Georgian Court University will soon offer a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership as its proposal to do so was approved by the State of New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. GCU anticipates launching the program in Fall 2025.
This milestone represents the final step in the university’s journey to establish the program, which is designed to prepare leaders in PreK–12 education, higher education administration, and education policy.
Graduates will be equipped for positions such as school principals, superintendents, deans, provosts and policy advocates.
The 54-credit, cohort-based program can be completed in three years. Designed for both novice and experienced leaders, the program emphasizes practical leadership development, educational management and rigorous research training.
“The approval of our second doctoral program marks an exciting chapter for the university,” Joseph Marbach, president of Georgian Court said. “The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership reflects our commitment to academic excellence and preparing leaders to make a profound impact in their fields. We look forward to welcoming the first cohort of students in Fall 2025.”
Program highlights include:
● Cohort model and small class sizes: Students can develop meaningful professional connections while expanding their networks.
● Flexible online learning with on-campus and international experiences: Students will engage in convenient online coursework, field experiences, a weekend residency, a weeklong residency on campus, and a weeklong international study experience.
● Comprehensive dissertation support: From day one, students are paired with faculty advisors and receive access to methodological resources to ensure a successful dissertation process.
● Field-relevant instruction: The coursework is applicable to public and private education, higher education, government, and business leadership.
● Experienced faculty mentors: Students will benefit from the guidance of faculty with real-world experience and a passion for mentoring future education leaders.
“This program equips leaders to create inclusive and effective educational environments to address the current challenges. Students will be challenged to reflect and apply theory to practice,” Amuhelang (Amu) Magaya, an associate professor in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, and the program’s director, said. “Students will start to work on their dissertation in the first semester. This will ensure that they finish their coursework and dissertation in a timely manner.”
Prospective students can learn more about the program, admission requirements, and application deadlines by clicking here.
