Colleges and Schools
“Community colleges are facing an impending crisis in leadership.” This statement echoes throughout the community college literature of the last decade and is the opening sentence of an executive summary of a recent report from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). A number of national studies confirm that over two-thirds of the presidents and other key administrators will be retiring in the next seven to eight years; 62,000 new full-time faculty will also be needed in the same time period.
Concurrently, America’s community colleges are undergoing profound changes as the student population shifts predominantly to mature, working adults and as the methods of teaching and learning change to electronic modes and other distance approaches. Students in the Community College Leadership specialization (whether from the perspective of president, academic leader, student services, technology specialist, specific area program officer, or other leadership positions within the community college) will develop proficiency in knowing how individuals, particularly adults, learn most effectively, what tools and strategies best promote learning, and how educational systems and policies can be changed to promote the mission of the community college in today’s society.
Completion Requirements
- 134 total quarter credit hours
- Foundation course: SBSF 8005 (6 cr.)
- KAMs and/or courses and research sequence (98 cr.)
- Proposal, dissertation, and oral presentation (30 cr.)
- Minimum 8–10 quarters enrollment
- 20 days of residency (two 4-day and two 6-day residencies)
For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: January 5. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
Core Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8005 | Foundations for Doctoral Study | 6 |
| KAM I: Principles of Social Change | ||
| SBSF 8110 | Breadth: Theories of Social Change | 5 |
| EDUC 8122 | Depth: Current Research on Social Change and Community Colleges | 5 |
| EDUC 8132 | Application: Professional Practice, Social Change, and Community Colleges | 4 |
| KAM II: Principles of Human Development | ||
| SBSF 8210 | Breadth: Theories of Human Development | 5 |
| EDUC 8222 | Depth: Current Research in Human Development and Community Colleges | 5 |
| EDUC 8232 | Application: Professional Practice, Human Development, and Community Colleges | 4 |
| KAM III: Principles of Social Systems | ||
| SBSF 8310 | Breadth: Theories of Organizational and Social Systems | 5 |
| EDUC 8322 | Depth: Current Research on Social Systems and Community Colleges | 5 |
| EDUC 8332 | Application: Professional Practice, Social Systems, and Community Colleges | 4 |
Core Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| SBSF 8417 | Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science | 4 |
| EDUC 8428 | Research Seminar II: Design in Educational Research | 5 |
| EDUC 8438 | Research Seminar III: Quantitative Research in Education | 5 |
| EDUC 8448 | Research Seminar IV: Qualitative Research in Education | 5 |
Specialized KAMs
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| KAM V: The Contemporary Community College | ||
| EDUC 8512 | Breadth: Perspectives on the Role of the Community College | 5 |
| EDUC 8522 | Depth: Current Research on Trends in the Community College | 5 |
| EDUC 8532 | Application: Professional Practice and Current Trends in Community Colleges | 4 |
| KAM VI: Leadership and Strategic Planning in the Community College | ||
| EDUC 8612 | Breadth: Perspectives on Leadership and Strategic Planning in Community Colleges | 5 |
| EDUC 8622 | Depth: Current Research on Leadership and Strategic Planning in Community Colleges | 5 |
| EDUC 8632 | Application: Professional Practice in Leadership and Strategic Planning in Community Colleges | 4 |
Advanced Research Sequence
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 8458 | Conducting Pilot and Field Studies | 5 |
| EDUC 8468 | Communicating Knowledge in Educational Research | 4 |
| Or | ||
| EDUC 8883 | Practicum in Community College Leadership | 9 |
Dissertation
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| EDUC 9000 | Dissertation | 30 |
Course Descriptions (pdf)
