The primary purpose of this degree program is to provide experienced educators with a broad and systematic understanding of professional education, and educational theory and practice and the ability to conduct research and evaluation and to apply research findings in an informed and critical manner. Candidates for the degree are recognized for their commitment to the application of knowledge on behalf of improved educational practice. Specific requirements for Ed.D. areas of concentration are posted on the Curry website.
Admission Requirements In addition to the admission requirements described on the Curry webiste, an Ed.D. applicant must hold a master’s degree or its equivalent and have previous professional experience in an area related to the proposed major.
Enrollment Requirements Students must enroll continuously at the University during the fall and spring semesters while working toward the Ed.D. degree. If students are not taking courses or working with a committee, they may maintain enrollment by paying a University non-resident fee. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment requires students to reapply for admission. Students must enroll for dissertation hours during any semester in which they are working with their committee.
Time Limit All requirements must be completed within four years after passing the Ed.D. comprehensive examination and within seven years of admission to the Ed.D. program. In special cases, the student may be required to validate out-of-date work by examination. Program committees must determine the appropriateness and currency of all course work, especially if it is eight or more years old.
Course Requirements The EdD program requires a minimum of 72 credits, including 54 credits of regular coursework (including up to 6 hours of internship, but not including capstone credits), 12 credits of internship (see below), with at least 36 course credits completed after admission to the program. Students can apply up to 12 credits of capstone project work toward the total of 72 in the final year.
Ed.D. students take a four-course sequence of research courses covering topics such as research design, program evaluation, research literacy, practice-based research, and data-driven decision-making. These courses include Research Foundations, Program Evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative methods courses.
Students entering the doctoral program with a strong master’s degree can apply up to 24 hours of credit toward their degree, pending approval of program area faculty and the Director of Doctoral Studies. Course work must be current and relevant to the doctoral program of study.
Students ordinarily complete the program in 3 years of full-time study. Some students may take longer, depending on their internship and other responsibilities. EdD students may also study on a part-time basis.
Internship Requirement Ed.D. students must enroll in 12 internship credits. The internship will occupy approximately 20 hours per week over a two-year period. Six of the 12 credits can be applied toward the required 54 credits of coursework if the experiences include a product (e.g., paper) that frames the internship experiences in a theoretical/research base that program faculty evaluate. Students apply the remaining 6 credits to the 72-credit requirement for graduation. With the approval of the advisor, the student may use paid employment in a school or other practice setting for internship credit, provided that the student receives supervision and training throughout this experience.
Assessment of Progress Program areas determine key student competencies across each year of the doctoral program. Programs may use accreditation or licensing requirements as the foundation for these competencies. Students document their evolving competencies annually, and receive written and oral feedback on their annual progress.
Comprehensive exam Ed.D. students complete a written comprehensive exam that covers the knowledge base and methodology of their disciplinary area and demonstrates their readiness to undertake capstone research. At least two faculty members independently evaluate the examination.
Capstone Project Students complete a capstone project. The details of the capstone project can be found on the Curry website.
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