Outstanding Graduates

Each year the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program bestows two awards upon its top graduates, Graduate with Distinction and Outstanding Dissertation (K–12 & Higher Education).

Graduation with Distinction

Our highest honor is Graduation with Distinction, for it represents the top 10% of the graduating class. The Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program awards the Sacramento State University graduation with distinction designation on the graduate’s official transcript.

To graduate “with distinction,” a graduate student must:

Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher at the time the student’s degree is posted
Have completed at least 18 units in residency
Be nominated for distinction by a unanimous vote of his or her dissertation committee
Have contributed in a positive way to their cohort during their three-year program

Outstanding Dissertation

The outstanding dissertations are selected each spring semester based on the quality of the research design, quality of the written analysis and summary of findings, and the potential of the dissertation results for transformation of schools and colleges. A central focus of this awards is on the originality of the work, mastery of knowledge of the discipline, and broader significance as a contribution to learning.

The Outstanding Dissertation is awarded in two categories: