At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    PhD

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Program Overview

The UMass Lowell Leadership in Education Ph.D. program emphasizes the generation, critical evaluation and application of knowledge in the field of Leadership PK-Higher Education. This doctoral program is appropriate for professionals pursuing a future career in research universities and other policy and research organizations. Students admitted to this degree may study on a part-time or full-time basis. There is no residency requirement for part-time students. There is a limited number of Teaching and Research Assistantships available for suitably qualified full-time students.

The program provides students with an experience that is unique among Leadership Ph.D. programs offered by other universities in the region.

  • Our School of Education (SOE) is large enough to provide access to a diverse range of faculty expertise yet small enough to ensure personalized attention.
  • Our regularly scheduled seminars and meetings ensure the development of collaborative networking and professional relationships.
  • Lowell’s geographic location allows ready access to a wealth of resources, putting students within easy driving distance of urban, suburban, and rural communities of diverse makeup, as well as state government, and non-university research policy centers.

Questions regarding the Leadership in Education Ph.D. should be sent to the Ph.D. Coordinator via email: HsienYuan_Hsu@uml.edu.

  • The Leadership in Education Ph.D. program requires 60 credits of study beyond the master's degree.

    The degree pathway can be found in the academic catalog.

  • To qualify for admission to the Ph.D. all applicants must meet the following requirements:

    • Candidates should submit a statement of no more than 1,500 words, that responds to two questions:

      1. What are you interested in researching during your doctoral studies, and why?
      2. How would doctoral studies at UMass Lowell advance your career goals?
    • Earned master’s degree from an accredited institution. The most appropriate master’s degree is the M.Ed.; however, other related master’s degrees will be considered if the candidate can demonstrate work experience or knowledge of education policy and/or research. The master’s degree must have been earned with a 3.000 GPA or better.
    • Resume, which highlights the applicant’s education and experience relevant to the degree after completion of the bachelor’s degree.
    • Satisfactory TOEFL scores taken within the last year for international applicants as appropriate.
    • Three letters of recommendation that speak to the suitability of the applicant for advanced graduate work, work ethic and knowledge of the field of education and/or education research.
    • Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to present a cohesive, focused and persuasive response to an education issues of his or her choice. The writing sample should be accompanied by a brief note explaining the context in which it was written and identifying the kinds of support received by the applicant producing it. 
    • Interview on-campus or via a video-conferencing tool for those applicants seeking Teaching or Research Assistantships, or for those whose application materials raise unanswered questions.
    • International Students: please see https://www.uml.edu/International-applicants/Application-Requirements/international-grad-admissions.aspx

    Application for admission to the Ph.D. program is available online through the Office of Graduate Admissions.

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