
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Boyer Graduate School of Education
Expand Your Professional Options with Our Doctor of Education
Our Doctor of Education (EdD) program is a professional distance education degree program emphasizing coursework in educational leadership and management in a variety of educational and public service settings. The program provides students with advanced study in organizational development, diversity studies, law & ethics, and educational psychology.
Our EdD is of particular interest to individuals with public or private school teaching experience who seek administrative positions or middle level managers who are interested in moving into higher levels of leadership. Professionals working as educators, administrators, and consultants will all find our EdD program beneficial toward their career goals.
Students may select one of three academic concentrations in pursuit of the EdD degree program: Leadership & Administration, Educational Technology, or Charter School Administration.
The EdD degree program is presented through distance education using online technology requiring no classroom or seminar attendance. The program is offered in both the Independent Study and Directed Study modalities. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional full-time experience in an education-related field of work.
Upcoming Start Dates:
Independent Study: May 6th | July 1st
Directed Study: May 6th | September 2nd
Tuition: $360/credit
Credits Required: 60
Total Program Tuition: $21,600
Learning Modalities:
Independent Study & Directed Study
Admissions Requirements:
Master’s Degree
Did you enroll in one of our EdD programs before the October 26, 2021 start date? You can find your program catalogs and other relevant information here.
Choose the Learning Modality that Works for You.
Independent Study
Our Independent Study modality gives you the flexibility to fit your program around your career and lifestyle.
Students have 8 weeks to complete each course, working independently with the support of a faculty mentor. The time to degree completion may be accelerated or extended, within the guidelines of the University.
Each course in the program contains a series of lesson assignments, generally consisting of reading assignments supplemented occasionally by various multimedia. Students are evaluated through examinations and/or research assignments, which are submitted for faculty evaluation.
Pay tuition in installments completely interest-free — each semester, just make a 30% downpayment upfront, followed by 3 monthly payments.
Start on any of six start dates throughout the year.
Directed Study
Our Directed Study modality offers a more structured and collaborative online learning experience.
Students will move through the program with a cohort of other students, typically completing one course at a time and two courses, or six credits, per semester. Each 8-week course in this program contains a series of readings, lesson assignments, and regular online asynchronous discussions.
Directed Study students may apply for federal financial aid to cover the cost of their education.
Start on any of three start dates throughout the year.
Curriculum
A total of 60 credits are required for graduation from the University with an EdD. All Qualifying Courses and the Qualifying Examination must be successfully completed prior to moving on to the Core Courses. All Core Courses and the Comprehensive Examination must be completed before moving on to the Dissertation/ADP Phase.
Students entering into our EdD program with the University may choose between three concentrations: Leadership & Administration, Educational Technology, or Charter School Administration.
More information about each concentration and required courses can be viewed below.
Leadership in education takes confidence, experience, and continuous education. Coursework covers a variety of topics relevant to today’s educators, including the legal and political framework of education in the US, societal diversity in education, curriculum development, and management of adult/occupational programs.
Our Leadership & Administration concentration prepares educators to excel as leaders within their schools and school districts.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
PLO1 – Apply best practices, current concepts, theories, and research about effective teaching, learning, and administration to improve one's professional practice as a teacher or administrator.
PLO2 – Employ effective and appropriate leadership techniques that support educational and administrative objectives.
PLO3 – Use multiple strategies to help students of various levels and backgrounds learn the subject matter.
PLO4 – Discuss the American public school system’s funding and budgeting practices and legal principles with a level of authority.
PLO5 – Use information and technology to plan instructional and administrative strategies and improve learning, productivity, and professional practice.
PLO6 – Develop, organize, and perform sound research studies in institutional settings.
PLO7 – Communicate effectively with learners, their families, and other professionals in ways appropriate to purpose and content.
PLO8 – Author a properly formatted and presented dissertation representing a substantive research topic of original work OR develop an applied doctoral project.
+ Qualifying Courses
EDU608 Educational Administration (3 credits)
EDU609 Leadership in Institutional Settings (3 credits)
EDU517 Educational Finance (3 credits)
EDU616 Organizational Behavior in the Educational Setting (3 credits)
EDU600 Qualifying Examination (Pass/Fail)
+ Core Courses
RES622 Basic Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU615 The Laws and Politics of Education (3 credits)
EDU618 Principles of Curriculum Development (3 credits)
EDU619 Societal Diversity (3 credits)
EDU512 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3 credits)
EDU514 Educational Psychology (3 credits)
EDU605 Management of Adult/Occupational Programs (3 credits)
EDU620 Contemporary Topics in Educational Policy (3 credits)
EDU613 Emerging Educational Technologies (3 credits)
EDU621 Research Methods (3 credits)
EDU601 Comprehensive Examination (Pass/Fail)
+ Dissertation/ADP Phase
RES623 Advanced Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU706 Dissertation Proposal (6 credits)
EDU707 Dissertation (9 credits)
EDU708 Applied Doctoral Project Proposal (6 credits)
EDU705 Applied Doctoral Project (9 credits)
Technology is increasingly a part of the classroom experience, from K-12 through graduate programs. Educators are increasingly expected to incorporate technology into their curriculum, online programs are gaining popularity, and both of those major changes shows how important it is to have school leaders with solid knowledge of educational technology concepts.
