EdD/EdS Admission Requirements

NOTE: The Ed.S. & Ed.D. degrees have been developed for the Elementary/Secondary Education Practitioner. They have NOT been designed as an Ed.S. or Ed.D. degree for General Organizational Leadership or Interdisciplinary Leadership. The Belhaven School of Education Ed.S. and Ed.D. degrees do not apply to those outside the field of Education.

Applicants applying to the Ed.S./Ed.D. program are to be professional educators working in schools or employed in the field of Education and are able to verify having had three or more years of experience in teaching prior to making application to the program. Due to the required internship hours for licensure, those seeking Administrator Licensure who are not currently employed at the school level cannot apply to the Educational Leadership program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants applying to the Ed.S./Ed.D. program are to be professional educators working in schools or employed in the field of Education and are able to verify having had three or more years of experience in teaching prior to making application to the program. Due to the required internship hours for licensure, those seeking Administrator Licensure who are not currently employed at the school level cannot apply to the ED.S. Licensure Educational Leadership program.  However, applicants may qualify for the ED.S. Non-Licensure Educational Leadership program provided they can validate their involvement as an Education Practitioner. (Form provided in Application Packet)

Due to the required internship hours for licensure, those seeking Administrator Licensure who do not have three years of verifiable teaching experience and a current Standard-Teaching license cannot apply to the Ed.S. Licensure Educational Leadership program.

A personal interview may be requested by the graduate faculty if there are questions regarding the applicant’s dispositions and/or character as reflected in reference letters or recommendations submitted during the application process. The interview is to allow the graduate faculty to determine if Belhaven’s specialist program is a best fit for the applicant. Interviews could be conducted as a personal on-campus interview, virtual interview, and/or phone interview.

Transfer Ed.S. Applicants

Transfer applicants entering into the Ed.S. program from other regionally accredited graduate education programs may have the opportunity to transfer a maximum of 6 hours of an Ed.S. degree program, provided the courses are equivalent to the Belhaven School of Education program and provided the applicant meets all of the same requirements for regular admission. Only courses with a grade of B or higher can be transferred. No pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades will be accepted. Also, any acceptable transfer courses must have been completed within 5 years of the time of the applicant’s acceptance into the program.

ED.D. Admission Requirements

Ed.D. Applicants with an Ed.S. Degree from Belhaven University

For qualifying graduate candidates from the Belhaven Ed.S. degree program (licensure or non-licensure) it is a smooth transition into the Ed.D. program. Ed.S. candidates desiring to move into the Ed.D. program will indicate their desire to seek an Ed.D. degree by completing a simple questionnaire prior to completing the Ed.S. program in course EDU 775   (Licensure) or EDU 725   (Non-Licensure).

Ed.S. candidates seeking to move into the Ed.D. program will need to demonstrate their writing ability by submitting a qualifying academic research paper to include citations, references, and completed in APA format.  Ed.S. Licensure candidates will provide their best written work from one of their Ed.S. courses. Ed.S. Non-Licensure candidates will submit their EDU 725   capstone paper.  Papers will be submitted to the Graduate Admissions office indicating application to the Ed.D. program.

Ed.S. candidates applying to the Ed.D. program will have their eligibility and submitted academic papers reviewed by the Graduate School of Education Review Committee. The Review Committee will make a final decision based on the quality of the applicant’s writing and the recommendation from the Director of the Ed.S. program.

Ed.D. Applicants with an Ed.S. Degree from another Accrediting Institution

An applicant with an earned Ed.S. degree from another accredited institution can have 30 credit hours from that Ed.S. degree applied to the Belhaven Ed.D. degree program, PHASES II- IV. Acceptance of Ed.S. degrees other than Belhaven University will be approved by the Graduate School of Education Committee review.

The following information and documents will be required for admission to the Ed.D. program from Belhaven Ed.S. graduates and Ed.S. graduates from other accrediting institutions.

A personal interview may be requested by the graduate faculty if there are questions regarding the applicant’s dispositions and/or character as reflected in reference letters or recommendations submitted. during the application process. The interview is to allow the graduate faculty to determine if Belhaven’s doctoral program is a best fit for the applicant. Interviews could be conducted as a personal on-campus interview, virtual interview, , and/or phone interview.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION AND CONTINUANCE IN THE ED.D. PROGRAM

Belhaven University Graduate School of Education’s grading, GPA, course failure, course retakes, and program continuance policies at the Doctoral level are governed differently from the other degree level programs in the University. Once a candidate is enrolled in Phase II & Phase III of the Doctor of Education Ed.D. - Educational Leadership degree program the policies regarding retaking courses, letter grades, and the GPA is different than the governing policies at the Bachelor, Master, and Education Specialist degree levels.

All candidates admitted to the Doctoral program beginning at Ed.D. Phase II: Introduction and Pre-Dissertation level are admitted to the program with the stipulation: Conditionally Admitted

Admitted Conditionally

Candidates admitted Conditionally will be reviewed by the Graduate Faculty Review Committee at the end of each seven (7) week term during Phase II: Introduction and Pre-Dissertation Phase and Phase III: Research and Methods Phase of the program to assess and determine the status of candidates for continuance in the program. Grades, GPA, level of academic writing, research skills, and the candidates’ dispositions will be the major criteria for the Committee to consider in their review. If a candidate does not meet the criteria for continuance in the Ed.D. program the candidate will be dismissed from the program.

Candidates admitted to the Ed.D. program at Phase II and Phase III are only allowed to have one letter grade of C, regardless of their GPA. Courses at the Phase II and Phase III level cannot be repeated. Once a candidate has received a letter grade of C the Committee will place the candidate on Probation. If the candidate receives an additional letter grade of C, the candidate will automatically be dismissed from the program.

A letter grade of a D or an F are grounds for automatic dismissal from the Doctoral program, regardless of the candidate’s GPA. Courses in the Doctoral Ed.D. Phase II: Introduction and Pre-Dissertation Phase and Phase III: Research and Methods Phase cannot be repeated or taken a second time.

Dissertation Seminar and the Dissertation Writing Block of Credit Hours: EDU 780  , EDU 781  , EDU 782  , EDU 783  , and EDU 784  

Ed.D. Phase IV: Dissertation Seminar Residency 2 and the Dissertation Writing Block of credit hours receive grades of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The final grade for Phases IV will be the award of the terminal degree, Doctor of Education.

Eligibility and Requirements for Continuance in the Ed.D. Program - PHASES II-IV

A review of a candidate’s eligibility to continue and graduate from the Ed.D. program will occur at three (3) different designated transition points during the course of the degree program.

1. End of PHASE II - Orientation and Pre-Dissertation Phase - Gate-Keeping Phase

• Grades from EDU courses EDU 700  , EDU 701  , EDU 702  , and EDU 704   must be maintained at grade point average of 3.0 or better, with only one grade of C allowed. If the grade requirement is not maintained, a candidate will be dismissed from the program.

• The Graduate Review Committee will evaluate all Comprehensive Papers at the end of EDU 705 to determine a candidate’s potential for successfully completing the Ed.D. degree program. This review will examine progress made in the candidate’s academic writing abilities, and response to constructive criticism and critique of their work, as well as a review of the candidate’s professional disposition. This review may result in a recommendation of non-continuance of a candidate in the program.

2. End of PHASE III - Transition/Research Coursework Phase

• GPA of 3.0 or better with no more than one grade of C from Phases II and III combined. If the GPA requirement is not maintained a candidate will be dismissed from the program.

3. End of PHASE IV - Dissertation Phase. Enrollment must be continual until dissertation is defended.

• Successful completion and oral defense of the candidate’s dissertation. Without successful completion and defense of the dissertation, the Doctor of Education Degree will not be awarded.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS M.Ed./ADM LICENSURE and Ed.S./SLS LICENSURE

Applicants are encouraged to confirm state requirements for teacher educator/administrator certification and/or endorsements with the State Department of Education from the state in which they are employed or desire to be employed. Belhaven University does not guarantee that all individual state licensing or certification requirements as defined in this degree program will meet individual State Department of Education requirements for certifications or endorsements within states other than Mississippi.

