Concordia University – Irvine
Concordia University - Irvine appears in our ranking of 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Educational Administration Online.
Located in Irvine, California, Concordia University Irvine is a private Christian university. It was established in 1976 as a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod school for the Pacific Southwest. Formerly known as Christ College, Concordia University Irvine is one of 10 universities and colleges that make up the Concordia University System. The 70-acre campus is located 80 miles north of San Diego and 50 miles south of Los Angeles, and the university educates more than 1,900 undergraduate students each year.
Concordia University Irvine includes five schools: the School of Professional Studies, School of Education, School of Business, School of Arts and Sciences, and Christ College (Christian seminary). Students can choose from more than 20 undergraduate majors and 50 specializations, four adult bachelor's degree completion programs, nine graduate programs, and three nursing programs. U.S. News & World Report ranked Concordia University Irvine as the 63rd best college in the Western Region in 2013. Three years later, the school ranked 55th among regional universities in the western U.S.
Concordia University Irvine Accreditation Details
Concordia University Irvine is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The WASC is one of six well-known regional accrediting agencies in the U.S. The WASC services more than 5,000 church-related, independent, public, and proprietary pre-K-12 and adult schools. The accreditation process is centered on three beliefs: the institution has schoolwide student goals and a clear purpose, the institution's goal is successful student learning, and the institution engages in both internal and external evaluations as part of continued school improvement with the aim of supporting student learning.
Accreditation is crucial when searching for a post-secondary institution. It not only facilitates the transfer of credits to other schools and validates the integrity of the university's transcripts and program, but it also assures the public and prospective students that the institution's purposes are appropriate and trustworthy.
Concordia University Irvine Application Requirements
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership degree is designed for students who have demonstrated a strong potential for leadership and doctoral study, as verified through the admission process, and have previously earned a master's degree in education or a related field from an accredited university or college. In order to be admitted into the program, students must submit a $50 nonrefundable application fee, a graduate application, sealed official academic transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions, a current professional resume, three letters of recommendation, a seven- to 10-page writing sample, and a valid California Certificate of Clearance.
Once the application and documents are submitted, the application is evaluated by the faculty committee to determine whether the student should be selected for an interview. During the interview, students will meet with the Executive Director of the Ed.D. program and potentially other faculty members to discuss how the doctoral program in educational leadership relates to their career goals as well as their prior research activities, interests in scholarships, and experiences with online learning environments.
Tuition and Financial Aid
In addition to paying a $50 nonrefundable application fee, students pursuing the Ed.D. from Concordia University Irvine can expect to pay $940 per unit for their degree as well as a student service fee of $200 per semester. Students are required to attend a trip to Washington, D.C. at an estimated cost of $2,500 as well as an optional People's Republic of China trip at an estimated cost of $3,000. Students should also keep in mind other expenses for non-tuition costs such as books and supplies.
Most graduate students are eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan program, which allows them to receive up to $20,500 per academic year. Interested students must complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Concordia's financial aid application to determine eligibility and to apply. Concordia University Irvine is a proud Yellow Ribbon Scholarship university, and the school offers unlimited scholarships for unlimited dollar amounts for eligible students. Concordia has been routinely recognized as a top military-friendly school, making it a popular choice among veterans, active duty servicemembers, and their families.
Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Degree Available
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Irvine is designed to prepare future leaders who embody the skills, character, and knowledge necessary to help diverse, dynamic learning organizations move toward sustained effectiveness and continuous improvement. The curriculum focuses on applied research and theory in leadership and guides students through the dissertation process. Coursework is taught online and face-to-face, with convenient, flexible scheduling options to ensure students can further their education while maintaining their busy lives.
The structural design of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership allows students to graduate in as few as 33 to 36 months, and the program provides individual learning plans that help students complete their dissertations while simultaneously engaging in their coursework. Small group seminars taught by senior faculty support doctoral students as soon as they begin their studies. The typical length of a term for each course is eight weeks, and Saturday on-campus classes include one morning closing session for one course and an afternoon orientation session for the next course.
The 46- to 48-unit curriculum itself gives students the knowledge they need to thrive in competitive environments. The program cultivates skills from a number of disciplines and strives to foster systems thinking, allowing students to develop the abilities necessary to manage and lead organizations. Courses include topics such as building capacity for learning and continuous improvement, leadership for whole system reform, strategic human resource management and development, technology in a systems approach to leadership, sustained fiscal leadership for organizational effectiveness, statistical analysis for educational leaders, and policy, law, and practice in dynamic settings.
In addition, research benchmarks that are integrated throughout the program ensure that students have an appropriate foundation on which to build research, theories, and concepts for use in learning organizations and to prepare for dissertation research. To put research into practice, the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Irvine also includes educational trips to the People's Republic of China and Washington, D.C. that enhance student understanding of practice, law, and policy to affect change in diverse, dynamic educational settings while building a sense of community among faculty and students.