The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is designed for experienced educators and leaders who want to study and address complex problems of practice in preK-12 education. The program focuses on preparing scholarly-practitioners who can connect theory and research to practical challenges in their professional contexts. Students complete coursework in theory, research methods, and policy with deliberate attention to developing academic writing skills necessary for applied research and professional communication. The program culminates in an applied dissertation on a practical problem. Graduates are equipped to serve as scholarly-practitioners who use evidence and inquiry to improve preK-12 educational systems and organizations.
Graduate Program Learning Modality: This program can only be completed fully online.
Preference for admission to the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies will be given to applicants who hold a professional educator license, who have preK-12 school district experience within the last five years, and who hold an EdS degree. Applicants for admission to the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies must submit:
All official transcripts from institutions of higher education;
Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or practicing school administrators who hold state licensure.
A current CV/Resume
A written statement that includes:
Your professional goals and how the EdD program will help you achieve them
A complex PreK-12 problem of practice that could be explored through research
New cohorts may start in the fall and/or spring semesters, contingent upon program capacity.
Admissions decisions are made by examining and weighing all application materials using a holistic approach. All elements are reviewed and considered to select the best applicants based on a combination of factors, recognizing that no index is absolute.
Any applicant who is denied admission may submit a written request to the program coordinator and department chair for reconsideration. Appeals must be in writing, explain the basis for the appeal, and include information not previously submitted.
The doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies requires a minimum of 42 semester hours beyond a master’s degree, including:
Course work in research understandings and skills, learning and development theories, and sociocultural analyses of education (21 credit hours)
Up to 9 credit hours of electives or transfer credits pending an evaluation of official transcripts from accredited institutions for comparable courses. A final determination of the courses for transfer will be made by the LEPF department chair (or designee) upon transcript review.
Successful completion of a candidacy examination
LEEA 799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation (12 credit hours)
Successful defense of a doctoral dissertation
If the applicant holds an Ed.S. degree, the doctoral program requires a minimum of 42 semester hours as follows:
Course work in research understandings and skills, learning and development theories, and sociocultural analyses of education (21 credit hours)
Transfer credit from an earned Ed.S. degree or equivalent (9 credit hours)
Successful completion of a candidacy examination
LEEA 799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation (12 credit hours)
Successful defense of a doctoral dissertation
If the applicant holds a Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., M.S.Ed. in Educational Administration, M.S.Ed. in School Business Management, etc.), the doctoral program requires 42 semester hours as follows:
Course work in research understandings and skills, learning and development theories, sociocultural analyses of education (21 credit hours)
Electives approved by the student’s advisor or the program coordinator (9 credit hours)
Successful completion of candidacy exam
LEEA 799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation (12 credit hours)
Successful defense of a doctoral dissertation
Candidacy examination
Students enrolled in the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies must pass a candidacy examination to continue working toward the Ed.D. degree. The candidacy examination requires demonstration of applicable knowledge in educational leadership and policy studies. A student must be in good academic standing, both overall and in the Ed.D. program, to be eligible to take this examination. A student who does not pass fails this examination may, with the permission of the major department, retake it once, no sooner than the following academic term.
Dissertation
Students enrolled in the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies must complete a dissertation and pass a dissertation defense. The dissertation must make a substantial contribution to the field or to one’s local context. The dissertation will include a review of the relevant literature and demonstrate knowledge of educational leadership and policy studies.
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