Our Educational Technology concentration includes coursework in online learning instructional design, technology management, laws and ethics of educational technology, and emerging educational technologies.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
PLO1 – Apply best practices, current concepts, theories, and research about effective teaching, learning, and administration to improve one's professional practice as a teacher or administrator.
PLO2 – Employ effective and appropriate leadership techniques that support educational and administrative objectives.
PLO3 – Use multiple strategies to help students of various levels and backgrounds learn subject matter.
PLO4 – Discuss the American public school system's funding and budgeting practices and legal principles with a level of authority.
PLO5 – Use information and technology to plan instructional and administrative strategies and improve learning, productivity, and professional practice.
PLO6 – Develop, organize, and perform sound research studies in institutional settings.
PLO7 – Communicate effectively with learners, their families, and other professionals in ways appropriate to purpose and content.
PLO8 – Author a properly formatted and presented dissertation that represents a substantive research topic of original work OR develop an applied doctor that represents learning application.
+ Qualifying Courses
EDU608 Educational Administration (3 credits)
EDU609 Leadership in Institutional Settings (3 credits)
EDU517 Educational Finance (3 credits)
EDU616 Organizational Behavior in the Educational Setting (3 credits)
EDU600 Qualifying Examination (Pass/Fail)
+ Core Courses
RES622 Basic Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU626 The Laws and Ethics of Educational Technology (3 credits)
EDU619 Societal Diversity (3 credits)
EDU512 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3 credits)
EDU514 Educational Psychology (3 credits)
EDU624 Online Learning Instructional Design & Methods (3 credits)
EDU611 Technology Management in Education (3 credits)
EDU620 Contemporary Topics in Educational Policy (3 credits)
EDU613 Emerging Educational Technologies (3 credits)
EDU621 Research Methods (3 credits)
EDU601 Comprehensive Examination (Pass/Fail)
+ Dissertation/ADP Phase
RES623 Advanced Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU706 Dissertation Proposal (6 credits)
EDU707 Dissertation (9 credits)
EDU708 Applied Doctoral Project Proposal (6 credits)
EDU705 Applied Doctoral Project (9 credits)
Charter schools were created to help improve our nation’s public school system and offer parents an alternative public school option to meet their child’s specific needs. The core of the charter school model is the belief that public schools should be held accountable for student learning. In exchange for this accountability, school leaders should be given freedom to develop processes and systems to help students achieve and should share what works with the broader public school system so that all students benefit.
Our Charter School Administration concentration aims to equip educators with the skills necessary to be leaders in a Charter School environment.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
PLO1 - Apply best practices, current concepts, theories, and research about effective teaching, learning, and administration to improve one's professional practice as a teacher or administrator.
PLO2 - Employ effective and appropriate leadership techniques that support educational and administrative objectives.
PLO3 - Use multiple strategies to help students of various levels and backgrounds learn subject matter.
PLO4 - Discuss the American public school system's funding and budgeting practices and legal principles with a level of authority.
PLO5 - Use information and technology to plan instructional and administrative strategies and improve learning, productivity, and professional practice.
PLO6 – Develop, organize, and perform sound research studies in institutional settings.
PLO7 – Communicate effectively with learners, their families, and other professionals in ways appropriate to purpose and content.
PLO8 – Author a properly formatted and presented dissertation that represents a substantive research topic of original work OR develop an applied doctoral project that represents learning application.
+ Qualifying Courses
EDU608 Educational Administration (3 credits)
EDU609 Leadership in Institutional Settings (3 credits)
EDU517 Educational Finance (3 credits)
EDU616 Organizational Behavior in the Educational Setting (3 credits)
EDU600 Qualifying Examination (3 credits)
+ Core Courses
RES622 Basic Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU615 The Laws and Politics of Education (3 credits)
EDU618 Principles of Curriculum Development (3 credits)
EDU619 Societal Diversity (3 credits)
EDU512 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3 credits)
EDU514 Educational Psychology (3 credits)
EDU613 Emerging Educational Technologies (3 credits)
EDU590 Charter School Marketing Management (3 credits)
EDU591 Charter School Governance & Administration (3 credits)
EDU621 Research Methods (3 credits)
EDU601 Comprehensive Examination (Pass/Fail)
+ Dissertation/ADP Phase
RES623 Advanced Academic Writing (3 credits)
EDU706 Dissertation Proposal (6 credits)
EDU707 Dissertation (9 credits)
EDU708 Applied Doctoral Project Proposal (6 credits)
EDU705 Applied Doctoral Project (9 credits)
Admissions Process
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Apply Online
Complete our online Application Form and attach any prepared documents. Additional documents may be emailed directly to Admissions@Taft.edu or your Admissions Representative after your application form is submitted.
Required Documentation:
Master’s Transcript
Personal Statement
Two Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Copy of ID
Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional full-time experience in an education-related field of work.
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Choose Your Start Date
Independent Study students are able to begin their program on any of six start dates throughout the year. Directed Study students may begin on any of three start dates per year.
Complete information about our start dates, holidays, and other important dates can be found on our Academic Calendar.
Once you’re accepted into the program, your admissions representative will confirm your start date with you.
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Complete Your Enrollment Materials
Once your start date is confirmed, you’ll be provided with enrollment materials to fill out and sign. This includes your first tuition payment.