EdD Innovation in Learning & Leadership View in Kuali Update Delete Update Rules PDF

About

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Innovation in Leadership and Learning is an interdisciplinary, leadership-oriented degree designed for experienced professionals in education, business, healthcare, nonprofit, and ministry contexts. Rooted in Southern Adventist University’s mission to develop Christ-centered leaders, the program blends theory, research, and practice to cultivate innovative, ethical, and data-informed leadership.

Unlike traditional educational leadership programs, the EdD emphasizes innovation, systems thinking, and applied research, preparing graduates to design, lead, and evaluate meaningful change across diverse organizational environments. This fully online, 60-credit program highlights real-world application through project-based learning and a culminating doctoral capstone focused on solving a problem of practice.

Students engage in an interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates leadership, learning theory, organizational change, communication, and research. Graduates emerge prepared to inspire innovation, promote organizational excellence, and lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose in their professional and community settings.

Goals / Objectives / Outcomes

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Innovation in Leadership and Learning prepares scholar-practitioners to lead with vision, integrity, and creativity across educational, business, healthcare, and nonprofit settings. The program emphasizes ethical leadership, innovation, and data-informed decision-making to equip graduates to address complex challenges and foster continuous improvement in their organizations.

Program Goals

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced leadership grounded in ethics, cultural competence, and adaptability across diverse organizational contexts.

2. Apply innovative and human-centered design approaches to lead change and solve real-world problems.

3. Use data and research to analyze systems, guide strategic decisions, and evaluate organizational effectiveness.

4. Foster learning and innovation by designing environments that promote collaboration, creativity, and professional growth.

5. Lead with accountability and stewardship, optimizing financial, human, and technological resources to achieve mission-driven goals.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Integrate ethical frameworks into complex leadership decisions.

• Design and implement strategies that promote innovation and continuous learning.

• Conduct and apply research using qualitative and quantitative methods.

• Lead systemic change through evidence-based organizational development.

• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences to build partnerships and influence positive outcomes.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, demonstrate at least three years of relevant professional or leadership experience, and submit the following:

1. Completed graduate application and fee

2. Official transcripts

In addition to the university’s standard requirements for admission to graduate studies, the program-specific admission requirements below will also apply:

1. Thoughtfully written statement describing purpose and goals for pursuing selected degree and demonstrating writing skill.
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Three recommendation forms (professional and academic)
4. Documentation of successful completion of a graduate course in statistics (3 credit hours)
5. Scholarly writing sample (e.g. capstone or research paper, published article or current research article summary)
6. TOEFL or Duolingo English Test:  International students whose language of education is not English must submit their score on the Test of English as a Foreign Langugage (TOEFL) or Duolingo English Test.  A minimum score of 5 on the TOEFL test or an equivalent score on the Duolingo English Test is required for regular admission.

Admission decisions will be based on academic preparation, leadership experience, and program fit.

Requirements

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, a candidate must complete EILL 875: EdD Capstone, a course that will have embedded within the following requirements:

1. Submission of an application to graduate which must be filed with Graduate and Professional Studies one month prior to the anticipated graduation date.
2. Completion of all coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Classes with a grade below a C are not counted toward the master's and doctoral degrees.
3. Successful completion of any additional program requirements.