Doctoral Program (Ed.D.)

Graduates of the Doctorate of Education will conduct scholarly research including: 

• Identifying important/practical questions or problems that can be addressed through scholarship.
• Reviewing, critically analyzing, and synthesizing literature that addresses an important question or problem in education.
• Collecting and analyzing appropriate types of data.
• Communicating results of that research in writing and orally with diverse audiences.

Program Information: The Ed.D. Program is a 60-credit hour program with 24 credit hours of core courses, 24 credit hours of concentration area courses and 12 credit hours dedicated to a dissertation or applied studies project.

Students must maintain a “B” average (cumulative grade point average of 3.0) to remain in good standing in the Ed.D. program.

Transfer of Credit: Up to six credit hours from another (non-U-M) accredited university may be accepted as transfer credits with approval of the program adviser. Students may transfer up to one-half (1/2) the minimum number of credit hours required for the Ed.D. degree from the Ann Arbor and Flint U-M campuses.

Courses must be at the 500 level or above. The student’s program adviser must approve the transfer of the course and credits.

Transfer of Credit will be considered if:

• Graduate credits were completed within five years of application to the Ed.D. program at another accredited institution.
• Graduate credits were completed at another U-M School or College (including Flint and Ann Arbor).
• Graduate Extension courses were completed at any of these campuses:
  • University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and Oakland University.
• Courses were taken at an undergraduate institution, only if:
  • Students completed the course during their junior or senior year 
  • They were approved for graduate credit by the graduate school of the institution where and when the student took the course
  • The courses were not used in whole or in part, in any way, to meet requirements for a degree
  • The student’s program adviser approves the transfer of the course and credits

Time to Completion: The Ed.D. program is designed for completion of the degree requirements within four calendar years. Students will not be allowed to register for credits in the program after ten years without the approval of a formal petition by the Ed.D. Faculty Advisory Committee.

Core Courses (24 hrs)

EDA 725. Seminar in Metropolitan Education

EDB 722  Seminar in Educational Leadership

EDC 740. Seminar in Educational Psychology/Special Education

EDD 717  Seminar in Curriculum and Practice

EDK 700. Introduction to Educational Research

EDK 823  Quantitative Research Methods

EDK 825. Qualitative Research Methods

EDK 850. Research Design & Proposal Development

Concentration Area Courses (24 hrs)
Eight graduate level courses must be selected in the area of concentration with prior written approval from the doctoral program adviser. The professional studies courses are offered through the College of Education, Health, and Human Services and other units of the university. The student will work with their faculty adviser to determine which concentration area courses are appropriate to the student’s needs and professional goals. This plan will be submitted to the doctoral program coordinator for approval within one year of admittance to the program.

Portfolio Defense and Qualification for Proposal (3 hrs)
The portfolio defense is the first step in the process of moving from the pre-candidacy stage to the candidacy stage of the program. The purpose of the Ed.D. Portfolio is to provide the student with an opportunity to document their academic and professional growth and development in an organized, coherent, and selective record. The portfolio presentation and defense allows each student’s dissertation/applied study committee to evaluate their readiness to (a) conduct scholarly research, (b) connect with the community, and (c) engage in transformative leadership. The portfolio represents the student’s accomplishments in coursework, independent study, research experiences, internships, and other advanced learning activities. The portfolio also provides both a vehicle for self-reflection and a comprehensive account of a doctoral student's experiences and ongoing progress toward their academic and professional goals.

Dissertation/Applied Studies Project (9 hrs)
A student will become a candidate for the Ed.D. degree after completing the required coursework with a minimum GPA of “B” and after passing both qualifying as well as preliminary examinations. At this point, the student will be allowed to pursue the dissertation or applied studies work.

The student must submit a written copy of the dissertation or applied studies project to the dissertation/applied studies committee for approval before the oral defense will be scheduled. All members of the dissertation or applied studies committee are responsible for reading the dissertation or applied studies documents and submitting their written evaluations to the committee chair at least a week prior to the defense.

Admission is on a yearly-basis only.  Materials must be submitted in full by March 15, annually.

Learn more about application forms and admission information

Students in the Educational Leadership concentration can be recommended to the Michigan Department of Education for the MDE-required Central Office Administrator Certificate for educators in or aspiring to a K-12 district central office leadership position.

Course Requirements:

• EDD - Educational Leadership with Central Office Administration Certificate

The concentration in Metropolitan Education prepares students to assume leadership positions in metropolitan school systems and other educational agencies with a focus on the historical, political, economic and socio-cultural context of communities and schools.

Become subject area leaders and/or a curriculum specialist. This is a flexible concentration that may include any of the disciplines in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services such as mathematics, science, literacy, social studies, early childhood education and English as a Second Language.