Admissions Criteria

The Ed.D. Program may admit candidates who meet the academic requirements for the Ed.D. degree program and who possess personal qualities and professional experiences that suggest a strong potential for success as doctoral candidates and as educational leaders in K-12 or community colleges.

The Ed.D. Program requires the following of applicants for admission to the doctoral program:

• an earned baccalaureate degree and master's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education with a grade point average in upper division and graduate study of 3.0 or above;


• sufficient preparation and experience pertinent to educational leadership to benefit from the Program;


• submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores- from the three sections of the General Test;


• demonstrated educational leadership potential and skills including successful experience in school, post secondary, community, and/or policy leadership;


• demonstrated academic excellence, problem-solving ability, and an interest in critically assessing and bringing about improvements within current educational policies and practices;


• three letters of recommendation attesting to the leadership ability and scholarship of the candidate;


• a written statement of purpose reflecting an understanding of the challenges facing the public schools or community colleges/institutions of higher education in California ;


• a personal interview; and


• a statement of support for the candidate's doctoral studies from his/her employer or, in cases where this is not provided, an indication of the candidate's plan for meeting the demands of the program and his/her professional responsibilities.

Meeting these minimum requirements qualifies an individual for admissions consideration but does not guarantee admission to the Program. Admission will be granted on a competitive basis.