The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Instructional Management and Leadership degree program is designed to meet the needs and interests of working professionals such as teachers, administrators, college faculty, and corporate training professionals who wish to become better managers and leaders of the instructional process and/or seek to pursue teaching positions in higher education.
Highlights of this three-year program include:
The program has a strong base in educational research while providing practical applications to issues and problems. A strong emphasis is placed on how educational leaders direct and manage research in order to bring resolve to important matters that affect students, teachers and the community.
A major strength of the program is the developmental progression of research courses, which provides the skills needed to complete the course work and dissertation in just three years.
Upon graduating from the program, you will be able to:
The three-year program has a unique format. Each year, students are admitted to the program in the summer semester and move through the program together as a cohort. Students attend classes one evening per week during the fall and spring semesters and complete a two-week residency each summer for three years. Each course is enhanced with online instruction. The leadership practicum courses and the dissertation credit courses are offered via a seminar format.
Year 1
Summer (6 credits)
Critical Readings in Educational Research (3)
Applying Instructional Technology (3)
Team Building and Research Investigations (Two Fridays)
Fall (6 credits)
Qualitative Research
Instructional Leadership in Curriculum Planning (3)
Spring (6 credits)
Quantitative Research (3)
Statistics I (3)
Quantitative Research (3)
Year 2
Summer (4 credits)
Leadership Practicum I (1)
Managing Instructional Technology (3)*
Fall (8 credits)
Dissertation Seminar I (1)
Leadership Practicum II (1)
Instructional Leadership in Program
Evaluation (3)*
Effective Practices in Supervision (3)
Spring (8 credits)
Dissertation Seminar II (1)
Leadership Practicum III (1)
Law and Ethics in Education (3)*
Best Practices in Teaching and Learning (3)
Year 3
Summer (8 credits)
Dissertation Seminar III (2)
Communities, Schools and Families (3)**
Managing the Instructional Environment (3)
Fall (8 credits)
Dissertation Seminar IV (2)
Writing for Publication (3)
Managing Finances and Budgets (3)
Spring (6 credits)
Dissertation Seminar V (6)
*Online/on-ground format; **Totally online
The Ph.D. in Instructional Management and Leadership program focuses on two skills critical to educators today - management and leadership. Often, educators are forced to choose between the two, yet both must work interdependently to accomplish the goals of the educational institution.
As Stephen Covey (1992) suggests, "You manage things, but you lead people." This program provides learning opportunities for teachers to better manage resources in the classroom or their respective disciplines while learning better, more effective ways to manage students. For administrators, the program offers problem-solving strategies in the areas of curriculum, technology and supervision that relate to management, and it offers creative applications of leadership in working with faculty and parents in the educational setting.
Finally, with its emphasis on both instructional management and leadership, the program provides a diverse yet highly specialized background in education, which may help teachers or administrators find positions in higher education.
Research is a comprehensive, integrated component of the program. Each semester includes a research course designed to build upon and support previous work while exploring new concepts that will lead to the completed dissertation.
You'll enroll in dissertation seminar classes upon completion of an initial sequence of four research courses. The dissertation seminars guide you through the formulation of a problem to defending the dissertation proposal by allowing you to apply the skills mastered in previous research courses.
Opportunities to apply the methods and techniques acquired in the first four research courses are also provided in three practicum courses beginning in the second year. The Leadership Practicum enables you to complete a project-based experience in collaboration with an exemplary mentor and your faculty advisor. Continuing academic advisement throughout the three-semester practicum enables you to identify links between the practicum and dissertation seminars.
Most of our graduate programs can be completed in 27 months or less, through in-class,online or hybrid study. Take classes one night a week through your course of study. Admission is rolling and classes start fresh every eight weeks. You can also choose to pursue your degree full- or part-time.
The School of Education and Social Sciences faculty is comprised of caring individuals who accept the responsibility for educating the "whole" student at RMU. Consequently, our faculty members are specialists in their areas of expertise who effectively implement sound instructional practices when teaching and just as importantly, they engage students in a variety of purposeful enrichment activities outside the classroom setting. As all faculty possess related work experience as practitioners in the field, such as principals, superintendents, teachers, researchers, authors, psychologists, counselors, etc., students learn from them first-hand what it takes to succeed.
Through learning opportunities that are continually improved and updated, we provide enhanced opportunities to clear the way for our students’ success. In addition, our academic departments and programs have close ties with professional communities, providing valuable connections for our students.
Our programs support the intellectual, social, and personal development of students. They also prepare individuals through the integration of technology, effective communication skills, and the application of theory into practice. This is completed through the integration of internships and practicums, which provide real-world experiences for all majors. Overall, students will experience a dynamic combination of in-class and exciting engagement opportunities that fully prepare them for the many challenges that social science working professionals manage on a daily basis.
In an effort to help students meet their education expenses, Robert Morris University offers the following tuition payment options. On the posted due date, payments are accepted until 5 p.m. in the Student Support Center. Payments may be made via ePay after the deadline.
Robert Morris University accepts tuition payments by cash, check, money order or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover). Tuition payments may be made to the Office of Student Financial Services by mail, phone (412-397-6260), or online via the RMU website at www.rmu.edu. Students should log in to Sentry Secured Services and go to Financial Status in eServices to use the ePay - PayNow option. ePay is available 24 hours a day to process credit card or check payments.