Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Overview

The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program is designed for candidates seeking careers in institutional assessment, policy analysis, institutional leadership, higher education administration, student affairs, or the professoriate.

Doctoral students in this program receive a broad foundation in the study of educational leadership and policy development through a wide range of course offerings focused on both K-12 leadership and higher education.

Program Advantages & Learning Outcomes

• Expanded career options and higher salary potential.
• Explore evidence-based approaches to education and learn to develop logical and research reasoning skills.
• Improve expertise in chosen dissertation, in consultation with dissertation chair and faculty members.

Career Opportunities 

Our Ph.D. helps give you the expertise needed to become a leader in education. Professional employment opportunities after graduation may include: 

• Administration professional in institutions of higher education.
• Administrator or superintendent in PK-12 education.
• Professor of educational leadership.
• Educational consultant or research. 
• Policy-making roles.  

Completion Time 

At UTA, our Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies a flexible, on-campus program designed for both full-time students and working adults interested in a part-time program. Our average doctoral candidate completes this program in approximately 4 years. However, the exact length of the program may vary by student.

Among the benefits: 

• Students are admitted in fall semesters into a cohort system. This means you will be admitted with a group of about 10-15 students and complete most of your coursework with this same group of students. You are allowed to choose some electives, so those courses may vary from the traditional cohort system.
• The program requires 66 credit hours in total. Students typically take two courses per term (6 credits) for the first two years (with the first summer included).
• The required courses are offered on Monday and Thursday evenings. Electives are offered on Wednesday evenings if students choose to take more than six credits per term. If students do take electives at the same time as their required coursework, they will then be able to begin their dissertation work early. The student, in collaboration with their dissertation chair, sets their pace on completing the dissertation.

Transfer Credits

We allow for a limited number of transfer credits in our program.

Up to three of the other courses (no more than 9 credits) may be doctoral-level electives offered by the department faculty, doctoral-level courses offered outside the department, independent studies with department faculty, or previously taken doctoral-level courses whose credits are applied toward the elective requirement. Courses taken outside the department must be approved by the student’s dissertation advisor, the department chair, and program coordinator prior to enrolling in the course(s). Your faculty advisor may approve you to take a masters elective in lieu of a doctoral-level elective, provided the instructor is willing to provide instruction at the doctoral level for you. In general, you are asking to transfer electives from a different program at a different level, so we may want to discuss whether our doctoral program aligns to your goals.

For more information and to make the request, please contact one of our graduate advisors.

Cost & Paying for School

View the UTA Tuition Estimator for an approximate calculation of required tuition and mandatory fees. 

The estimated cost for tuition and mandatory fees is $3,628 as of Spring 2024 for an in-state, Texas resident enrolling in 6 credit hours (two courses) of graduate coursework through the College of Education. 

Please note that the cost can vary by student in relation to that student's individual circumstances. Additional fees may apply.

For the best approximation of your school costs for tuition and fees, visit the UTA Tuition Estimator.

 

Funding Opportunities 

UTA offers competitive funding options.

View the College of Education's Scholarships and Paying for School page for a list of competitive scholarships, grants, financial aid, and more that candidates may be eligible for to help pay for school. Additionally, view more Funding Opportunities on the Graduate School Website.

 

Funding for Graduate Assistants 

UTA has expanded graduate tuition support to cover 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for Ph.D. students who are employed half-time as a graduate teaching assistant, graduate research assistant, or as a teaching or research associate. Opportunities are competitive and availability is limited.

Learn More. 

 

Funding for UTA Employees

UTA employees may be eligible to use the Employee Tuition Affordability Program to help pay for school. Details are online. 

Additional Information

View the Official Catalog to view the admissions requirements, dissertation information, degree plan details, and more.