Point Park is traveling down a new path toward higher education programs, offering its first ever doctorate program in leadership and administration. 

Soon, the University will be offering additional doctoral programs; however, little information has been released. 

“We are not sure exactly when the new programs will be offered… since they are progressing through not only our internal approval process, but by external agencies. Therefore, it would be premature to discuss them at this point,” said Helen Sobehart, Associate Vice President of Graduate Education 

Darlene Marnich, chair of the Education Department and the author of the doctoral program, worked for over a year to develop the program, starting with a focus group that included potential students, current faculty and staff. 

The doctoral degree in education can be completed in three years including a 54-credit course of study. There are three different concentrations to choose from: professional leadership, K-12 administration and an individualized concentration designed by the candidate. 

A master’s degree is required for application in addition to a 3.25 grade point average on previous transcripts. A formal resume including community service must be submitted along with a three to five page letter of intent and three letters of recommendation: one from a previous faculty member, one from a professional source and one personal reference. A candidate to the program must possess superior communication skills, which must be demonstrated at a group interview prior to acceptance. 

In a meeting discussing considerations about the program plan and requirements, the delivery method of the course material and the possibility of an online component were other areas of debate. The program needed to be reviewed by the Department of Education before the course planning could begin. 

Student documents are collected by the Graduate and Adult Enrollment Department, but according to Director Kathy Ballas, the academic areas handle all decisions.

Currently, there are 35 students enrolled in the program according to Sobehart, but their names are not available due to student information privacy.