Educational Leadership Program (Ed.D.)
The UCLA Educational Leadership Program (ELP) is committed to promoting innovative and change-oriented educational leaders. We fully embrace the public service mission of UCLA as a leading public research university and the social justice vision of the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies. Our program combines a commitment to urban leadership development and creating equitable and accessible PreK-16 opportunities. We strive for student-focused teaching and learning centered around racial equity and cultural competence.
Academic Information
ELP brings together mid-career professionals from the PK-16 educational pipeline: K-12, CC, 4-year, non-profits/informal spaces. This unique model positions leaders to broaden their understandings of the educational trajectory in order to deepen impact within respective organizations and beyond. ELP is guided by a nationally acclaimed faculty who not only develop theory but also work in the multicultural urban settings close to UCLA. ELP Adjunct and Clinical Faculty ensure the meaningful intersection of research and practice.
Guiding Principles
- Commitment to merging theory and practice to address leadership challenges in educational organizations
- Commitment to advancing social justice, through a focus on anti-racism
- Appreciation and understanding of diversity
- Ability to conduct rigorous empirical inquiry and to use the data to understand complex issues
- Ability to build teams and work collaboratively in complex organizations
- Self-reflection and work, particularly of own racial biases
Program At-a-Glance
- Three-year program (inclusive of dissertation)
- Thursday Evening and Saturday Courses
- Cohort Model of 24-30 PK-16 Mid-Career Education Professionals
- Application Deadline to join Cohort 30: February 1, 2025
Cohort Model
ELP’s collaborative, cohort-based model embodies the theory that knowledge is constructed not imparted. Intimate, one-on-one and small group exchanges with faculty allow these competencies to grow in a supportive community, to create a cohort of leaders prepared to change organizations from within.
Curriculum
The Educational Leadership Program is designed to deepen understanding of social justice leadership as well as complete a doctorate in three years. The ELP curriculum integrates research methods, leadership development and dissertation support over the course of three years. Courses have been strategically designed to support your growth as a practitioner-scholar (All courses are required. Electives or prior coursework cannot substitute for required courses. ELP students are not required to take electives. The curriculum is subject to change, but we will notify you of any amendments as needed).
The Educational Leadership Program is designed to deepen understanding of social justice leadership as well as complete a doctorate in three years. The ELP curriculum integrates research methods, leadership development and dissertation support over the course of three years. Courses have been strategically designed to support your growth as a practitioner-scholar (All courses are required. Electives or prior coursework cannot substitute for required courses. ELP students are not required to take electives. The curriculum is subject to change, but we will notify you of any amendments as needed).
The dissertation is the capstone accomplishment of participation in the Educational Leadership Program. Students are required to complete a dissertation that describes their own independent research in a significant problem of practice. By working on real issues, students learn to apply research methods and theory in the service of improving educational practice and producing usable knowledge.
The Educational Leadership Program is a self-supporting degree program. Such programs allow UCLA to serve students above and beyond those supported by state funds and fulfill demonstrated higher education and workforce needs. More information about self-supporting programs and current tuition and fees for ELP can be found at the Office of the Registrar’s website.
https://registrar.ucla.edu/fees-residence/self-supporting-degrees
- A minimum of five years, full-time professional experience in PreK-16 education or educational related field
- Current full-time employment
- Leadership experience and leadership potential
- Strong analytical, writing, and speaking skills
- Three strong letters of recommendation including one from a supervisor
- At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Professional goals that are consistent with those of the program, which emphasizes equity and access across the PreK-16 education continuum
- Ability to engage in a cohort model consisting of educational leaders selected from all education sectors: PreK-12, community college, university and other areas related to education.
The holistic admissions review process includes:
- The UCLA Graduate Admissions Application (Note: Please be sure to select Educational Leadership Program as Academic Program)
– Deadline is February 1 for a Fall entry - ELP Admissions Writing Activity
– Scheduled for mid-February - Small Group Interview
– Scheduled for February-March
For more information about ELP, please register for one of our one-hour information sessions for Fall 2025 admission. View Information Session Calendar.
Educational Leadership Program: Dissertation Briefs
Visit the ELP Dissertation Brief Series to see what our students are working on.
View BriefsGraduate students at UCLA Department of Education benefit from—and contribute to—the resources of the country’s number one public graduate school of education.
A distinguished faculty committed to research and teaching and excellent research centers and institutes offer extraordinary opportunities for graduate endeavors. We are preparing the next generation of researchers and professionals to address some of the most pressing challenges in the field.
Learn how ELP could be the right fit for you.
The UCLA Ed & IS Office of Student Services looks forward to assisting you through the application process. If we can be of service to you in any step of this process, please feel free to contact any one of our advisors.
Student Resources
ELP is a three-year program—with a maximum of “time-to-degree” of five years. The ELP intervention plan will support your ability to finish within the time limit.
Students may request a Leave-of-Absence for extenuating circumstances.
Contact Us
Program Director
Lynn Kim-John, Ed.D.
lkim@seis.ucla.edu
Faculty Director
Megan Franke
Education Manager
Judy Miyoshi
miyoshi@seis.ucla.edu
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