Educational Leadership (PhD)

1. Complete the FREE online application: Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials and instructions for submitting supplemental materials as listed below.
2. Essay: Applicants will be asked to write 2 statements:
   • In two to three double-spaced pages, please describe significant life experiences that have contributed to your interest in your field, your understanding of this field, your occupational objectives, and why you have chosen Springfield College. 
   • Please develop a three to five page document addressing the following prompt: Identify a significant problem of practice faced in your work setting or community, including an analysis of why this is a problem and how it relates to equity and education. Please also address how this problem relates to your interest in pursuing a PhD in educational leadership.*
     • *The committee will be examining this writing sample with an eye toward how the candidate integrates relevant scholarly literature to support their statement. 
3. Resume: Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study. 
4. Three letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from a faculty member or direct supervisor: Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.
5. Interview: Upon review of all admissions materials, applicants being considered for admission will be interviewed (via Zoom) by two program faculty. We anticipate interviews will begin in March.
6. Master's Degree: This program requires a master's degree.
7. Transcripts: An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu or mailed to the college address: 

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
​​​​​​​Springfield, MA 01109

All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:

• Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
• Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

• Priority Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: March 1
• Final Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: March 15

Program Competencies

We use nine competencies to serve as the foundation to guide your learning and scholarly pursuits. These competencies were developed to guide curriculum development and prepare leaders to advance equity and racial justice in the U.S. educational system.

Leadership

1. Identify one’s strengths and challenges as a leader and seek opportunities to develop skills.
2. Nurture and advance an inclusive cohesive team and stakeholders to think strategically, critically, and creatively.
3. Apply leadership theory and models.
4. Take intelligent and ethically informed risks to create social change.
5. Develop confidence and the capacity of individuals to promote equity in organizations.   

Equity, Social Justice, and Inclusion

1. Explain the systematic impact educational inequity has on society at large and develop strategies to create equity.
2. Critically and systematically examine questions and problems of practice to generate equitable solutions.
3. Use analytical and research methods appropriate to dismantling systems of oppression.
4. Advocate for more equitable practice.
5. Engage in consciousness-raising and lead by example in a way that allows others to learn and progress toward equity mindedness.

Historical Context of U.S. Educational Systems

1. Describe the historical foundations of inequity in educational structures.
2. Compare and contrast current issues with historical trends.
3. Critique social and cultural issues and situate them in contemporary issues.

Teaching and Learning

1. Apply pedagogy that educates diverse populations and creates an inclusive and just teaching and learning environment.
2. Articulate how theoretical constructs influence learning and development.

Law, Policy, Governance

1. Interpret how current laws and policies impact educational systems and promote or discourage inequity.
2. Critically analyze state and federal laws and policy to dismantle inequities.

Administration and Organizational Resources

1. Identify public and private educational funding sources.
2. Critically analyze how the appropriation of resources affect equity.
3. Examine the governance of educational systems. 

Professional Scholarship

1. Develop a professional plan to keep knowledge and skills current.
2. Present relevant information in a clear, organized manner, and convey essential information to appropriate audiences.

Research

1. Examine strengths and limits of research methodologies.
2. Apply concepts, strategies, and techniques to conduct rigorous ethical research using multiple methodological approaches.
3. Generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution in leading the work to dismantle inequity in education.

Civic Engagement

1. Connect with local and external resources to advance equity in education.
2. Examine local and state context to create solutions for systemic educational issues.