Program

Applications for the next intake for Spring (May) 2024 open Dec. 15, 2023.
The application deadline is March 31, 2024.

ProgramExpected LengthProject and/or thesisCourse based
Ed.D.3 years

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership is intended for professionals seeking to solve problems of practice within their profession. The program is intended to equip graduates for improved educational leadership and applied educational research in their current and future organizations with educational mandates.

The program is facilitated over three years with a blend of online and in-person courses to allow working professionals to enroll and to maintain work commitments. Upon completing this program, graduates will be well positioned for advancement in a variety of K-12, postsecondary and social sector settings where evidence-based and solution-oriented educational leadership is valued.

Please be advised that a graduate degree from the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan does not lead to a qualification for licensure for teaching in Saskatchewan or Canada.

Please note: the program courses are offered sequentially and attendance is mandatory for the initial in-person training. As well, this program is offered online with the exception of the first 2 week course in Summer, and students are responsible to ensure that have the correct immigration permits to attend for that portion of the program.

By completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate that they have the capacities to:

  • Provide value-rich and competent leadership in their organizations to make positive differences in the lives of individuals, communities, and across the human service professions
  • Recognize leadership as collaboratively co-constructed, as practical and respectful engagement with specific contexts and circumstances
  • Model positive relationships and responsive communication strategies to authentically engage others in reciprocal learning and mission attainment
  • Use practice-based research and theory to examine and activate change, blending practical wisdom with professional skills and knowledge
  • Contribute to the development of a knowledge base focused on research-informed leadership practice
Program threads that run throughout include:
  • Ethical leadership
  • Social justice and equity
  • Indigenous ways of knowing and contexts
  • Comparative and international contexts and challenges

Program structure

Over the course of three years, students will join a cohort of peers through 10 courses while designing and conducting research into a problem of practice.

Year 1

In the first year, students will develop a disciplinary breadth and depth in the field of Educational Leadership. The summer courses will take place in person over two weeks.

Term Course
Summer (2 weeks) EADM 990: Seminar
EADM 862.3: Advances in Educational Leadership Systems
Fall EADM 863.3: Educational Leadership and Governance (Online)
Winter EADM 864.3: Educational Leadership for Transformation (Online)
Spring Approved elective (online or in-person)

Year 2

In the second year, students will identify a problem of practice and design a study to investigate the problem. The coursework will focus on developing the research skills necessary for the final year of the program. The summer courses will take place in person over two weeks.

Term Course
Summer (2 weeks) EADM 990: Seminar
EADM 865.3: Framing Educational Problems of Practice
Fall EADM 866.3: Practice-based Educational Research (Online)
Winter EADM 867.3: Educational Improvement (Online)
Spring Approved elective (online or in-person)

Year 3

In the final year of the program, students will carry out their research project and defend their disseration. The summer courses will take place in person over two weeks.

Term Course
Summer (1 week) EADM 990: Seminar
EADM 868.3: Edcuational Leadership Problems of Practice 1
Fall/Winter EADM 869.3: Educational Leadership Problems of Practice 2 (Online)
Spring EADM 990: Seminar
Summer Dissertation defence

Throughout the program, the EADM 990 Seminars will be used to develop a portfolio demonstrating evidence of learning and development. Students will be assessed through comprehensive exams at the beginning of years two and three to demonstrate mastery of the field of educational leadership and readiness for evidence-based inquiry.

Research supervisors and cohort-learning model

You will not need to identify a potential supervisor to apply to this program. These assignments will take place as the program unfolds. However, you are encouraged to review faculty research and writing areas to better understand the research interests and expertise of our department.

In this unique applied program, you will participate in a cohort model of learning with others who have demonstrated direct educational leadership experiences. Cohorts are estimated to range from 16 to 32 students in any given year. Within your EdD cohort, you will form a Doctoral Learning Team with six to eight others and be supervised by two faculty members and an adjunct faculty member or professional affiliate.

Due to the cohort model and the subject matter of courses in the EdD program, students from other programs will not be permitted to enrol in the EdD courses.

Name Research areas
David BurgessOrganizational Theory, Modelling and Analysis, Educational and Administrative Law
Michael CottrellNative-newcomer Relations, Indigenous Education, International and Comparative Education, Educational Leadership
Gordon MartellIndigenous Education, Leadership and Organizational Development, Network Leadership and Learning Improvement
Paul NewtonSchool Improvement, The Principalship, Leadership, Staff Development
Janet OkokoSchool leadership development, immigrant & minority education, socially empowered learning, monitoring and evaluation of education initiatives
Vicki SquiresPost-secondary education, leadership, assessment and evaluation, organizational theory, scholarship of teaching and learning
Keith WalkerLeadership & followership systems, development of flourishing learning organizations, fostering well-being, good governance & ethical decision making
Dawn WallinEducational administration and leadership, rural education and governance, equity issues in education
Jing XiaoComparative and international education, governance and administration in post-secondary education

Tuition and funding

Funding

In your application, you should identify your financial status, and state if attendance is contingent on receiving financial aid. Students are supported in applying for university funding after acceptance through a limited number of scholarships and assistantships. You are encouraged to investigate all options for funding.

Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.

Tuition

Program Canadian students International students
Doctor of Education $35,000.00 CAD $35,000.00 CAD

Tuition will be assessed at a rate of $3,500 CAD per term.

Student fees

In addition to tuition above, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services. The amount you need to pay depends on if you are taking classes full time or part time, and if you are on campus or not. The table below assumes you are on campus full-time.

Fall 2023 Winter 2024 Spring 2024 Summer 2024
Student fees $497.88 CAD $659.51 CAD $35.00 CAD $35.00 CAD

Tuition information is accurate for the current academic year and does not include student fees. For detailed tuition and fees information, visit the official tuition website.

Admission requirements

Doctor of Education

  • A master's degree from a recognized college or university
  • A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units)
  • Proof of English language proficiency will be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
  • A minimum of five years direct educational leadership experience in organizational and educational contexts
  • Portfolio of work, including:
    • Statement of educational leadership development goals
    • Statement of problem of practice interests
    • Writing samples
    • A curriculum vitae or resume that includes detailed evidence of leadership experience
    • Letters of recommendation
  • Interview

Application process

Submit an online application

Before beginning your online application, be sure that you have carefully reviewed all program information and admission requirements on this page.

During the application, you'll be asked for:

  • Personal information such as your name, address, etc.
  • Contact information of your three referees
    • For your letters of recommendation, two of your referees must be academic contacts, and the third may be academic or professional
  • Your complete academic history from all previous post-secondary institutions

The application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may save your application and return to it later.

At the end of the application, you will need to pay a non-refundable $120 application fee. Your application will not be processed until payment is received.

Submit required documents

Once you've submitted your online application, you will have access to upload your required documents, and provide the contact information for your references. To do this, go to the "Supplemental Items & Documents" tab in your application, and upload the documents outlined below.

Preliminary Statement of Marks

  • Once you have submitted your application for admission and paid the application fee, you will be required to upload unofficial PDF copies of your academic transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended. This requirement will appear as Preliminary Statement of Marks or Additional Prelim. Statement under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.
  • The uploaded transcript can be an unofficial copy of the transcript issued by the university or college, and must include a grading key/legend.
  • All pages of a transcript must be uploaded as a single PDF document.
  • Uploaded transcripts will be considered unofficial or preliminary. Official copies of your transcripts will be required only for applicants offered admission. This requirement will appear as Post-secondary Transcript under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.

Uploading documents

Post-secondary Transcripts

If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent (by mail in a sealed envelope directly from the institution) to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.

College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place 
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9

  • Transcripts usually indicate the institution’s name, grading scheme (typically on back of transcript), your name, course names, numbers, credits, and the grades you have received. Depending on the country or institution, some features may not be available.
  • Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
  • If you are a current University of Saskatchewan student completing your undergraduate program then a letter of completion of degree requirements will be required from your college.

Proof of English language proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.

For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:

  • It is your responsibility to have completed an official and approved test with the appropriate score before the application deadline.
  • Tests are valid for 24 months after the testing date and must be valid at the beginning of the student's first term of registration in the graduate program.
  • Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of any required language test score. Uploaded test scores will be considered unofficial or preliminary.

Uploading documents

If you receive an Offer of Admission you may be required to have your official language test scores sent to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.

College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building - 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9

  • A curriculum vitae or resume that includes detailed evidence of leadership experience
  • A statement/letter of intent: Statement of educational leadership development goals that includes reasons for applying to the EdD program (500 word maximum)
  • A research statement: In fewer than 500 words, a statement describing your academic interests in the study of the administration or leadership of schools, educational programming, or educational systems.
  • Writing samples: Samples of professional and scholarly work (minimum of two, maximum of five) that demonstrate professional and scholarly capabilities

The application will receive a holistic review by the Department of Educational Administration Graduate Programs Committees. Reviewers will comment on the evidence presented. Comment will be sought on the following:

  1. Professional Background of the Applicant:
    • Five or more years of professional experience in educational leadership roles
    • Competence for professional communication suited to mid-level managers and beyond
    • Commitment to education leadership development
  2. Scholarly potential for the Applicant:
    • Academic standing
    • Relevance of disciplinary backgrounds
    • Demonstrated writing ability
    • Demonstrated ability for independent though, advanced study, and independent research
  3. Areas for contribution to the EdD cohort of learners of the applicant
    • Experiences related to topic threads of Indigenous ways of knowing and contexts, comparative and international contexts and challenges for education, social justice and equity, and ethical leadership
    • Special talents, skills or aptitudes for cohort-based learning

Following the first review of applications, successful candidates will be asked to participate in an interview and portfolio review.

Contact

Department of Educational Administration
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3079
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1

Graduate Chair
Dr. Michael Cottrell
Email: mjc270@mail.usask.ca

Graduate Administrator
Katrina Hutchence
Email: eadm.inquiries@usask.ca
Telephone: 306-966-2509