Description of Program
The EdD program attracts innovative self-starters who have leadership responsibility to provide learning and training for individuals in colleges, PK-12 schools, proprietary organizations, private, non-profit, and public organizations, or the military. This doctoral degree program emphasizes the application of theoretical knowledge and research to advance practice within a field of study. Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to make informed, ethical decisions, develop solutions, and communicate ideas to diverse stakeholders addressing current educational, organizational, and societal issues.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop leadership skills to support educational practices across diverse instructional and organizational settings.
- Analyze educational theories and research supporting diverse instructional practices.
- Analyze professional skills, dispositions, and technology options for leading and educating diverse groups.
- Communicate with diverse audiences about educational theories, research, and practices.
- Evaluate evidence-based solutions for addressing educational, organizational, and societal issues.
Basis for Admissions
Admission to the Doctor of Education program requires a conferred post-baccalaureate master’s degree and/or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. Examples of acceptable doctoral degrees include doctor of philosophy (PhD), and doctor of education (EdD).
In addition to general requirements for admission to an EdD program, applicants to the EdD program with specialization in Nursing Education must provide a copy of the following:
- A valid and active RN license from the United States
Degree Requirements
The EdD Program requires 54 credits for degree completion. Additional credit hours may be allowed as needed to complete the dissertation research. If granted, additional courses will be added to the student degree program in alignment with the SAP and Academic Maximum Time to Completion policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.
Individuals with a previously completed master’s degree will meet the basis of admission to the Doctor of Education Program.
Doctoral courses are comprised of methods, the comprehensive exam course, and the dissertation with a Grade Point Average of 3.00 (B) or higher.
EdD students must demonstrate competency in specific subject areas prior to enrolling in any of the specialization or elective courses.
NCU may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed toward a non-conferred doctoral degree at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. Transfer credit is only awarded for course work that is evaluated to be substantially equivalent in content with the required course work for the EdD program. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.
Time to Completion
NCU allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less.
Normal time to completion for this program is 83 months.
Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.
The normal time disclosed above reflects the experience of students who may have entered under different program requirements. In the quest for continuous improvement, academic leadership has revised the program to optimize curriculum and pace, facilitate student learning, and improve chances for success. Therefore, the program is now designed for students enrolling today to take advantage of these revised course structures, lengths, and schedules. New students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 40 months.
Students who are unable to complete a degree program within the stated time limits are dismissed. If a student believes they have extenuating circumstances they may document the circumstances and send a request for consideration to their respective School Dean or designee. Exceptions to the policy are determined on a case-by-case basis and are granted only once.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The EdD program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country.
Dissertation Process
The School of Education has developed a logical step-by-step process that assists in completing an EdD applied research dissertation. NCU provides a detailed EdD Dissertation Handbook that explains the process and NCU’s dissertation support structure. The EdD doctoral research courses, the comprehensive course and the dissertation courses are specifically designed to guide students through the process.
The dissertation is the capstone academic achievement of the EdD. The EdD dissertation is applied, project based and results in a product designed to produce appreciable improvements in the student’s school or organization and must also impact the student’s leadership growth. Although applied and project based, the EdD dissertation is a scholarly document. To earn the EdD degree, the student must demonstrate the ability, drive, and determination; and NCU will provide the faculty, the academic support and process to assist in the attainment of high academic goals.
The School of Education offers students the opportunity to pursue an area of specialization within a degree program. Students who complete at least 18 semester credit hours in one specific specialization (or a combination of 15 semester credit hours in one specific specialization and 3 semester credit hours in an elective course) may elect to have the specialization recorded on their transcript and diploma.
NCU recognizes that each student is unique, and therefore evaluates each application based not only on what courses or program of study a student has accomplished previously, but takes into consideration which specialization is being pursued at NCU and their current and future professional goals.
A doctoral candidate must be continuously enrolled throughout the series of dissertation courses. Dissertation courses are automatically scheduled and accepted without a break in scheduling to ensure that students remain in continuous enrollment throughout the dissertation course sequence. If additional time is required to complete any of the dissertation courses, students must re-enroll and pay the tuition for that course. Continuous enrollment will only be permitted when students demonstrate progress toward completing dissertation requirements. The Dissertation Committee determines progress.
Course Sequence
The Doctor of Education (EdD) program emphasizes an applied, project based approach to development of appreciable improvements in the body of educational practice. The EdD attracts individuals who are primarily professional administrators either at the PK-12 level or the higher education level. (Deans, enrollment managers, superintendents, principals, teacher leaders, and education faculty who primarily teach - not do research, educational consultants, trainers in organizations). EdD research focuses on solving a problem in the workplace or in the professional field of education and results in a dissertation, but also produces a “product” or solution. This degree is also intended to help students increase their own workplace Leadership Skills. For EdD students, all the statistics they will need is embedded into the Research Courses. An oral presentation of the dissertation is required.
All foundation competency courses, specialization courses, and method coursework must be completed prior to students entering into the Comprehensive Assessment. Upon successful completion of the Doctoral Comprehensive Assessment: Pre-Candidacy Prospectus, students become official Doctoral Candidates and may move onward to the dissertation coursework which is completed sequentially.
In the Doctor of Education, specializations such as Curriculum and Teaching (CT), Early Childhood Education (ECE), Educational Leadership (EL), English Second Language (ESOL), Instructional Leadership (IL), Special Education (SE), and Sports Management (SM) have a curriculum focused on the PK-12 environment. *Please note these Doctoral level PK-12 specializations are not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation Educator Preparation (CAEP).
*The elective course scheduled as part of the initial degree may be changed upon request. Students should contact their academic advisor for assistance.