Low-residency Delivery Model for Working Professionals

Recognizing the demands faced by full-time professionals, our low-residency model is designed to support academic success without requiring relocation or full-time study leave. The format blends the benefits of in-person learning with the flexibility of virtual instruction. Students attend a combination of:

• Selected Saturday in-person meetings at our Winchester and Loudoun locations
• Weekday evening Zoom classes in a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous formats

This structure allows students to maintain work and personal commitments while engaging meaningfully in doctoral-level scholarship.

Cohort Learning Model

The cohort model is a foundational element of our doctoral programs. Each cohort consists of mid- and senior-career professionals enrolled in either the Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Cohort members progress through core program and research courses together, building a collaborative and supportive learning community. Key benefits include:

• Building peer learning communities across K–12, higher education, and related leadership contexts
• Gaining exposure to diverse professional perspectives grounded in both practice and research
• Interacting with cohorts in different stages of the program through shared activities
• Expanding professional networks that extend into dissertation work and beyond  

Faculty Research Mentoring

Ph.D. students gain hands-on experience by participating in faculty-led research through the Directed Graduate Research (RST 798) course.

Depending on the stage of the project, students may:

• Assist with data collection, analysis, or literature review
• Participate in the design of research studies and IRB submissions
• Contribute to conference proposals or publications

This applied research experience helps students deepen methodological skills, engage with real-world educational issues, and prepare for dissertation research under the guidance of experienced faculty scholars.

Global Learning Experiences

We integrate international and cross-cultural perspectives into our program through both study abroad and virtual global collaboration. Opportunities include:

• Participating in short-term study abroad courses focused on educational leadership and policy in diverse international contexts. Recent destinations include Finland, Ireland, Australia, Scotland, and Cape Town, South Africa
• Engaging in COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) virtual exchanges embedded in selected courses, connecting Shenandoah students with peers and faculty worldwide

These experiences allow students to examine education systems across global contexts and enhance their intercultural competence as future leaders.  

Concentration Options 

Our Ph.D. program offers three distinct concentration pathways that allow students to tailor their learning and research to their professional goals and interests:

• Higher Education Leadership: Focuses on postsecondary leadership, including administration, governance, student affairs, academic policy, and the strategic use of technology to support institutional goals.
• PreK–12 Leadership: Emphasizes school and district leadership, including instructional improvement and systems change. This concentration is a Virginia-approved program leading to licensure in PreK–12 Administration & Supervision.
• Educational Leadership: Allows students to design a custom concentration aligned with their unique scholarly interests.

Our program offers three concentrations:Higher Education Leadership, preK-12 Leadership (initial administrative licensure) or Leadership in Education (individualized focus area).

A minimum of 62 credits is required. Our program is organized around an interdisciplinary leadership and research core that is complemented by the learner’s chosen concentration. Our doctoral faculty work closely and collaboratively with you to create an environment that is both challenging and supportive.

Our accomplished and caring faculty serve as mentors beyond the classroom. They prepare you to serve as a compassionate educator, critical thinker and ethical leader. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that enable faculty members to provide individualized attention and nurture your academic and professional development.

Meet The Education & Leadership Faculty

Graduate Application for Admission