School of Educational Leadership

Peter Williams, Assistant Dean
16633 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 800
Addison, TX 75001

Phone: 855-219-7300
Email: peter.williams@acu.edu

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership

Peter Williams, Program Director
16633 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 800
Addison, TX 75001

Phone: 214-721-0685
Email: peter.williams@acu.edu

Faculty

Brian Cole, Assistant Professor
Leah Wickersham Fish, Associate Professor
Wade Fish, Associate Professor
Lloyd Goldsmith, Professor
Karen Maxwell, Associate Professor
Kristin Koetting O’Byrne, Associate Professor
Linnea Rademaker, Associate Professor

Introduction

The School of Educational Leadership, offers a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. This program is offered online with optional residency experiences.

The mission of the EdD in Organizational Leadership is to prepare professionals in a variety of contexts for leadership roles. A distinguishing feature is a focus on the vocation of leadership in complex organizational cultures to develop effective practice. This is accomplished through equipping leaders to:

Lead with purpose based upon the foundation of vocation, rooted in Christian principles;
Effectively develop organizational resources;
Build effective communication structures and collaborative relationships;
Apply organizational assessment and evaluation strategies; and
Demonstrate healthy leadership practices to influence organizational culture.

The EdD will consist of a minimum of 54 credit hours consisting of 24 foundational hours; 12 hours of research methods; a 12-15 hour track in the student’s choice of specialization (conflict management, higher education, learning with emerging technologies, school superintendent (advanced standing only), or principalship (advanced standing only)); and a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation credit. Students with a master’s degree in an existing track may be given advanced standing of up to 15 credit hours to serve as their specialization track with the approval of the Program Director.

Graduates of the EdD in Organizational Leadership will be prepared for executive leadership roles in a variety of settings including primary and secondary schools and school districts; colleges and universities; nonprofit agencies; government, military, and law enforcement; businesses; and in a variety of organization and community settings.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission with a nonrefundable processing fee.
Official transcripts in a registrar’s sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the accredited colleges or universities that awarded the baccalaureate and master’s degrees to the applicant.
Two recommendations that attest to the applicant’s academic abilities, character, and professional ability. Letters on professional letterhead are acceptable.
A statement of interest in the EdD in Organizational Leadership addressing such topics as the applicant’s view of leadership. ability to create followers, propensity to take risks, perseverance and demonstrated achievements, future career/life objectives, and reasons for pursuing a doctoral program.
Completion of a writing exercise in response to a prompt provided by ACU Dallas. Because effective academic writing is an essential skill in doctoral study, students who do not demonstrate the necessary writing skills to be successful may be placed on academic probation and be required to participate in writing enhancement tutoring.
Professional CV or résumé.

International applicants to the EdD will be required to complete the standard graduate application requirements for all international students applying for an ACU graduate degree, including TOEFL scores and transcript assessment for degrees completed outside of the United States (http://www.acu.edu/graduate/prospective-students/international/index.html).

Students who choose the superintendent or principal track must already possess the superintendent or principal certification or the equivalent courses as well as recent school administration experience.

Education

Peter Williams, Program Director
16633 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 800
Addison, TX 75001

Phone: 214-721-0685
Email: peter.williams@acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/grad

Faculty

Wade Fish, Associate Professor
Lloyd Goldsmith, Professor
Karen Maxwell, Associate Professor

Introduction

The Abilene Christian University School of Educational Leadership offers a Master of Education (MEd) degree in the following areas:

Instruction and Learning (Teacher leadership roles)
Higher Education (see the Higher Education section of this catalog)

Students in the Instruction and Learning program may also be able to complete the requirements for a graduate certificate in Learning with Emerging Technologies or in Conflict Management for Educators .

The School of Educational Leadership seeks to prepare individuals who have a thorough mastery of the technical and practical aspects of education and are skilled in both the art and science of teaching and learning. The faculty and staff of the department seek to accomplish this within the context of Christian values and principles.

The mission of the MEd in Instruction and Learning is to improve an educator’s professional craft through the utilization of his/her faith-based vocational calling: seeing and experiencing work as participants in the life and mission of God. The program’s curriculum prepares educators to effectively serve their learners through (a) implementing evidence-based teaching practices; (b) understanding complex processes of teaching and learning; (c) making data-driven decisions that strive towards continuous improvement to meet accountability expectations; (d) providing meaningful engagement for all learners across culturally diverse settings; and (e) promoting a positive learning culture for all learners.

Education is one of the largest programs at ACU, with approximately 800 graduate and undergraduate students each year involved in some aspect of educator preparation.

Faculty members author teaching materials, publish articles and papers, present at state and national conferences, serve as officers in professional organizations, and conduct numerous workshops and seminars for school professionals.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Master of Education in Instruction and Learning are:

A completed application for admission with a nonrefundable application fee ($50);
An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree in education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above;
A current résumé;
Two letters of recommendation;

Departmental Requirements

Meeting the requirements of a master’s degree in education does not necessarily qualify the student for professional certification. Each student’s professional certification program must be planned to meet individual needs and to ensure competence in the chosen area of professional endeavor.

