Our next cohort will begin Fall 2027.

Thank you for your interest in the program.

• Applications to the ELDP Fall 2027 cohort are expected to open around early to mid-October 2026.

The ELA component mission is upheld and practiced in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program (ELDP). ELDP represents the unique opportunity and responsibility ELA has to prepare educational leaders for socially just leadership, to foster educational programs, and to meet the needs of students across the state and along the U.S./Mexico border.

Students in ELDP should anticipate the academic rigor that ELA embraces as its mission and that NMSU maintains as an “Extensive Research University.” In meeting the needs of its doctoral students, the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program offers the following degrees:

Areas of focus for both degrees: Pk-12 Educational Administration; Higher Education University Administration.

Our next cohort will begin Fall 2027.

The ELAD program is nationally recognized.

• Rated #5 regionally as a best value program by College Factual.
• Rated #11 in doctoral education based on curriculum quality, graduation rates, and post-graduation employment.

Concurrent Enrollment

Concurrent enrollment refers to taking coursework for two or more programs in Educational Leadership and Development (ELA) simultaneously. Enrollment in one ELA program is academically challenging; thus, students accepted into the Ed.D. or Ph.D. program are not allowed to take courses in another program concurrently.

Transfer Credits

Students who have taken courses at another accredited college or university may have accumulated credits. However, the ELAD program does not count previously taken graduate credits toward requirements in the Ed.D. or Ph.D. program due to the emphasis in all courses on social justice practices and the connection of theory to practice. Coupled with the cohort-style delivery, students must complete the required courses with their cohort.

Prerequisites

• Master’s Degree
• Completion of NMSU Graduate School application: http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/
  • Payment of NMSU Graduate School application fee.
• Transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended (other than NMSU) received by NMSU Admissions.
• Submission of ELDP Application via the Graduate School Portal.
• Application due January 31, 2027.

If the application due date falls on a weekend, the deadline is 5:00 p.m. the following Monday.

Click here for specific ELDP application requirements and information.

Program Delivery

• Cohort model
• Hybrid: face-to-face and distance education delivery
  • Approximately 80% of attendance is face-to-face and 20% will be online.
  • Face-to-face meetings take place on Saturdays and Sundays
    • Fall & Spring - One weekend per month (average)
    • Summer - Multiple weekends per month
• Mandatory participation in program orientation, held near the start of the fall semester.

Required Credit Hours

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.): Educational Administration, 63 credits (see Ed.D. handbook under “Admissions” tab)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Educational Administration, 78 credits (includes 15 credits of cognate courses in one of the following areas) (see Ph.D. handbook under “Admissions” tab)
  • Examples of possible cognate disciplines:
    • Child and Family Development
    • Communication
    • Feminist/Gender Studies
    • Latino/a Studies
    • Native American Studies
    • Program Evaluation/Data Analysis
    • Research Methods
    • Social Justice/Critical Theory
    • Sociocultural Theory
    • Gender and Sexuality Studies
    • Critical Race Theory/LatCrit

Accreditation

New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This program is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP).

For more information

If you have any questions, feel free to email eldpquestions@nmsu.edu or call (575) 646-3593. You can also contact the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership with questions related to ELDP at schooloftpal@nmsu.edu or (575) 646-4820.