Program Availability
The online Instructional Leadership PhD is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories) and to most international students who hold (or anticipate) a master’s or advanced practice/clinical doctoral degree.
Why Earn an Instructional Leadership PhD at Indiana State?
Indiana State University’s PhD in Instructional Leadership prepares you to create and lead effective classroom learning environments with a focus on teaching and learning strategies. At the program’s conclusion, you will demonstrate the ability to design and implement curriculum while improving overall instructional quality in classroom settings. This program is intended for individuals who wish to gain more instructional expertise and better manage classroom learning. It is ideal for professors, researchers, practice educators, policymakers, and current or aspiring educational leaders.
Develop Instructional Expertise
Students in the Instructional Leadership PhD program at Indiana State are preparing to shape the future of education. This online PhD is intended for students who hold a master’s degree or an advanced practice/clinical doctorate.
Key student outcomes include an ability to design and implement curriculum and instruction, evaluate and improve instructional quality, and promote a positive and inclusive learning environment through leadership, innovation, and best practices. The doctoral program requires the completion of 60 credit hours, with 42 credits in coursework and research beyond the master’s level and 18 credits for the dissertation.
How Our Cohort-Based Program Works
The online PhD in Instructional Leadership is a cohort-based program. Students commit to moving through the schedule of coursework with a cohort group that formally begins study in the fall semester. The cohort functions as a community in which students support and learn from each other in ways that enrich the overall academic experience.
It is possible for individual students to begin their studies in spring or summer terms by taking any needed foundational courses as preparation for the PhD program. Joining a PhD cohort in spring or summer may be possible in some circumstances, but a fall cohort start is preferred.
Learn from Our Excellent Faculty
Doctoral students in the online Instructional Leadership PhD program benefit from classes taught by dedicated faculty mentors with diverse expertise across all areas of teaching and curriculum leadership. All instructors hold advanced degrees in their field, collaborate with practicing professionals, and engage in a range of scholarly and service activities at the state, regional, national, and international levels. Many have received recognition for their outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service.
What You’ll Learn in the Online Instructional Leadership PhD Program
In the online Instructional Leadership doctoral program, you will learn how to design curriculum and implement instruction to create positive, inclusive classrooms and learning environments. This is a 60-credit program, including 42 credits of research and graduate work beyond the master’s level and 18 credits for the dissertation and defense.
You will have the opportunity to complete supervised fieldwork assignments and seminars in curricular and instructional theory. After the last semester, you will participate in preliminary examinations that, once passed, will grant you candidacy for the dissertation portion of the program. With the guidance of a dissertation committee, you will plan, execute, and defend a dissertation focused on an area reflective of the program’s learning outcomes.
Career Possibilities for Online Instructional Leadership PhD Graduates
Indiana State’s Instructional Leadership PhD program prepares students for professional leadership careers in higher education, school-level teaching, social agencies, nonprofit agencies, corporations and foundations, and other fields in which curriculum and instruction are relevant. Our graduates secure positions as academic or program directors, professors and teachers, college provosts, academic coaches, and related positions.
Meet Dr. Lindsey Eberman, Director of the Instructional Leadership PhD Program
As director of Indiana State University’s Instructional Leadership PhD program, Dr. Lindsey Eberman is committed to student success. She also serves as program director of the University’s Doctorate in Athletic Training program and its Leadership and Professional Development degree completion program. Eberman has been recognized with numerous awards for her teaching and research, including the President’s Medal awarded by Indiana State.
Learn Dr. Eberman’s story.
Admission Requirements and Application Instructions
The Instructional Leadership PhD begins a new cohort of students each fall semester. Individuals may apply to the program after completing a master’s degree. Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission.
Admission Requirements and Information
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. For example, applicants may have a master’s degree or an advanced practice/clinical doctorate degree.
Applicant should have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for most recent coursework. If GPA is below 3.0, please provide a brief rationale for the GPA and how it contributed to growth/maturity (200 words or less) or provide a brief account of any extenuating circumstances you or your family endured that the application review committee should consider.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required for this program.
Application should include two letters of recommendation who can comment on the applicant’s potential as an instructional leader. Important: Have the names and email addresses of your references available at the time that you are completing your admission application, as you will need to enter them in the online application. Explain to your references that they will receive an email from Indiana State University requesting that they submit a letter of recommendation. Please ensure that your references expect to receive this request. It will be sent to your references immediately upon completing the application.
Application Instructions
The following are application instructions and deadlines for the online Instructional Leadership PhD program.
Complete Indiana State University’s online application for graduate admission at apply.indstate.edu/portal/apply?tab=overview.
Submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from the college attended to: Graduate Admissions, Indiana State University, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@indstate.edu.
Submit a nonrefundable application fee of $45.00 (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) or $55.00 (international students) payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order payable to Indiana State University. Submit payment to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809.
Submit the following as part of the online application process
- Two letters of recommendation from persons who can comment on your potential and/or fit for the program.
- International applicants must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency.
To be considered for admission, applicants must have their official test score report sent directly from the testing center to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. Accepted language tests include Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo.
- Provide proof of financial support if an admission is received.
- See additional important information about applying as an international student.
A new cohort of students begins each fall semester. The Instructional Leadership PhD program accepts rolling submissions, and students may begin coursework in the spring and summer semesters, but a fall start is preferred. Applicants must apply by August 1 to be admitted for the year’s fall cohort.
Next Steps
Once admitted, students receive notification from the University as well as their University ID number needed to activate their University Username on the MyISU Portal [http://isuportal.indstate.edu/]. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important University services, including e-mail and University announcements. Admitted students should also anticipate communication from the Instructional Leadership PhD program and an advising appointment with the program director upon admission.
Note: Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended Indiana State University for more than two calendar years.