Students are cautioned that states continually change credentialing requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to stay abreast of their state’s credentialing requirements. Not taking credentialing exams in a timely manner can create lengthy certification plans for the student to meet changing credentialing requirements.

Students seeking Texas certification must pass the state-required Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) prior to certification. The state of Texas awards professional certification only to persons with at least two years of verified teaching experience.

Certificate in Learning with Emerging Technologies

The Certificate in Learning with Emerging Technologies is a 12-hour online program designed to prepare students to be instructional designers, trainers, and leaders of professional development in education and in other industries.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the Certificate in Learning with Emerging Technologies are as follows:

A completed application for admission with a nonrefundable application fee;
An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree in education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
A current résumé;
Two letters of recommendation;
A purpose statement (2 pages double spaced, typed) including philosophy of education.

Higher Education

Jason Morris, Graduate Director
ACU Box 29009
Abilene, Texas 79699-8252

Phone: 325-674-2830
Fax: 325-674-2123
Email: morrisj@acu.edu
Web: highered.acu.edu

Faculty

Jason Morris, Associate Professor

Introduction

The Master of Education in Higher Education, with an emphasis in college student affairs and a track in either enrollment management or conflict resolution, is a 36-hour program designed to prepare students for a professional career in a broad range of higher education settings.

Higher education is understood increasingly as a holistic enterprise that requires not only a traditionally organized discipline-oriented faculty but also a cadre of professionals trained in co-curricular concerns—matters that command great importance in the lives of college students but are not commonly the focus of classroom experiences. This program is designed both for working student development professionals who reside in a higher education setting and need advanced training and for recent college graduates who have an interest in working in higher education.

The program will prepare students to incorporate faith-based principles in professional practice. Graduates will be qualified for roles such as residence life director, academic advisor, international student coordinator, financial aid counselor, intramurals director, career services advisor, and many others. The degree will also provide a solid foundation for future doctoral work in higher education.

This program is designed to provide learning that is both content-based and experiential and that is intentional in its consideration and integration of the role of Christian faith in the work of a higher education professional. Upon completion of this program, students will be knowledgeable about and competent in:

Resource management in higher education
Diversity and intercultural issues
Conflict resolution
Assessment and evaluation
Student development
Legal and ethical issues in higher education
Student spiritual formation
Research methodology
Enrollment management

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the MEd in Higher Education are:

A completed application for admission with a nonrefundable application fee;
An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
Two letters of recommendation;
A written purpose statement describing the applicant’s reasons for wishing to enter the higher education program and future career plans; and
A résumé or curriculum vita.

Graduate Certificate in Enrollment Management

Jason Morris, Academic Director
ACU Box 29009
Abilene, Texas 79699-8252

Phone: 325-674-2830
Fax: 325-674-2123
Email: enrollmentmanagement@acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/grad

Faculty

Jason Morris, Associate Professor of Higher Education
Mark McCallon, Associate Professor of Library Science

Introduction

The Certificate in Enrollment Management is a 12-credit hour post-baccalaureate certificate. The certificate courses are offered in an online format with a mandatory residency session (offered in Dallas) designed to concentrate on practical skill development.

PLEASE NOTE: Because courses are offered online, students must have access to a computer with an internet connection and have sufficient technical proficiency for the online environment.

The mission of the Certificate in Enrollment management is to prepare entry and mid-level enrollment professionals for the ever-changing world of marketing, recruiting and retention of students in the higher education setting.

Primary purposes of the program are to equip and enable graduates who:

Integrate the historical underpinnings, functionality, and professional standards of enrollment management into professional practice.
Demonstrate an understanding of prospecting and enrollment marketing.
Administer appropriate admissions decisions strategies related to the recruitment and selection of students.
Demonstrate an understanding student orientation, advising, retention, and the ongoing management of enrollment.

Course work in this program has been designed to provide students with a depth of knowledge in the theory and practice of enrollment management. The inclusion of pricing, strategy, retention and student services reflects the importance of developing a holistic view of enrollment management within the broader higher education framework. Each student is introduced and immersed into concepts that will develop their capacity for advancement into positions of greater authority and effectiveness in their careers in higher education enrollment management.

Admission Requirements

Entrance into the program is not limited to any specific undergraduate degree. The admission requirements for the CER-EMC program are:

A completed application for admission with a nonrefundable application fee;
An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
Two letters of recommendation;
A written purpose statement describing the applicant’s reasons for wishing to enter the higher education program and future career plans; and
A résumé or curriculum vita.

Programs

Doctor of Education

Master of Education

Certificate

Courses

Education

Higher Education

Organizational Leadership