Want to be a principal or school administrator? Prepare to Lead & Serve at Milligan.
The environment of education is ever changing. Our world needs transformative leaders in preK-12 education who are committed to educational quality and educational innovation and who are well-trained in strong organizational and human resource management, school finance, public policy, current legal issues, technology, and how to lead organizational change. Milligan’s Ed.D. program is uniquely designed to help meet that need.
Fast Facts
- COST: The most economical program in the region, below ETSU cost
- PREREQUISITES: Master’s degree and 3 years experience in educational practice
- COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 57 hours for Ed.D.; 39 hours for Ed.S.
- LENGTH: 24-30 months for Ed.D.; 18 months for Ed.S.
- TYPICAL COURSE LOAD: 3-4 courses per term, online and face-to-face
- SCHEDULE: New cohorts start each June (apply by March 30)
- LICENSURE: Instructional Leadership
We have had a successful on-campus experience in 2020-21, with relatively low virus numbers. Our 2021-22 terms also will be offered on-campus. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus community, where we provide a distinctive educational experience while ensuring everyone’s health and safety. See our COVID-19 response plan »
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
Certify to become a principal or school administrator in this 57 hour, two-year program leading to a license in Instructional Leadership. The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership leverages the strengths of Milligan’s teacher education and business faculty, curriculum, and school partnerships to prepare system-level leaders in American preK-12 education. The program leads currently practicing elementary and secondary school teachers toward certification as school administrators, primarily as principals or assistant principals.
Graduates of Milligan’s 24-30 month Ed.D. program are uniquely prepared to become principals and administrators in public and non-public school systems, nonprofits, and government agencies. The Ed.D. is a full-time practice-based program built on a cohort learning model of approximately 10-20 students who progress through the program together.
Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
Advance your classroom teaching certification and leadership skills with this 39 hour, 18-month program. The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) allows candidates who don’t need a doctorate to develop a specialized knowledge with many of the same courses in the Ed.D. program, but without the requirement to write a dissertation.
Schedule
This program is designed to accommodate busy schedules. Courses are offered in both face-to-face and online platforms each semester.
Curriculum
Degree candidates will gain a deep understanding of the context of American education from anthropological, historical, and sociological perspectives, and of the central elements of instructional, organizational, public, and evidenced-based leadership.
Ed.D. Program
The Ed.D. program consists of a 57 hour curriculum, including 45 didactic hours and 12 hours of dissertation studies. The course work consists of face-to-face classes, hybrid classes, and online classes. Some of the hybrid courses include Saturday residencies. Nine hours of the didactic work in each degree are cross-listed with courses from Milligan’s MBA program.
Curriculum for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Degree (57 semester hours):
Ed.S. Program
The Ed.S. program consists of the 39 hours of the Ed.D. program (without the dissertation).
Curriculum for the Education Specialist Degree (39 semester hours):
- EDUC 712 Using Qualitative Methods to Evaluate Program Development (3 hrs)
- EDUC 716 Literacy for Instructional Leaders (3 hrs)
- EDUC 721 Ethical and Instructional Evaluation Practices (3 hrs)
- EDUC 726 Mentoring and Professional Development (3 hrs)
- EDUC 730 Management and Leadership (3 hrs)
- EDUC 732 Leading Organizational Change (3 hrs)
- EDUC 735 Managing Human Resources (3 hrs)
- EDUC 737 School Finance (3 hrs)
- EDUC 741 Advanced Parent and Education Involvement (3 hrs)
- EDUC 750 Data Analysis and School Improvement (3 hrs)
- EDUC 762 School Organization and Law (3 hrs)
- EDUC 765 Technology Leadership (3 hrs)
- EDUC 770A Professional Seminar (1 hr)
- EDUC 770B Professional Seminar (1 hr)
- EDUC 770C Professional Seminar (1 hr)
Catalog
View all details and course requirements for this program in the Milligan University Catalog (link below). The Milligan University academic catalog is the official, authoritative source for all academic requirements and policies. Any discrepancies in curricular requirements from other sources will default to the Catalog.
