Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Educational Leadership, Policy & Law

The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law will prepare professional educators to be part of a vanguard through the twenty-first century. These educators will be provided with: the necessary knowledge of their subject; an understanding of our diverse culture; technological skills; critical thinking skills required to make informed decisions and implement change; and the ability to provide a just and ethical, accurate, and meaningful education for their students.

The program is offered exclusively in a cohort format. The elite group of students selected to begin each fall will progress through their coursework together. The first year of the program focuses on didactic coursework. The second-year combines didactic coursework with field-based internships. The final year of the program focuses on independent research, with results to be published in the form of a dissertation.

The doctoral program is staffed with highly experienced, well-qualified faculty, with national reputations for working with high-quality doctoral programs.

Dissertation Proposal

The doctoral candidate must work with a dissertation committee to develop and defend a formal proposal and dissertation. The dissertation committee may be chaired by the student’s advisor, or the student may request another qualified program faculty member to serve as dissertation chair. The dissertation committee must be selected from qualified members of the program faculty and a qualified member external to the program.

Dissertation Defense

Upon completion of the written dissertation, the chair will notify the candidate of the committee's approval to proceed to the defense. The dissertation defense will be conducted by the dissertation committee. The presentation portion of the defense will be publicly announced and open to public observation. The dissertation must be in final form at the time of the defense. Post-defense changes may be made solely for minor editing purposes. Only one defense is to be held, and the results are final.

Time Limitation

All degree requirements must be completed within an eight-year time period.

Applying for Graduation

At the beginning of the semester in which he or she expects to graduate, each student must file an official Intent to Graduate form through the office of Graduate Studies. Degrees are awarded each semester, although Commencement Exercises are held only during the fall and spring semesters.

Before any student can be cleared for graduation, the following requirements must be satisfied. Students who do not clear academically must reapply for graduation:

• The student must complete all of the prescribed courses listed on the program of study and fulfill all program requirements.
• All transfer credits must be posted to the ASU transcript.
• The student must pass the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination.
• The student must possess the minimum required 3.35 cumulative program GPA.
• Students must maintain continuous enrollment of a minimum of three credit hours per semester, including the semester of graduation.
• The dissertation (and defense) must be completed and submitted.
• Degree requirements must be completed within the eight-year time limit.

Alabama State University was founded in 1867, in Marion, Ala., as a school for African-Americans. The school started as the Lincoln Normal School with $500 raised by nine formerly enslaved men now known as the Marion Nine, making ASU one of the nation’s oldest institutions of higher education founded for black Americans.

Today, Alabama State University, located in Montgomery, Ala., is a widely respected, world-class institution of higher learning that welcomes students of all races. We offer more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, from our historic teacher education program to a list of high-demand programs such as the Doctorate in Physical Therapy, the Ph.D. in microbiology, the Master of Accountancy, the Masters in Social Work and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance.