Online Application
- CV or resume
- Official transcripts from every previously attended college or university
- Earned Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from accredited university
- Three online recommendation forms
- Virtual interview
- Additional information upon request
Step 2: Apply
Apply with our online application here.
Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
Cohorts Begin: Every Seven Weeks
Step 3: Virtual Interview
After a preliminary review of the application, the Admissions Committee will request an evaluative admission interview. The interview with members of the Admissions Committee will be conducted virtually.
Step 4: Acceptance Requirements
Detailed instructions on how to complete the process will be communicated to candidates upon acceptance.