Ph.D. in Educational Leadership: K-12 Leadership Concentration (Online)
Students wishing to develop leadership skills and serve as a superintendent or other central office administrator within a school district serving elementary and secondary students will want to pursue this program in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology at Western Michigan University.
Students completing this concentration may also receive one or more endorsements indicating that they would have met the state requirements for various K-12 administrative certificates (e.g., superintendent; central office).
Note: To complete many K-12 content course assignments, and to have a mentor for an administrator internship, applicants must be employed within a K-12 setting OR have access to a school district setting.
Learn more about the PhD in Educational Leadership.
Notification: Starting, January 2025, the State of Michigan will be requiring state testing for those that are wanting to attain a School Administrator license for either the Central Office or Building Level. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Why K-12 leadership at Western Michigan University?
- New! Potential course credits now available via Prior Learning Assessments (PLA).
- 100% of WMU educational leadership graduates were employed or continuing education within three months of graduation.
Application information
Currently, the EDLD Ph.D. Program only admits for a start date in fall semester. The priority deadline for each fall semester is January 15; this is the only deadline for applicants who wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship (GA), in which you work up to 20 hours per week in exchange for tuition and a stipend.
A second deadline for fall semester is March 1; no graduate assistantship funding is available for any applications completed between January 16 and March 1.
Your application must be fully completed by January 15 or March 1 (not just submitted). We recommend you submit your application at least two weeks prior to the deadline to ensure recommenders have time to complete their recommendations by the deadline.
Accreditation
WMU's doctor of philosophy in educational leadership is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Required program of study
- Required program of Study for students admitted Fall 2025 or later
- Required Program of Study for students admitted Fall 2018 to 2024
- Multi-year Course Offering Plans
Resources for current students (including multi-year course offering plans)
For program information visit the current educational leadership Ph.D. students page.
Newsletter
The Lead is a monthly online publication that highlights the work of our Educational Leadership (K-12) programs, and contains a wide-array of information relevant to school administrators; it also celebrates the work of our alumni, students and faculty. Visit The Lead newsletter page for all issues.
Assistantships
For more information about graduate or doctoral assistantships visit the graduate assistantships page or contact the Interim Department Chair, Dr. Louann Bierlein Palmer.
Meet some of our students
- Meet our current students.
- Search recent graduates.
- Read student experiences.
Cost & Funding
Helpful links
Questions?
