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Georgian Court University (GCU) is proud to announce that the State of New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) has approved its proposal to offer a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. 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. GCU anticipates launching the program in Fall 2025.
Georgian Court’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a 54-credit, cohort-based program that can be completed in three years, including the dissertation phase. 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,” remarked Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D., President of Georgian Court. “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 an optional 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,” explained Amuhelang (Amu) Magaya, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, and the program’s director. “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.”
Dr. Magaya continued, “This nontraditional dissertation approach model is student-centered and focuses on helping the students throughout their dissertation writing. The program also offers two on-campus residencies and a culminating optional international residency for one week. With rigorous coursework and a unique international experience, students will expand their intellectual capacity and be able to value diverse perspectives and backgrounds.”
Prospective students can learn more about the program, admission requirements, and application deadlines by visiting georgian.edu/doctor-of-education.
