The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a professional degree that emphasizes preparation for the highest levels of educational practice. It provides academic training and educational service experiences for individuals who will have leading roles in educational practice and who will help define the scope and functions of education in society. Programs are oriented toward the application of theory and research to issues of education and human development and to the development of skilled practitioners to fill a variety of roles in institutions that educate children, youth, and adults.

Students in educational leadership and policy complete a treatise; those pursuing the EdD in other fields complete a dissertation. Most policies affecting the EdD are similar to those described for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), such as the requirement for a minimum of 30 semester hours of advanced coursework, including dissertation or treatise hours. Additional policies on admission to the program and to candidacy are given below.

Admission

In addition to the requirements for admission to the Graduate School, each department may require evidence of successful performance in an educational setting and evidence of interpersonal problem-solving skills and other skills useful for predicting success in professional educational roles. The applicant must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited United States institution or the equivalent.

Admission to Candidacy

In addition to the requirements listed for the PhD degree, the curriculum must have a clear and predominantly applied focus. The student’s program normally entails an internship in an operational setting that is distinct from previous or concurrent work experience.

In addition to the requirements listed for the PhD degree in regard to the Dissertation Committee, at least one member of the committee must be from outside the major program or from the field of practice represented by the dissertation.