Program Highlights
This full-time, online EDL Independent Schools Cohort is designed explicitly for leaders and aspiring leaders working within the independent school setting.
Lead Change to Improve Outcomes for All Students
The USC Rossier School of Education offers a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a new cohort focused on the independent schools context. This full-time, online EDL Independent Schools Cohort serves students in independent school settings who either aspire to or currently serve in leadership roles and seek to drive meaningful change in rapidly evolving independent school systems, organizations, and landscapes.
Students apply to the EDL online program, K12 concentration. The Independent Schools Cohort follows the traditional USC Rossier EDL coursework, however, readings, assignments, and direct applications to practice will focus on independent school setting.
Students take core courses in leadership, foundations of learning, research methods, and designing educational organizations for equity and excellence, and four elective courses for deeper engagement in areas that include policy, finance and governance, current and emerging instructional strategies, and school and system leadership, relevant to independent schools. Students’ capstone project is a dissertation on a problem of practice that emerges from their professional context and interests and holds practical significance for their organization, field of practice, or learning environment.
You will:
- Earn a doctorate from a university with a reputation for producing leaders and be connected to a robust Trojan global alumni network.
- Be able to maintain a full-time work schedule.
- Join a community rooted in equity, deep learning, support, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Learn alongside experienced independent school colleagues.
- Engage in coursework grounded in theory and practice, applying research-based frameworks to current and emerging areas of focus for independent school settings.
This cohort is designed to bring together independent school educators and leaders who are ready to shape the future of independent school education through collaboration, research, and transformative leadership.
Flexible
Maintain your full-time work schedule while attending weekly live online courses at a time convenient for school educators.
Transformative
Advance your real-world senior leadership experience by addressing current K–12 challenges alongside active and retired school educators who bring proven, research-based strategies from the field.
Prestigious
Earn a doctorate from a university with a reputation for producing leaders and be connected to a robust Trojan alumni network.
Practical
Courses focus on interrogating current and emerging K–12 issues through practical, research-aligned tasks guided by experienced faculty.
Curriculum
Leading with Confidence
In the first year of the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Independent Schools Cohort, you will complete courses that reflect USC Rossier’s mission and the program’s purpose: Urban Education and Leadership. During the second year, your coursework will expand to cover Learning, Leading for Instructional Excellence and Equity Immersion, and Research Methods, providing a deeper understanding of educational leadership and instructional strategies.
Courses
Courses
Admissions
Scholarship
Scholarship
Program Outcomes
95% of alumni said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career.
89% of alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them well for future employment.
90% of alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them to understand research.
Advance Your Career Without Pausing It
Class times are scheduled on evenings at a time convenient for school educators. Join us and learn firsthand why 95% of our alumni said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career.
Is an EdD worth it? Leaders share insights and experiences
Get in Touch
Program Contact
Jessica Romero
Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships
Faculty
Meet some of our experts.
Ruth H. Chung
Professor of Clinical Education, Educational Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy
Meet Professor Chung
Darline P. Robles
Professor of Clinical Educatio, Associate Dean for Diversity & Community Engagement
Meet Professor RoblesEvents
Start your application.
Lead change in ways that will improve academic opportunities and outcomes for all students.