Strategic Leadership in Education, Ph.D.

Belmont’s Ph.D. program in Strategic Leadership in Education seeks emerging and established leaders who exhibit the knowledge, skills and attitude of leader-scholars. We strive to recruit individuals who aspire to “Change the World” through education as strategic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, equity-focused leader-scholars.

Apply now for the April 1 Priority Deadline and June 1* Final Deadline!

*We have extended the deadline to July 15 for the Fall 2026 term.

Applicants for the program must submit the following:

• A completed Belmont graduate application, selecting the Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education as the program of study.
• All undergraduate and graduate post-secondary transcripts.
• A professional resume that includes educational background and career experience, highlighting leadership positions and/or responsibilities. Most competitive applicants will have a minimum of three to five years of professional experience.
• A narrative statement and supporting evidence of academic achievement. Candidates may submit graduate standardized test scores as evidence, but standardized test scores are not required for admission to the program.
• Three non-familial references, including referees who can speak to the applicant’s professional experience, and at least one referee who can speak to the applicant’s past academic performance and his or her academic readiness for doctoral studies.
• A writing sample of approximately 1,000 words in which the applicant describes his or her career aspirations and the relevance of the degree from this program. Applicants are asked to indicate new knowledge and skills they would hope to acquire from the program.
• An interview with the Program Director and/or program faculty.
• The deadline to deposit for this program is June 30th.
• Qualified applicants may be invited to an additional interview to discuss their professional interests and ensure the program is the right match for their academic and career goals.

Students must pass all coursework, a qualifying examination and a dissertation/oral examination to graduate.

Application Status

Applicants are admitted on a rolling admissions pattern and will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions requirements are completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U portal.

Tuition & Financial Aid Information

You can determine the cost per semester for courses in the Master of Arts in Teaching program by visiting the Graduate Tuition & Aid website.

After being offered admission to Belmont, you may secure your enrollment with a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $150. This deposit will be applied to first semester charges.

Due to visa and Social Security Number requirements, at this time international students cannot be considered for admission in the College of Education graduate programs.

Candidates without an SSN: 
State of TN law prohibits state agencies from issuing professional licenses to individuals who are not eligible to work in the US. Aside from a few specific exceptions, all individuals eligible to work in the US are given an SSN. Therefore, the department is unable to process any licensure transactions for candidates without an SSN.

Belmont University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Belmont University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Belmont’s Teacher Education Program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) legacy site visit of 2021.

The Belmont University School of Music is a fully-accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

The Watkins College of Art at Belmont University is an Accredited Institutional Member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

CAEP ANNUAL REPORTING MEASURES

The Belmont University College of Education prioritizes the use of data as part of its assessment and continuous improvement process. The below data provide summary of survey results, state data reports and teacher candidate performance assessment data. Data are acquired from sources including the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE); Educational Testing Service (ETS); the Belmont Office of Career & Professional Development, and the Belmont Office of Assessment & Institutional. Data are linked to the reporting measures to assist prospective and current students, faculty, accrediting bodies, the public, and researchers.

Please contact Dr. Cathy Eschete, Director of Clinical Practice and Accreditation Coordinator ( cathy.eschete@belmont.edu) before including any of this information in reports or research.