Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
General Information
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) includes a common core of coursework and three areas of concentration including
- Leadership and Policy Studies
- Counselor Education and Supervision, and
- Curriculum Leadership.
Students in each concentration complete common core coursework that provides foundational training in three areas including research, leadership, and advocacy. Basic general information about each concentration appears below.
Leadership and Policy Studies Concentration
P-12 and Postsecondary Leaders are charged to direct broad educational programs that increase excellence and equity as measured by outcomes. Educational entities and organizations need professionals who use current knowledge and possess strong leadership skills to design and administer programs that can improve teaching and learning. Moreover, they need leaders who know about and respond to the specific challenges and strengths of the communities they serve. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in this concentration at Eastern Kentucky University will play a significant role in developing such leaders. Participation in this doctoral program will lead to enhanced practical capacity with regard to human learning, educational institutions, and the interaction of the larger society with educational, financial, and governmental processes. Likewise, participation will allow for the acquisition of skills to conduct and successfully apply research. Course work will be built on a knowledge base that reflects current research, theory, and practice. Doctoral faculty will serve as mentors.
Admission Requirements
The decision to admit a student to doctoral work constitutes a major commitment from the faculty in the form of advising, teaching, chairing and serving on the committee, preparing and evaluating examinations, and guiding the dissertation to successful completion. The applications are due by March 1 for admission in the following fall semester. Applications received after March 1 may be considered for Spring admission pending availability of openings in the programs.
Admission to the Doctor of Education program is based upon the following entrance requirements:
- Earned a master’s degree in education or a related field with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5.
- Must have professional experience.
The applicant should note that the decision to admit students to the doctoral program is a collective judgment of the faculty and represents their determination of the likelihood of the applicant’s success in all major phases of the degree program. These judgments take into account the applicant’s professional experiences, communication and thinking skills, and other relevant capabilities. Thus, an applicant is not automatically admitted on the basis of meeting the minimal criteria.
A completed application packet will include:
- Completed graduate school and concentration applications
- Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- Resumé of professional experience
- Score reports from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test if the graduate GPA is less than 3.5
- At least three letters of recommendation—including at least one each from a peer, a supervisor, and a college/university faculty member.
- Writing sample from previous graduate program that exemplifies applicant’s writing and research skills
After a holistic review of the application packets, the Doctoral Program Committee will select those applicants to be interviewed. A dispositions evaluation (an assessment of attitudes and behaviors practiced in the areas of personal responsibility, ethics, emotional management, communication, and work ethic) of the candidate to be conducted by one or more members of the Doctoral Program Committee using an established format/protocol.
Students will be required to complete a criminal background check during their first semester, but may complete coursework on a provisional status pending completion of the criminal background check.
Program Requirements
Candidates in both concentrations complete the following core coursework. Thereafter, each candidate’s program of study will be individually planned within the following curriculum framework as defined by the concentration area:
CIP Code: 13.0601
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ed.D. Core Requirements | ||
| EDD 901 | Orientation to Doc Studies | 3 |
| EDD 902 | Intro to Quant Res Methods | 3 |
| EDD 903 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| EDD 904 | App Res: Eval, Sur, & Gr Writ | 3 |
| EDD 906 | Dissertation Practicum | 3 |
| EDD 907 | Intermed Quant Research Meth | 3 |
| or EDD 908 | Adv Qualitative Research Meth | |
| EDD 999 | Dissertation (Additional dissertation hours may be required.) | 12 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | 30 | |
Leadership and Policy Studies | ||
Curriculum Leadership | ||
| Exit Requirements | ||
| GRD 877P | Ed. D. Written&Oral Qual Exam | 0 |
| GRD 878Z | Ed. D. Oral Defense Exam (Dissertion Defense) | 0 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Leadership and Policy Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Specific Concentration | ||
| EDL 940 | Social Political Leadership | 3 |
| EDL 941 | Exam Div, Race, & Cult Equity | 3 |
| EDL 942 | Leadership Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EDL 943 | Capacity Bldg, Org Improv & In | 3 |
| EDL 944 | Public Policy & Politics | 3 |
| EDL 945 | Ed.D Field Experience | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from 12 hours of the following: | 12 | |
| Organizational Bhvr & Justice | ||
| Educating and Supporting Diverse Student Populations | ||
| Higher Ed Admin and Leadership | ||
| Found & Cur Issues in Ed Leade | ||
| Field Experience Elective | ||
| Analysis of Research Lit | ||
| Intermed Quant Research Meth (if not taken in Ed.D. core) | ||
or EDD 908 | Adv Qualitative Research Meth | |
| Ed Admin & Supervision:_______ | ||
or EAD 897 | Independent Study | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Candidates adding Superintendent licensure will take the following discipline specific and elective courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Specific Concentration | ||
| EAD 839 | The School Superintendency | 3 |
| EAD 849 | School Systems Administration | 3 |
| EAD 859 | Instruc Plnnng for Stu Lrnng | 3 |
| EAD 879 | Systems for Change | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from six hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Educating and Supporting Diverse Student Populations | ||
| Higher Ed Admin and Leadership | ||
| Found & Cur Issues in Ed Leade | ||
| Field Experience Elective | ||
| Analysis of Research Lit | ||
| Intermed Quant Research Meth (if not taken in Ed.D. core) | ||
or EDD 908 | Adv Qualitative Research Meth | |
| Ed Admin & Supervision:_______ | ||
or EAD 897 | Independent Study | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Curriculum Leadership Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Specific Concentration | ||
| EAD 819 | Sch Lead & Inst. Super | 3 |
| EAD 853 | Conditions of Learning | 3 |
| EDL 925 | Organizational Bhvr & Justice | 3 |
| EDL 940 | Social Political Leadership | 3 |
| EDL 941 | Exam Div, Race, & Cult Equity | 3 |
| EDL 950 | Educating and Supporting Diverse Student Populations | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from 12 hours of the following: | 12 | |
| Ed Admin & Supervision:_______ | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Capacity Bldg, Org Improv & In | ||
| Public Policy & Politics | ||
| Ed.D Field Experience | ||
| Found & Cur Issues in Ed Leade | ||
| Leadrship & Social Justice Adv | ||
| Advanced Social Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Exit Requirements
Dissertation Proposal
The Student’s Doctoral Committee prepares and scores the dissertation proposal. This examination consists of a written proposal and oral defense by the student that is evaluated by the student doctoral committee.
The Student Doctoral Committee will require students to rewrite any failed portion of the Qualifying examination by the last day of classes during the following semester.
Dissertation
The purpose of the dissertation is for students to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize and complete an inquiry project. The dissertation process, during which students register for a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours, includes three (3) stages. First, there is the development of a proposal that the Student Doctoral Committee reviews and approves. Second, students prepare the dissertation document. Finally, students submit and defend the dissertation to the Student Doctoral Committee.
For additional information, consult the Doctoral Program Director for Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.