Review commonly asked questions — and answers — about our program. For more information, contact a member of our team.
The Ed.D. degree is designed for educators and other practitioners who have aspirations for improving their own leadership practice, for developing leadership capacity within their organizations and communities, and for making significant contributions to their local communities, and to the future of Michigan. Students in the program will find their advanced leadership studies connected to critical education and social issues facing the state. Graduates will be prepared to enact Michigan Central Office Administrator (COA) standards at high levels and to take up system level leadership in various education agencies, including local and regional school districts, state education agencies and professional education associations.
The degree is earned through successful completion of coursework, portfolio evaluation and successful completion of a group Capstone Project. The program is year-round and intense, but is designed so that working professionals earn their degree in three (3) years.
Relevant careers include becoming a researcher, professor or policy-analyst as well as district/school leadership or educational counseling. The Ed.D. is primarily directed toward students who want to be change agents in education. Relevant careers include district or school leadership or educational consulting.
The Ph.D. is primarily directed toward students with an interest in developing research skills. Relevant careers include becoming a researcher, professor or policy-analyst. Both programs are rigorous and well regarded.
Students take some courses together.
Because this is a cohort model, all students in each cohort take the same coursework. We do not articulate credit for this program.
Yes, a master’s degree is required for this program.
There is no GRE requirement to apply to this program.
An Ed.D. student is part of a cohort of students and takes all coursework with these students and produces a group dissertation. This process prevents a Ph.D. student from transferring into the Ed.D. program. However, if a student determines that they wish to transfer from the Ed.D. program, consultation with their advisor and a request to transfer can be made.
Financial aid is available for the Ed.D. There are also some grant options available to support funding of an Ed.D. student.
The Ed.D. is a hybrid program, meaning it combines virtual and in-person sessions. We find great value in the in-person sessions considering this cohort model.
Topics are generated by cohort members and students assemble according to their interest. If a student is interested in a particular topic, they will have the opportunity to present it to the group to garner interest.
Students can earn their administrator certificate and/or central office endorsement by either taking a one-credit internship class, completing the program and taking the MTTC for Central Office Administrators, or by applying for a waiver, completing a portfolio, and taking the MTTC for Central Office Administrators.