Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
We look forward to Cohort 9 entering Fall 2024.
We currently are accepting applications for Fall 2024. To schedule an information session, contact DPEL Administrative Coordinator Rosie Soriano at rsoriano@csub.edu or by phone at (661) 654-3140.
Preparation for Educational Leaders
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at CSU Bakersfield is focused on preparing P-12 and higher educational leaders to advance educational opportunities and provide equitable academic achievement for diverse groups of students. It links graduate scholarship with practical problem-solving in education in order to achieve transformations both in future leaders and in the quality of education in the region. Practice-based research addresses significant problems faced by local educational institutions, is designed with and facilitated by P-16 community partners, and is structured to bring about systemic educational reforms. CSU Bakersfield faculty members and local P-12 and higher education administrators are among the primary instructional faculty in the program. It serves students pursuing leadership roles in both P-12 schools and in community colleges.
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership
- Offers an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with two unique degree options:
- Pre-K-12 Educational Leadership and
- Postsecondary Educational Leadership (including Community College leadership and administration)
- Faculty hail from a number of academic disciplines including educational administration, teacher education, and business and public administration, as well as members of the Community Advisory Board and other qualified practitioners chosen for their leadership roles from surrounding school districts in both K-12 and Community Colleges
- To accommodate full-time working professionals, all courses are taught in Bakersfield, held on Saturdays, and designed toward degree completion within three years.
- DPEL prepares students to conduct and interpret research on which sound educational policy and practice can be anchored
A University System Commitment to the Central San Joaquin Valley
Improving California's education system is a core function and mission of California State University (CSU). The CSU system is particularly well-suited to help bring more education doctorates to underserved populations given its success in attracting, retaining, and graduating students from underrepresented groups. CSU is not only practitioner-focused by design and history, it has exceptionally close ties with K-12 schools--links that have developed in the course of preparing so many of their teachers and administrators. As the university that is chosen by over 75% of community college students to complete their undergraduate degrees, CSU is the institution with the strongest ties to the community college system.
Organizationally, the program is responsible to the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education at California State University, Bakersfield and is administered by a Director and taught by CSUB interdisciplinary faculty.
