The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership may admit only candidates who meet the academic requirements for the Ed.D. degree program and who possess personal qualities and professional experiences that suggest a strong potential for success as doctoral candidates and as educational leaders. Meeting the minimum requirements qualifies an individual for consideration, but does not guarantee admission to the Program. Admission will be granted on a competitive basis.

The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership requires the following of all applicants for admission to the doctoral program:

• An earned baccalaureate degree and master’s degree from accredited institutions of higher education with a grade point average in upper division and graduate studies of 3.0 or above;
• Sufficient preparation and graduate training and experience pertinent to educational leadership to benefit from the Program;
• Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Written. GRE tests, taken within the last five years; Applicants to the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership must meet a Graduate-level entrance writing requirement. The DPELFS Faculty Graduate Group voted to adopt a recommended score of 4.0 on the Writing portion of the GRE examination. If a student is offered admission and does not meet this criteria, the student will be offered a “conditional admittance” with a requirement that the student must attend at least six 1-hour writing sessions at the Graduate Writing Studio in his or her first year. The student will also be expected to demonstrate progress in his or her writing as measured by a purposeful writing sample (aligned with a core course writing assignment) evaluated by the Graduate Group committee members. Students must complete this writing requirement before for the Qualifying Examination. 
• Demonstrated educational leadership potential and skills including successful experience in school, postsecondary, community, and/or policy leadership;
• Three letters of recommendation attesting to the leadership, ability, and scholarship of the candidate;
• A written statement of purpose reflecting an understanding of the challenges facing the public schools or community colleges/institutions of higher education in California;
• Professional resume,
• Examples of professional writings;
• Applicants will be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee after a full review of the application.

Other university graduate admissions standards for graduate students also apply to all Ed.D. candidates.

No more than nine (9) units of transfer and/or California State University, Fresno Extension semester credits may be transferred into the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at Fresno State pending review by the director.

Any units accepted by the program director may be counted toward the specialization courses and may not be counted towards completion of the core courses. Courses must be graduate-level courses with a grade of B or better. Course syllabi, catalog descriptions of the courses, and a copy of the transcript showing the posted grades for the courses must be submitted to the program director along with the request to accept the transfer credits.

The California State University has established the CSU Education Doctorate State University Fee for students enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. The CSU Education Doctorate State University Fee rate is linked to the University of California graduate fee rate and will be subject to the same fee increases assessed by the University of California.

The CSU Education Doctorate State University Fee rate is currently $6342.50 for the Fall 2018 term. Doctoral students will attend three semester terms per year (fall, spring, and summer). All fees subject to change. Please refer to the following website for more up to date information: http://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/academic-regulations/fees.html

Transcripts should be forwarded to: Graduate Admissions Office, 5150 North Maple, JA 57, Fresno, CA 93740-8026. Official transcripts may also be sent digitally to imaging@csufresno.edu. Your test scores should be delivered electronically to the university through the respective testing service.

Applicants to the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership must meet a Graduate-level entrance writing requirement.

The Ed.D. Faculty Graduate Group voted to adopt a recommended score of 4.0 on the Writing portion of the GRE examination. If a student is offered admission and does not meet this criteria, the student will be offered a “conditional admittance” with a requirement that the student must attend at least six 1-hour writing sessions at the Graduate Writing Studio in his or her first year.

The student will also be expected to demonstrate progress in his or her writing as measured by a purposeful writing sample (aligned with a core course writing assignment) evaluated by the Graduate Group committee members. Students must complete this writing requirement before for the Qualifying Examination.