The Belhaven University Graduate School of Education offers the Master of Education (M.Ed./ADM) and the Education Specialist (Ed.S./SLS) degrees in School Leadership and Administration leading to Mississippi Administrator Licensure.

Applicants from out-of-state will be responsible for contacting their State’s Department of Education to confirm any additional requirements they will need to meet in order to qualify for an Administrator’s license in that state.

As part of the application process, out of state applicants will need to submit documentation from the state in which they will seek administrative licensure indicating the state’s requirements for an Administrative Supervisor/Principal license.

Each course in both the M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs has been specifically developed to align and address one or more of the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA) - National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards (NELP).

Since the Belhaven University program is directed towards Mississippi licensure requirements, applicants from out-of-state will need to sign the Agreement of Understanding Form - Out-of-State Applicants form, indicating that the applicant understands that there may be additional requirements that need to be met in the applicant’s state to obtain an Administrator License.

The ED.S. Degree to an ED.D.

Applicants accepted into the Ed.S. licensure program who are in good standing, maintain a qualifying status, and desire to extend their academic work by pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership, will have the opportunity to submit an essay of intent.

* Candidates accepted into the Ed.D. program with an earned Ed.S. degree from another institution will be required to take EDU 701   Advanced Christian Worldview as a “leveling” course.

Time Frame for Earning Advanced Degrees

The time a candidate begins the first Graduate course to the time the candidate completes the plan of study and graduates cannot exceed five (5) years*. This applies to the Ed.S.- Administration*, or Ed.D.- Leadership* degrees.

*Candidates admitted to the Ed.S. program will have up to five (5) years in the plan of study for the Ed.S. degree. If a candidate begins the Ed.S./Ed.D. program at Belhaven starting with PHASE I, all credits applied toward the Ed.D. must have been completed within seven (7) years. If a candidate begins the Ed.D. program at PHASE II due to already holding an Ed.S. degree, the candidate will have five (5) years to complete the Ed.D. degree program.

A candidate whose study at Belhaven University has been interrupted for three or more consecutive semesters must apply for readmission. The requirements for degrees in effect at the time of readmission must be completed. Any candidate suspended for academic reasons may be readmitted only upon the recommendation of the Graduate Teacher Education Council.

Out of State Candidates - Ed.S. and Ed.D. The Belhaven University Graduate School of Education does not guarantee that Ed.S. and Ed.D. candidates will be eligible in any state other than Mississippi to qualify for an educator initial certification, certification upgrade, or salary increase. Candidates are responsible for contacting their State Department of Education and/or State Licensure Board to ascertain the requirements for obtaining a license/certification or endorsement in the state of their residence or the state in which they may desire to serve as an educator. Candidates understand that they are responsible for verifying whether or not the Belhaven University Educator Preparation Provider Education Specialist (Ed.S.) and/or the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) will be recognized by states other than Mississippi. Candidates will need to confirm in writing if the Belhaven School of Education degrees will qualify for initial educator licensure/certification or endorsements, certification upgrades, as well as confirm whether or not the degrees will lead to a salary increase in another state outside of Mississippi.

As part of their application, out of state candidates will sign an “Out-of-State Memorandum of Understanding” indicating that they are aware of the Belhaven University School of Education’s policies governing out of state educator licensures issues.

Proficiency in English

Proficiency in the English language as demonstrated by at least two years of successful academic work at the college or university level in the United States or by a minimum score of 550 paper-based or 79 internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). (A REQUIREMENT FOR ADMITTANCE TO ANY GRADUATE PROGRAM)

International applicants from non-English speaking countries must also submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 71 iBT, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6, or the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) of 70. Scores must be no more than two years old and must be verifiable