Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation

Arizona State University - Kaplan International

The Doctor of Education program in leadership and innovation prepares scholarly practitioners and is designed for practicing educator-leaders who work in a range of settings who want to transform and improve their practice to create better learning opportunities for students of all ages. This three-year, cohort-based program is offered in two modalities: hybrid (a combination of classes delivered at ASU's West Valley campus and online) and 100% online, with similar coursework and structure and taught by the same faculty. Students begin as accomplished teachers, teacher leaders, principals, superintendents, higher education professionals or leaders in other educational contexts. Through the coursework, students deepen their abilities to lead change and implement innovation in their local educational organizations. The program focuses on action research and includes required coursework, strengthening students' abilities to reflectively and critically think about problems of practice in one of the following contexts: pre-K--12 change leadership higher education change leadership or systems, professional and reimagined change leadership. Differentiation among these contexts and students' interests occurs within the required coursework and program-related activities as students apply their learning to their specific work contexts. Students conduct multiple cycles of inquiry throughout the program and learn research within their own workplace. They have multiple opportunities to virtually share their ongoing research throughout each academic year. Leader-scholar communities, formed at the end of the first year and consisting of six to seven students and one faculty member, meet regularly for the second and third years of the program to supply academic and personal support. Through these communities, students support each other, under faculty guidance, in the conceptualization, implementation and study of change initiatives. Each student's community leader serves as the dissertation chair, along with two additional committee members who ultimately make up the doctoral committee. Successful students make a commitment to continuing systematic study of their professional practice and sustaining innovation and leadership by making a positive difference in their local settings. The program aims to enable more thoughtful, intentional and informed leaders who are willing and able to implement and study continuous improvement.