Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for the Diverse Learning Communities

Both program tracks of the Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities Ed.D. program follow the same philosophy, curriculum, and program completion requirements. The program is offered on a part-time basis, with participants completing 6 credits each semester. The cohort-based course work may be completed in three years, followed by the dissertation sequence, which may be completed in three additional semesters, or one and half years. The Ed.D. curriculum includes required courses, cognates (electives) and guided dissertation development. Participants will complete a minimum of 54 credits of coursework to complete the program, including the dissertation design courses. Continuous registration is required until the dissertation is defended.

Blended (Hybrid) On-Campus Program Track
In each course of the blended (hybrid) on-campus Ed.D. program students engage in the following learning activities:

• • Each course will meet for 15 hours of face-to-face instruction, spread between five (5) Saturdays each semester
  • Participate in a minimum of 25 hours of online learning
  • Engage in 5 hours of field work per course

Online Program Track
All required courses, cognates and the guided dissertation development are offered online and will include:

• 40 hours of synchronous and/or asynchronous online learning experiences
• Engage in 5 hours of field work per course

The Molloy Ed.D. program can prepare you for contemporary educational leadership roles to support diverse environments. It responds to the varied research interests of our doctoral students, including leadership for social justice, culturally responsive pedagogies and special populations such as English language learners (ELLs), students with disabilities and other special needs or gifted populations.

You’ll work with Molloy faculty to develop modes of inquiry for creating a systematic and orderly way to observe curricular and instructional issues and develop a plan of action to address authentic, contemporary educational topics concerning diverse learners. This close collaboration with our faculty bridges the gap between theory and practice to help you become an agent of change and assure equity in your current and future educational settings.

We sustain a culture of mutual respect with a low faculty-to-student ratio, which allows for engagement with our students via ongoing dialogue for personal mentoring, collaborative inquiry and practice.

To ensure that you receive the guidance necessary to help you complete your doctoral studies, you’ll receive an initial adviser, cohort mentor and dissertation mentor who’ll work with you to facilitate your progress of study, advisement and research development. Your cohort adviser guides you through the program’s required coursework. Your dissertation mentor is assigned in year two once your dissertation research topic is finalized.

The Molloy doctoral program emphasizes ethical leadership, innovative instruction, curriculum changes and public policy as it applies to diversity and the diverse needs of all learners to develop educational leaders who are:

• Well versed in the importance of ethical decision making
• Aware of—and responsive to—current local, state, national and international education trends
• Knowledgeable of the historical underpinnings of the American educational experience
• Informed policymakers willing to make instructional, programmatic and policy changes in local school settings that are necessary for educational achievement for all