Application
LMU's Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice is offered in a fully online format.
Admission Deadlines
Online Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice (100% Online)
- Entry Term: Spring 2026 (January 2026)
- Application Deadline: September 9, 2025
- Application Fee: $0 (fee will be waived upon submission)
Note: Loyola Marymount University adheres to the state regulations for each state and has received authorization, exemption, or does not fall within the jurisdiction for authorization to offer online educational offerings in the following states. If your current state of residence is not listed, LMU can not accept you into the Online Ed.D. Program at this time. As LMU obtains clearance from additional states, they will be added to the State Authorization page. International candidates are exempted.
We encourage interested candidates to apply early to this competitive program.
Statement of Purpose
Your Statement of Purpose should be 2 to 4 pages typed, double spaced and must address the following:
- Why you want to pursue the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice.
- How the Doctor of Education degree fits your career plans.
- Why you want to study at LMU.
- Areas or topics of research interest.
Additional Materials
In addition to the online application and Statement of Purpose, additional materials are required to complete the doctoral program application:
- Resume/CV
- Two Letters of Recommendation: Please advise each recommender to upload their letter to the link emailed to them by LMU’s Graduate Admissions office.
- Official Transcript from all Colleges/Universities Attended, including all Community/Junior Colleges: Please have electronic transcripts sent to graduateadmission@lmu.edu.
- Transcript Evaluation: International applicants who have completed their postsecondary education from an institution outside the United States (U.S.) must hold a degree from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education as a degree granting institution. Transcripts from an international institution must be translated and evaluated by a U.S. transcript evaluation service (e.g., Educational Credential Evaluators, International Education Research Foundation or World Education Services) before the application is considered for admission.
- Official TOEFL score (for international students)
Statement on GRE Waiver: The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice will continue to waive the GRE requirement for all 2025 applicants. The Doctoral Program Admission Committee will not be extending special admission consideration to those applicants who have already submitted their test scores, or to those who choose to submit their test scores as part of their application.
Once your completed application has been processed, the Doctoral Admissions Committee will review it to determine your leadership experience, professional goals and academic abilities, as well as your compatibility with the mission and goals of the School of Education and the Ed.D. program. Qualified candidates will be invited to interview with the Doctoral Admissions Committee, and accepted candidates will be notified of their admittance by the Program Director.
Please note: If you are offered admission to the Ed.D. program you must submit a commitment form and $300 deposit to the Graduate Division to secure your place in the cohort. The $300 non-refundable deposit is applied to your tuition at LMU.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Doctoral Center at doctoral@lmu.edu.