Leadership for Educational Equity

---

Admission

Entrance requirements:

• A master's degree, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and acceptable GRE scores
  
  
• Current employment as a school or district administrator, or proven leadership in other educational settings
  
  
• A position in, or affiliation with, a school district, charter organization or other educational reform agency where students can conduct research
  
  
• Excellent letters of recommendation from supervisors or other knowledgeable individuals
  
  
• Promising management and leadership expertise
  
  
• An understanding of diversity and urban education issues
  
  
• A commitment to achieving equity and excellence in urban public school systems
  

Suggested Guidelines for LEEP Applicants

Below, we present suggestions for putting together a strong application for the LEEP Ed.D. program. It is important that both the Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement are written in the style of an essay. Make sure that your essay is clear and flows well.

1. Statement of Purpose (Form F, page 1)

The directions for the Statement of Purpose ask you to do the following: "Please describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you."

For the LEEP program, we are particularly interested in learning about your areas of interest, leadership experience and career goals. Please provide information about the following in your integrative essay:

• Areas of Interest: We want to know what you would like to learn about while you are a student in the LEEP program. What are the key questions or issues in education that you are interested in? What are the areas that you would want to study? What education issue(s) do you want to explore more deeply?
• Leadership Experience: Please tell us about your leadership experience in education. Provide concrete examples that illustrate your potential as a leader. Indicate the connections between your leadership experiences and your graduate studies.
• Career Goals: What are your future career goals? How will the Berkeley Ed.D. help you accomplish these goals?

2. Personal History Statement (Form F, page 2)

The directions for the Personal History Statement ask you to do the following: "In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree."

For the LEEP program, please include the following in an integrative essay:

• What events or life experiences have shaped your commitment to education?
• Discuss how your academic and personal experiences demonstrate your potential as a leader. Indicate the 3 or 4 events in your life that have developed your skills and shaped your approach to leadership. Connect these accomplishments to the LEEP program's goals.

3. Reference Letters

The university requires that you submit three letters of reference in support of your application. Please choose individuals who can serve as references who can speak to one or more of the following qualities:

• Your accomplishments as a leader
• Your potential as a leader at a higher level of the system
• Your analytic and problem solving skills
• Your writing ability
• Your ability to conduct research in your chosen field

Applications are available online at:

http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/prospective

Telephone: (510) 642-0841

Procedures:

Application material is submitted. GRE scores are forwarded. All completed application files will be read by the admissions committee. Promising applicants will be invited for a an interview on campus. Final admissions decisions are made. Course work commences.

Timeline:

Information session:  Fall

Last GRE test taking date for admission:  February 2010

Application deadline:  January 8, 2010

Interview dates: Mid-February (applicants will be notified of the exact date)

Admissions letters sent out: Late March

Orientation: May 2010

First day of class: June 21, 2010

LEEP Day (get-together of new and continuing students, faculty and alumni): Late June