Doctoral Program (Ed.D.)

Students will develop the knowledge skills and experiences in the program to allow them to:

1. Conduct scholarly research including:
   a. Reviewing and critically analyzing relevant literature
   b. Collecting and analyzing appropriate types of data
   c. Communicating results of that research with different audiences
   d. Identifying important/practical questions or problems that can be addressed through scholarship
    
2. Connect with the community by:
   a. Developing and nurturing diverse relationships across institutions and different communities
   b. Connecting scholarship and practice in the service of diverse communities
    
3. Engage in transformational leadership by:
   a. Providing vision and sense of mission, instilling pride, gaining respect and trust
   b. Communicating high expectations, using symbols to focus efforts, expressing important purposes in simple ways
   c. Promoting intelligence, rationality, and careful problem solving
   d. Giving personal attention, treating each employee individually, coaching, advising

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)

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.

Preliminary Examination/Proposal Seminar (3 hrs)
The preliminary examination is taken after the student has successfully completed their coursework, the qualifying exam and the dissertation or applied studies proposal. The preliminary examination is a public hearing on the student’s proposal. Typically the same review team for the qualifying examination is used for the preliminary examination. The Ed.D. Faculty Governing Committee must approve the dissertation or applied studies topic prior to the preliminary examination. The entire Dissertation or Applied Studies Committee must be present during the preliminary examination and approve the proposal unanimously. The oral presentation will be open to other interested faculty and students.

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

The concentration in Educational Leadership provides students the ability to develop the leadership and administrative skills needed to identify, solve and anticipate the challenges facing Michigan schools and community colleges.

Students in the Educational Leadership concentration can complete the program and 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
   
• EDD - Educational Leadership

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.

Learn about Course Requirements

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.

Learn about Course Requirements