As an established or emerging leader, you'll enjoy a practitioner-focused curriculum with specialized expertise tailored to sharpen your knowledge to effectively lead PK-12 schools or districts. 

You'll enjoy an engaging and interactive learning experience that accommodates working professionals. Students varied professional backgrounds provide enriching and engaging discussions in which you learn with and from your peers. Together you will advance your knowledge and improve practices in your field.

Program Highlights

• Apply knowledge immediately to the challenges you face as a professional.
• Provides coursework on weekends, six Saturdays per semester with a few Friday evenings.
• Delivers courses face-to-face with hybrid components.
• A new cohort starts each fall in St. Cloud or Plymouth. 
• Structured to actively connect and engage with your professors and colleagues.
• Select your own dissertation research topic you are passionate about that contributes to the field and can be applied to real-life educational settings.
• Earn your degree in three years, with two years of coursework and one year of research.

Program Distinctions

• St. Cloud State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. 
• Faculty members are accomplished professionals with experience in the field.
• Students have varied experiences and backgrounds. Students come from across the world and many commute to campus.
• 59 percent of doctoral students are 40 or older, 60 percent are women and 18 percent are students of color. 

Student Organizations

• Emerging College and University Professionals

Application Deadlines