Ph.D. In PK-12 Educational Leadership Application Information

Application Deadline and Information

• February 1 is the admissions deadline for students hoping to start the Ph.D. in PK-12 Educational Leadership during the coming  Fall semester (or summer sessions if requested). There is only one annual application deadline for the Ph.D. In PK-12 Educational Leadership, so please be sure to meet this February 1 deadline. 
• In order to be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership all required materials must be submitted within the online application system by this deadline. You are responsible for making sure that transcripts and recommendations are submitted before the deadline.
• Once applicants are reviewed by faculty, select applicants may be invited to participate in an interview.
• Applicants will be selected based upon meeting the criteria and personal fit to the program goals and objectives. The total number of applicants accepted will depend upon the quality of individual applicants, as well as available resources to support students in the program. Note: There are no "conditional admissions" for this Ph.D. program; students must meet the minimum requirements noted below to be considered for admission to the program.
• Although most doctoral students in this fully virtual Ph.D. program are full-time working professionals, some may be in a position to seek a graduate assistant position (in which a student works up to 20 hours per week for the department, and in return receives funding for tuition and a small stipend). If interested, complete this funding as a graduate assistant application by the deadline noted within the link. 

Application procedure and requirements

1. A professional resume or curriculum vita
   • This must include a summary of the applicant’s leadership experience.
   • Applicants must have three years of professional career or leadership experience.
2. Three recommendations
   • These must be obtained from three different individuals in a position to address the applicant’s ability to successfully complete doctoral level work.
   • Applicants must request such recommendations from within the online system. The recommenders will respond via the online system as well.
   • Please be aware that references will only be sent an electronic request with an online link for the reference AFTER a student has submitted their application.  Therefore, do not wait until the last day to submit an application.  Additionally, it is a good idea to forewarn your references that the electronic reference request is coming, and needs to be submitted by the admissions deadline.
3. A written narrative
   • Applicants must clearly describe their professional goals and how this doctoral program fits with those goals.
   • This narrative should be no more than four double-spaced pages and will be considered as a writing sample.
4. Education history information
   • Applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.25 or better as indicated on an official transcript.
   • Applicants must submit an official transcript from the institution from which you received your Bachelor degree, as well as a transcript from institution(s) where any graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed.  Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript of courses taken/completed at Western Michigan University.

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Transcript requirement

An official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor degree is required to be sent to WMU, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed. Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript for courses taken/completed at WMU.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload an unofficial copy of any graduate transcripts to their application in order to expedite the review process.

Official transcripts must be sent to @email from the issuing institution or via postal mail to: Office of Admissions, 1903 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5211.