Program Faculty
Department Chairperson
Frimpomaa Ampaw, Ph.D.
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-3781; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: frimpomaa.ampaw@morgan.edu
Program Director
Omari Jackson, Ph.D.
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-1906; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: UrbanedleadershipWarren.Hayman@morgan.edu
Faculty
Rhonda Baylor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-3384; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: rhonda.baylor@morgan.edu
Omari Jackson, Ph.D., Associate Professor
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-5404; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: omari.jackson@morgan.edu
Gretchen Rudham, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-1984; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: gretchen.rudhamOmari.jackson@morgan.edu
Dia Sekayi, Ph.D., Associate Professor
315 Banneker Building
Tel: (443) 885-4384; Fax: (443) 885-8238
E-Mail: dia.sekayi@morgan.edu
Program Description
The Urban Educational Leadership Program provides an educational experience that will prepare doctoral candidates to assume leadership positions in urban school systems and other educational agencies including, but not limited to positions as educational administrators, planners, researchers of social policy, fiscal officers, development officers, and facilities and operations analysts.
Program Objectives
The program of study in Urban Educational Leadership is designed to help students:
- To develop a realistic and functional philosophy of urban educational administration and leadership, combined with the skills needed to translate that philosophy into the effective operation of educational institutions.
- To develop skills in identifying, designing, and implementing innovative programs geared to improving the nature and quality of teaching and learning.
- To develop and refine technical skills necessary for the effective organization and management of urban educational institutions.
- To develop skills in integrating the broad spectrum of educational community resources, toward the end of creating and sustaining wholesome and rewarding learning environments.
- To develop skills in the creation and utilization of empirical research findings in the solution of urban problems and in the design of innovations for the improvement of urban educational systems.
General Requirements
Candidates for the Urban Educational Leadership degree must complete a minimum of 51 academic credit hours, pass the comprehensive exam, and submit and successfully defend a research-based dissertation.
C Grade Policy
All students are required to pass departmental research courses at the level of B or better. Courses for which a student has gained a C must be retaken. A student will not be allowed to take the comprehensive exams until such courses have been re-taken and a grade of B or better has been earned. The following courses are included the C Grade policy:
Admission
To be eligible for admission to the Ed.D. Program in Urban Education, an applicant must submit the following items:
Stage I: All applicants
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Complete academic transcripts documenting the possession of an earned Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
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Evidence of scholastic ability as demonstrated by the achievement of a 3.0 cumulative graduate point average (GPA) in all graduate study.
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An autobiographical statement stressing experience in/commitment to urban education. In particular, the candidate should be prepared to explain how the possession of a terminal degree in educational leadership will assist in the evolution of the individual’s professional goal.
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A minimum of three written professional recommendations in support of the application (at least one of which should be from a person with a doctorate who can attest to the applicant’s capacity for successful study at the doctoral level).
Stage II: Applicants who successfully clear the first stage of review
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A personal interview by the Doctoral Admissions Committee
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An impromptu expository writing sample is a part of the interview process. This writing sample is a critical component of the application procedure and is reviewed closely by the entire admissions committee.
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant. The decision of the Doctoral Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program. The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission should be made based on that review.
Candidacy and Dissertation Procedures
Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the qualifying examination and defending the dissertation proposal. Once a student achieves candidacy, enrollment in any course other than 799, 797, 998, or 997 is generally prohibited. Students seeking additional skills, knowledge, or a certificate must seek approval through the program up to the School of Graduate Studies. The request must be accompanied with a revised Plan of Study.
DISSERTATION PROCEDURES
Note: Guidance and Pre-Candidacy courses cannot be used to fulfill academic, curricular credits. These courses are used only when the curriculum has been completed, and the student is completing the comprehensive exam or the research for and writing of the dissertation. The course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student. EDUC 997 must be repeated until the completed thesis is deposited with the School of Graduate Studies. Other courses cannot be substituted for Dissertation/Thesis Guidance. The only eligible grade for GRAD 793, 797, 993, 997 is the S grade.
Pre-Candidacy
The student must apply to take the comprehensive exam. In order to be approved to take the exam the student must have completed 42 credits including the research block (EDSR 604, 719, 810, 819, & 822), and have no Incompletes or “F’s” on the transcript.
5. Once the student passes the comprehensive exam, he/she/they must complete a dissertation committee approval form to submit to the Program Director. Once approved, the student works with the committee chair to draft the dissertation proposal.
6. Committee Chair determines when the proposal is sufficiently refined to be sent to the entire committee. 7. IRB application may be made at any time between approval of the concept paper and completion of the proposal. IRB posts yearly the deadlines for applications.
8. When the committee has approved the proposal it is sent to the Program Director with a tentative defense date. The Program Director will forward the proposal and dates to the Department Chairperson.
9. After successful proposal defense, the student begins data collection and should register for EDUC 997 until the degree requirements are completed.
Candidacy
10. The dissertation is then prepared in consultation with the Committee Chair and members as appropriate. Meetings of the entire committee may be scheduled as needed for approval for defense.The committee chair determines when the dissertation is ready to be sent to the entire committee.
12. When all requested revisions have been made, the dissertation is sent to the Program Director for approval to defend.
13. Defense is held. Appropriate documentation is sent to the Department Chair.
14. Final phase of dissertation must earn a “pass” or “pass with minor modifications,” to go forward to the School of Graduate Studies. The Program of Study form must be completed, to include all required signatures and dates. If the dissertation committee assigns “pass with major modifications,” the student must re-file for graduation no sooner than the next official graduation date.
Additional Requirements
If recommended by the dissertation committee chairperson, students may engage a professional editor for the dissertation. The editor may be contracted to assist with grammar/mechanics (e.g. spelling, subject/verb agreement) and APA formatting, but should not be involved with the substantive matters of the document (e.g. additions, deletions, or suggestions regarding subject or methodological content).
Program Course Requirements 51 credits
EdD Urban Educational Leadership 51 Credits
Specialization 12 credits
Research Courses 15 credits
A grade of “C” requires you to retake the course. Courses are to be taken in the order listed.
Elective Courses 3 credits
Elective can be any 600 level course across the University.
- XXXX - 600 level course 3 credits
Clinical Studies/Internship 3 credits
Dissertation Courses 3 credits
*Can be repeated if necessary
EDUC 997 /EDUC 998 3 credits*
Note
Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student must continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for EDUC 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review. The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation. The EDUC 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).
After the intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to EDUC 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (EDUC 998 will also count as 9 credits of load). EDUC 997 will not count toward curricular credits. Other courses cannot be substituted for EDUC 997 (Dissertation Guidance). The only eligible grade for EDUC 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for EDUC 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).
Appeals Process
In general, students may appeal any decision that results in a dismissal recommendation (e.g. comprehensive exam failure, an excess of grades C or below, lack of adequate progress through the dissertation). Appeals to faculty decisions should be submitted first to the faculty member, then to the Department Chairperson (with a copy to the Program Director). Appeals to Program Director decisions should be submitted to the Department Chairperson. Appeals should be made in writing (e-mail preferred, hard copy acceptable) within 60 days of the decision.
Suggested Curriculum Sequence
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