VIEW CATALOG FOR Ed.S. » VIEW CATALOG FOR Ed.D. »
Outstanding Reputation & Partner Schools
- One of only 9 programs with an “Exceeds Expectations” rating on the State Board of Education Report Card
- Second and third-year employment retention rates exceed the state average
- Our employed teacher graduates “exceed expectations” on measures related to teacher observations and student-growth scores, scoring well above the state average
Milligan values the close relationships it has nurtured with over a dozen area K-12 school systems through its teacher education program. Many of the leaders in these schools received their undergraduate and/or M.Ed. degree from Milligan. Representatives of our partner school systems served on the planning committee for this degree program.
The University’s reputation for producing well-prepared, creative, committed teachers is unparalleled. School administrators consistently look to Milligan as a resource for both hiring and training, regularly calling on faculty to lead workshops for in-services and to collaborate on various education issues. Thousands of our graduates are serving as teachers, coaches, counselors, and administrators in schools across the United States.
NCATE (now CAEP) accreditation means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized in Tennessee and the nation for its quality. Milligan’s commitment to meet NCATE quality standards means we take great care in seeing you gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for success as a professional educator. Read more about our accreditation below.
Mentored Experience
There’s nothing like walking into a classroom or office and seeing how theory learned in the classroom is applied to real-world situations. So the mentored experience is a critical part of the Milligan teacher education program and of real benefit to our degree candidates.
Working with principals and district personnel from each candidate’s school system, each degree candidate is assigned to a mentor working in a different capacity (early childhood/elementary, middle/secondary, district office) each term (EDUC 770 A,B,C).
Throughout this practicum experience, the candidate will complete projects related to each term’s coursework, as well as use the experience to develop the required portfolio. Candidates meet monthly in a professional seminar designed to enhance their experience. The seminar promotes reflection, in-depth discussion, and collaborative action research. Candidates will use the practicum experience to identify a real-world problem to be used as the basis for their dissertation.
Affordable
Milligan’s program is one of the most economical education programs in our region and is even priced below the local state university rate. Students in this program are eligible to apply for state and federal tuition assistance programs and for employer reimbursement when applicable. Ask us how our costs compare to other similar institutions and programs! Read more about cost and financial aid here »
Also, the state of Tennessee offers several scholarship and grant programs for undergraduate and graduate students (Tennessee residents). Visit https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/topic/loan-forgiveness-programs to learn more.
Caring Faculty & Personal Attention
At Milligan, graduate courses are taught by professors with doctorates in education or related fields who have a wide variety of experiences in education in both urban and rural settings. Graduate courses at Milligan are small, allowing professors to interact closely with students for individual attention and supervision throughout their program. Our faculty are role models and mentors, and they will challenge you and stretch your mind and spirit.
Teaching you is more than a job to our faculty — it’s a mission. They are dedicated teachers, experienced professionals, and trusted mentors who invest time, energy, and ideas to inspire you and help you reach your highest potential. It’s not just a degree. It’s your future.
Christian Worldview
Today’s schools are challenged as never before. Faced with increasingly diverse student bodies and phenomenal technological change, contemporary schools need to provide quality services for all children. Now more than ever, children need teachers who are committed to excellence in the classroom and to Jesus Christ. It is our belief educators prepared in such a way will make a difference in the school and community where they live and serve.
“Caring and Reflective Teacher,” the theme of our department, is interwoven throughout our program. Our primary goal is to produce caring and reflective professional educators who will affect the lives of children in a markedly positive manner.
Accreditation
The teacher education program at Milligan is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) (2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-466-7496). This accreditation covers initial teacher and advanced educator preparation programs. This accreditation means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized in Tennessee and the nation for its quality. We take great care in seeing you gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for success as a professional educator.
In 2013, NCATE and TEAC consolidated into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) as the new accrediting body for educator preparation.
