Many courses in this program are offered in a blended format: on-ground classes combined with online instruction.  Go here for more information.

Northeastern University’s Doctor of Education program is offered by the College of Professional Studies. The program builds on the University’s commitment to practitioner-oriented graduate programs. Indeed, the goal of the program is to instill in educators and education administrators the desire and ability to effect transformational change in their practice.

To achieve this goal, Ed.D. students learn within the social constructs of their courses and through communities of practice based on shared professional experiences and common interests. They engage in a collaborative, scholarly investigation of a significant problem facing educators and formulate their own solution to that problem. This engagement helps them enfold the roles of learner, researcher, and practitioner, and fosters their self-identities as scholar practitioners.

EdD Specializations include:

• Curriculum Leadership
• Educational Leadership (K-12)
• Higher Education Administration
• International Higher Education
• Jewish Education Leadership
• Organizational Leadership and Communication

Designed for working professionals with demanding careers, the program is structured so that candidates may complete their coursework and doctoral projects in as little as three years.

Courses and Course Formats

The program is designed for working professionals with demanding careers who want to build on their master’s degrees. Entering students must first complete an appropriate master’s degree (such as an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, or in education administration/leadership) or equivalent (such as a J.D.).  Students without an appropriate master’s degree may need to take additional courses before starting the program.

The Ed.D. program is structured so that students may complete their coursework and doctoral projects in as little as three years. Students take 13 three-credit courses and six quarter hours of seminars in support of their doctoral projects − for a total of 45 quarter hours (q.h.). All courses run on a quarter-based academic calendar: 12-week terms start in September, January, and April and an 8-week summer term starts in July.

Courses are offered in several formats to fit the multiplicity of student schedules. Many courses are offered in a blended format meaning that they include face-to-face (“on-ground”) class meetings supplemented with online instruction. On-ground courses meet on weekday evenings or on weekends.  Selected courses are also offered during a single week in the summer. Other courses are offered completely online. Students who live and work long distances from Boston may elect to take up to 11 of their 13 courses online. The remaining two must be taken on-campus to meet the program’s 2 course on-campus residency requirement. Many students will find the intensive one-week summer courses the most convenient pathway to meeting this requirement. Inexpensive summer housing is available.

The 13 courses (39 q.h.) fall into two categories: there are 7 foundational and 6 specialization courses. At least 4 of the latter 6 courses must be in one area of specialization; the other 2 are electives that may be selected from any offered through the EdD program. Design and implementation of doctoral projects is supported by the 6 q.h. Doctoral Project Seminar. Students should enroll in the seminar upon completion of their course work and redirect their energies to their projects. Students may continue to work on their doctoral projects provided they enroll in the Doctoral Project Continuation for each term beyond the seminar.  There is a continuation fee associated with this course but no academic credit.

Doctoral Projects

Doctoral projects provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge, and insights, as well as their skills in analysis, synthesis, problem solving, and teamwork.  The theme of each project is a significant curricular, policy, or management problem confronting public or higher education in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Within those themes, students will identify more focused issues that have particular urgency to their state, region, district, or institution. 

The doctoral project represents a rigorous and scholarly approach to investigating a problem of educational practice. Students first identify the problem to be addressed in their project before they undertake a rigorous process of inquiry and reflection about the origins, significance, and nature of the problem, as well as alternative ways to address it in practice.

Many doctoral projects culminate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a research-based intervention. Examples include innovative approaches to teaching and learning among target student groups from pre-K through G16, organizational restructuring plans, new faculty development strategies, new leadership models for higher education administration, policy papers, and program assessments.

The doctoral project is the focus of student activity in their third year in the program. However, preparation for the project begins in the first term and with the first set of courses. The content and delivery of every course has been tailored to help meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the doctoral projects. Several foundational courses play particularly key roles. The first two are Research Processes Based in Practice and Theoretical Foundations of Education Research and Practice. By the time students take the second of these courses, typically in the 3^rd or 4^th term (see Tables 4-6) they are expected to begin framing a draft of their preliminary proposal for their doctoral project (described in detail below) and to identify other students with similar project interests.

Admissions

To apply to the EdD online, submit a completed application form, official undergraduate and graduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.  We prefer that one letter of recommendation be from your current employer/supervisor. Admission also requires at least three years of professional experience in education or a closely related field. GRE exam scores are not required. Individuals for whom English is not the primary language must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, or complete an assessment test administered by Northeastern University’s English Language Center.

All applications for the winter term (January 11, 2009) received prior to November 23, 2009, will be given “priority status” for review. Applications received after November 23, 2009, may be subject to a decision for the spring term, depending on capacity.

Apply Now

Fall 09 Course Schedule: 

The courses listed below are appropriate for all Ed.D. students participating in an online or hybrid program on the Boston Campus.