Our next cohort will begin Fall 2025.

Thank you for your interest in the program. We have decided to postpone the next ELA doctoral cohort until Fall 2025. This choice is driven by recent changes within our department, which have prompted us to focus more intently on better supporting our current cohort.

• Applications to the ELDP 2025 cohort are expected to open approximately mid-October 2024.

The ELA component mission is upheld and practiced in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program (ELDP). ELDP represents the unique opportunity and responsibility ELA has to prepare educational leaders for socially just leadership, to foster educational programs, and to meet the needs of students across the state and along the U.S./Mexico border.

Students in ELDP should anticipate the academic rigor that ELA embraces as its mission and that NMSU maintains as an “Extensive Research University.” In meeting the needs of its doctoral students, the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program offers the following degrees:

Areas of focus for both degrees: Pk-12 Educational Administration; Community College Administration; University Administration.

Our next cohort will begin Fall 2025.

The ELA component mission is upheld and practiced in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program (ELDP). ELDP represents the unique opportunity and responsibility ELA has to prepare educational leaders for socially just leadership, to foster educational programs, and to meet the needs of students across the state and along the U.S./Mexico border.

Students in ELDP should anticipate the academic rigor that ELA embraces as its mission and that NMSU maintains as an “Extensive Research University.” In meeting the needs of its doctoral students, the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program offers the following degrees:

Areas of focus for both degrees: Pk-12 Educational Administration; Community College Administration; University Administration.

Rated #7: Top Online Educational Leadership Degree Programs in the Country!

Concurrent Enrollment

Concurrent enrollment refers to taking course work for two or more programs in Educational Leadership and Development (ELA) simultaneously. Enrollment in one ELA program is academically challenging, thus students accepted into the Master of Arts (Pk-12 or Higher Education), Ed.D., or Ph.D. program are not allowed to take courses in another program concurrently.

Prerequisites

• Master’s Degree
• Completion of NMSU Graduate School application: http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/
  • Payment of NMSU Graduate School application fee of $45
• Transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended (other than NMSU) received by NMSU Admissions
• Submission of ELDP Application Via the Graduate School Portal.
• Application due January 31, 2025
  

Click here for specific ELDP application requirements and information.

Program Delivery

• Cohort model
• Hybrid: face-to-face and distance education delivery
  • Approximately 80% of attendance is face-to-face and 20% will be online.
  • Face-to-face meetings take place on Saturdays and Sundays
    • Fall & Spring - One weekend per month (average)
    • Summer - Multiple weekends per month
• Mandatory participation in orientation on TBA (June/July 2025).

Required Credit Hours

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.): Educational Administration, 63 credits (see Ed.D. handbook under “Admissions” tab)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Educational Administration, 78 credits (includes 15 credits of cognate courses in one of the following areas) / (see Ph.D. handbook under “Admissions” tab)
  • Examples of possible cognates disciplines:
    • Child and Family Development
    • Communication
    • Feminist/Gender Studies
    • Latino/a Studies
    • Native American Studies
    • Program Evaluation/Data Analysis
    • Research Methods
    • Social Justice/Critical Theory
    • Sociocultural Theory
    • Gender and Sexuality Studies
    • Critical Race Theory/LatCrit

Accreditation

New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This program is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP).

For more information

If you have any questions, feel free to email eldpquestions@nmsu.edu or call (575) 646-3593. You can also contact the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership, if you have any questions related to ELDP at schooloftpal@nmsu.edu or (575) 646-4820