PK-12 School Leadership (Ed.D.)

How to Apply

All applicants must have completed a master’s degree program prior to admission and reside in San Diego or Imperial counties or commit to relocating if admitted to the program. The GRE is no longer required to apply to this program.The Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership in PK-12 concentration seeks to advance the work of public schools throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. The program is committed to developing reflective leaders and change agents, capable of responding to the area’s demographic shifts and the increasingly complex needs of educational organizations within this diverse multicultural region.

Important Dates for Fall 2026

Item	Due Date
1. Cal State Apply application (opens October 1 each year)	February 1, 2026
2. Interfolio program application	March 1, 2026
3. Official transcripts due	February 15, 2026

Steps 1-4: Admission to SDSU

Steps 1-4 must be completed through the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office.

Get general help and tips on how to complete the Cal State Apply application.
Application Guide: Cal State Apply Tutorial

SDSU Graduate Admissions: Steps to Apply

Your program application has been created in a system called Interfolio. For help, refer to this Interfolio Tutorial (PDF).

Please gather the required program-specific documents below and have them ready to upload to the Interfolio program application.

Statement of Leadership Philosophy

Write a Statement of Leadership Philosophy, 1-2 pages, addressing your beliefs and values about leadership, curriculum and instruction, students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.

Resume/CV

Prepare a current resume or curriculum vitae to your application, which will include your education and employment history as well as any academic honors, awards, scholarships, and publications.

Letters of Recommendation

Contact 2 individuals who you have interacted with academically and/or professionally and would be able to write a letter of recommendation for you. Recommenders will submit their recommendations directly into the Interfolio program application.

Statement of Nomination or Support from your Employer

Nomination/statement of support for the candidate's doctoral studies from employer or, in cases where this is not provided, an indication of the candidate's plan for meeting the demands of the program and professional responsibilities.

Example of Professional and/or Academic Writing

Please submit an example of your best professional and/or academic writing.

Go to Program Application