Prioritizing Educators.
Reimagining Leadership.
The Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership at TLU is built on one conviction: Educators are uniquely equipped to transform the practice of leadership.
Every day, educators make the world a better place by teaching to inspire growth and change. Grounded in that truth, TLU’s EdD program deepens the educator’s approach to leadership through rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary inquiry, preparing graduates to become leaders and to cultivate leadership qualities in others across educational and organizational contexts.
Program Design
The EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership honors your commitments to work and family. Every element of the program, from the cohort model to the dissertation sequence, is intentionally structured to preserve that balance while building your capacity to engage in rigorous doctoral work.
Three Year Design
6 courses per year, 18 credits per year,
54 total credits.
One Course at a Time
Focus on a single course for 8 weeks, 6 subterms per year.
Weekly Rhythm
Designed for 18 to 20 hours per week of dedicated study, approximately 3 hours a day, 6 days a week.
Cohort-Based
Small corhorts where professionals from education and other organizational settings bring distinct perspectives to shared leadership challenges.
Structured Dissertation Sequence
Progress steadily through 6 dissertation courses spread across the entire program, backed by ongoing, personal chair mentorship starting in Year 1.
Interdisciplinary Faculty
Scholar-practioners who teach and research across fields, bringing varied perspectives to how leadership is studied and practiced.
Core Corses
18 Credits
Leadership theory, ethics, communication, cultural intelligence, and data-driven decision making.
- EDUD 731AOrganizational Leadership Theory & Practice
- EDUD 732Leadership for Transformational Change & Innovation
- EDUD 733Communication & Leadership
- EDUD 734Leadership & Ethics
- EDUD 735Leadership, Diversity, and Cultural Intelligence
- EDUD 736Data-Driven Decision Making for Leaders
Research Courses
9 Credits
Qualitative, quantitative, and applied research design to prepare for dissertation work and evidence-informed practice.
- EDUD 831Qualitative Research Design
- EDUD 832Quantitative Research Design
- EDUD 833Applied Research Design
Dissertation Courses
18 Credits
6 courses spread across all 3 years, moving from problem identification through defense.
- EDUD 871Dissertation 1 | Framing the Research Study
- EDUD 872Dissertation 2 | Literature Review and Theoretical Foundations
- EDUD 873Dissertation 3 | Methodology and Approach
- EDUD 874Dissertation 4 | Data Analysis
- EDUD 875Dissertation 5 | Results and Implications
- EDUD 876Dissertation 6 | Manuscript Completion and Defense
Concentration Electives
9 Credits
3 courses specific to your chosen concentration. Elective offerings rotate each cycle.
Concentrations
Both concentrations share the same core, research, and dissertation coursework. Your concentration is defined by 3 elective courses and is recorded on your academic transcript.
Educational Leadership
For professionals leading in K-12 schools, districts, and educational organizations. Recent elective offerings include:
- EDUD 784DEquity-Focused School Leadership
- EDUD 784ECurrent Trends in Educational Leadership
- EDUD 784GEducational Leadership for Adaptive Learning
Organizational Leadership
For professionals leading across business, healthcare, nonprofits, government, and other organizational settings. Recent elective offerings include:
- EDUD 784AWomen & Leadership
- EDUD 784BPower Dynamics & Toxic Leadership
- EDUD 784FCollaborative Leadership: Dialogue, Negotiation, and Crisis Response
Students select 3 elective courses from their concentration. The program develops new electives regularly to address relevant and emerging topics in leadership.
- When
Summer 1 of Year 1 and Year 2
- Schedule
Thursday through Saturday, requiring only 2 days away from work
- Format
Summer 1 elective courses are delivered in a 6-week format, shorter than the standard 8-week subterm.
Years 1 and 2: The on-campus residency is integrated into the course.
Year 3: Fully online, no on-campus requirement.
Faculty & Program Leadership
Our program leadership and doctoral faculty are scholar-practitioners who teach and research across fields. This interdisciplinary composition is intentional: students encounter leadership from multiple disciplinary lenses, not just one.
Luigi Peñaranda, Ph.D.
Program Director | Organizational leadership, interdisciplinary studies, culture and leadership, education
Christopher Bollinger, Ph.D.
Communication and leadership, pedagogy, organizational safety
Monica Hernandez, Ph.D.
Strategic communication, marketing leadership, organizational influence
Georgianna Laws, Ed.D.
Online higher education leadership, learning systems and instructional design, AI and strategic innovation
Jeannette Jones, Ph.D.
Educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, teacher education
Amy Barrios, Ed.D.
Curriculum leadership, instructional design, online learning environments
Amanda Kaminski, Ph.D.
Nonprofit leadership, social entrepreneurship, conflict and peace studies
Jesús Carmona, Ph.D.
Data-driven decision making, analytics, information systems leadership
Kenneth Vaughan, Ph.D.
Sociology, community leadership, public health
Tony Aguirre, D.S.L.
Higher education admissions and enrollment
Admissions
The Ed.D. program admits cohorts beginning in August and January. Admission is cohort-based, and all coursework must be completed through TLU.
Earned Master's Degree
From a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Transcripts
Official transcripts from the institution awarding the master’s degree.
Professional Resume
Current resume or curriculum vitae.
Personal Statement
Prepared according to the Ed.D. Personal Statement Guidelines.
Writing Sample
Prepared according to the Ed.D. Writing Sample Guidelines.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition
$850 per credit hour. Students are responsible for books, course materials, and additional costs associated with the required on-campus residencies.
Financial Aid
Financial aid options are available to students who qualify. Students are encouraged to assess all their financial needs and explore sources of funding such as loans, grants, and outside scholarships. Start your FAFSA as soon as you apply (TLU Federal School Code: 003641).
NC-SARA
TLU is a member of NC-SARA, which means students from across the United States can enroll in the Ed.D. program. NC-SARA also provides student protections and a resolution process for any concerns that may arise. Learn more at nc-sara.org.