Ed.D. in Community College Leadership
San Diego State University's doctorate in education with a concentration in community college leadership (CCLEAD) program is widely regarded as one of the top programs in the nation.
The CCLEAD program prepares leaders who are committed to educational justice, and provides them with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential to transforming education systems for student success. College and university faculty and practitioner experts collaborate to create a vibrant learning community that draws upon the issues and challenges facing Community College/Postsecondary Education leaders in their colleges. Doctoral candidates tackle real-world problems through their dissertation research and serve their organizations and institutions at the same time by informing and improving practice.
Community college leadership
Our program develops leaders who are equity-oriented, use inquiry to understand the inherent complexities of educational systems and maintain institutional responsibility for critical issues facing America's community colleges.
Leadership training
We train reflective leaders and change agents who are capable of responding to the increasingly complex needs of educational organizations that serve diverse student populations.
CCLEAD has the overarching goal of preparing:
- Self-aware, transformational leaders
- Inquiry-driven, transformative leaders
- Highly adept resource stewards
Unique features designed for professionals
- Accommodates working professionals (classes held once a month and during summer intensives)
- Promotes leadership through a common core designed to foster collaboration and understanding across the education segments
- Explores theories of leadership, reflecting on practice and solving problems together through the cohort model
- Promotes systems-thinking and inquiry-based problem solving appropriate to the community college/ postsecondary education environment
- Addresses real-world problems through the dissertation
- Provides individual support for academic writing and the dissertation throughout the program
- Enables candidates to complete coursework and dissertation within 36 months
- Small seminars and research support courses
- No more than 15 students admitted per cohort
- Monthly class meetings
- Fall and Spring courses meet Thursday (5:00–9:40 pm), Friday and Saturday (8:30 am–5:00 pm)
- Two week summer residency at San Diego State University
The coursework is 60 units over three calendar years (including summers).
Wendy Bracken, Ed.D., Program Faculty Director
John Carroll, Ed.D. Coordinator
Unit prices are subject to change. Visit the Office of Admissions Estimated Cost of Attendance page for the latest information.
The California State University system establishes separate fee structures for in-state and out-of-state tuition. Out of state students may be eligible for in-state tuition through non-resident fee waivers. Please contact the program administration for information on these waivers.
Financial aid
All courses are eligible for Financial Aid. Contact the SDSU Financial Aid Office and speak to a financial aid officer familiar with loans for special programs.
New Scholarship!
ARPE Faculty Emeriti Create Scholarship for Doctoral Students
Collective gift offers financial support to doctoral students studying disability in the CCLEAD program.
Testimonials
"The SDSU Ed.D. program strengthened my role as a practitioner-scholar and reinvigorated
my commitment to student access, success and equity…allowing me to lead with passion
and purpose."
Julianna Barnes, Ed.D.
President, Cuyamaca College
2010 CCLEAD Graduate
"The Ed.D. program for Community College and Post-Secondary professionals at SDSU
is a significant resource for those who aspire to lead our colleges. It has a track
record of successfully preparing students to move into responsible leadership positions,
and it has become one of the most important community college leadership programs
in the nation. Students have the opportunity to interact with and learn from some
of the most important higher education leaders and policy makers in the country while
studying current issues and developing critical leadership competencies under the
guidance of experienced faculty members."
George Boggs, Ph.D.
SDSU Faculty Member & President Emeritus, American Association of Community Colleges
"The SDSU Ed.D. program for Community College and Post-Secondary professionals provided
me the foundation to become a transformational-servant community college President.
The program provides practical skills and focuses on creating policies, programs and
student support services from a student equity perspective."
Martha O. Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent /President, Imperial Valley College
"The San Diego State University (SDSU) Ed.D. Program in Community College Leadership
prepares the future leaders within higher education with the necessary competencies
to be effective leaders. The program’s focus on inquiry and understanding are critically
important and provide a solid foundation for the students in the program to embrace
their role in advancing an equity-oriented approach to student success."
Scott W. Thayer, Ed.D.
Vice President, Student Services, San Bernardino Valley College
“The Educational Leadership doctoral program at SDSU prepares leaders of tomorrow with the issues of tomorrow. The program mixes theory with practical application with professionals for the field. Few programs train leaders to look at their education and leadership through an equity lens like the SDSU Ed.D. program.”
Eric Bishop, Ed.D.
Vice President, Student Services, Chaffey College
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