Specialization in PK-12 Public/Private School Leadership
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The Department of Leadership Studies in the University of San Diego’s (USD) School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) recognizes that the need for effective leadership of traditional public, charter, and private schools has never been greater. Each operates in a unique environment that poses its own set of challenges and opportunities. At the same time, all must deal with the quest for adequate financing, the expectation for effective teaching and student learning, and the need to assure all students equal access to educational opportunity.
The PK-12 Public/Private School Specialization within the Leadership Studies program tailors the leadership studies doctorate to those interested in becoming educational policymakers, leaders of public or private schools, or professors of educational leadership. The specialization consists of 18 credits of elective coursework toward the 63 credits required for the doctorate. Specialization courses are selected in collaboration with the student’s faculty adviser. The courses are not limited just to Leadership Studies but can encompass other courses within the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, as well in other USD schools and colleges. The remaining credit hours for the degree encompass a series of core leadership courses, research courses, and the dissertation.
Distinguishing Features
- Interdisciplinary opportunities for coursework through the USD School of Law, School of Business Adminstration, School of Peace Studies, and College of Arts and Sciences.
- Opportunities for international studies through the SOLES Global Center.
- Small class size and personalized attention.
- Opportunities for scholarships as well as for paid research and graduate assistantships.
- Course selection tailored to student career needs.
- Interaction with students from other fields and disciplines for a broader learning experience.
Specialization Curriculum
The PK-12 Public/Private School Specialization encompasses 18 credits to be selected from a range of elective courses. Please refer to the Program Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Leadership
Studies for the full requirements for the degree.
It is strongly recommended that students complete 15 of the 18 credits from three areas: education policy and law, instructional leadership, and international studies. Courses that fall within these areas include, but are not limited to, the following:
EDLD 552 School Law (or LWFC 530 Education Law in the School of Law)
EDLD 579 Leading in a Global Economy
EDLD 581 Special Topics in Leadership Studies (e.g., Spotlight Series, ELDA Summer Institute)
EDLD 591 Leadership Internship
EDLD 620 Seminar on the Law and Politics of Educational Policy Development
EDUC 501 Family, School, and Community Partnerships
EDUC 511 Educational Reform
EDUC 581 Multicultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education
LWVL 520 Child Rights and Remedies (School of Law)
Which courses are selected and from what area within SOLES or other graduate and professional schools within USD is a matter left to the determination of the student and the student’s adviser.
Faculty Adviser Profiles
Three faculty members are the primary faculty advisers for students in the PK-12 Public/Private School Leadership Specialization.
Paula A. Cordeiro, Ed.D.
Paula has been Dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego since 1998. Paula is a former teacher, principal, and school head in international schools in Venezuela and Spain. She recently finished the fourth edition of her co-authored text, An Introduction to Educational Leadership: An Inquiry Based Approach. Paula's research is in the areas of school leadership, cross-cultural leadership and international education.
Lea Hubbard, Ph.D.
Lea is a professor in School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. She has a joint appointment in the Department of Learning and Teaching and in the Department of Leadership Studies. She has co-authored several books and written articles on the academic achievement of minority students, educational leadership, reform, and gender and education. Her latest book, Reform as Learning, is a comprehensive study of the San Diego City School reform.
Frank Kemerer, Ph.D.
Frank teaches education law and policy courses as a professor in residence in the USD School of Law and the School of Leadership and Education Sciences. Frank specializes in the areas of education law, educational policy, and school choice. He also is associate director of the Center for Education Policy and Law (CEPAL). Among his published works are: California School Law (Stanford University Press, second edition 2009), School Choice Tradeoffs (University of Texas Press, 2002), and School Choice and Social Controversy (Brookings Institution Press, 1999).
