Doctor of Education (EdD)
The purpose of the Doctor of Education (EdD) program is to improve professional practice, strengthen students’ understanding and practice of educational administration, and develop skills in leadership and policy development. The doctor of education degree is designed to deepen the content competencies and applied leadership skills of candidates following the completion of a Master of Arts or Master of Science. The program is also designed to develop applied research competencies in obtaining and synthesizing information for the solution of educational problems.
The Doctor of Education applies theory and coursework to current issues arising from practice; research will reflect application skills in the candidate’s chosen field of study. During this program, students will typically be engaged in 6 hours of course work per semester and identified as part time graduate students. Entering doctoral students who already possess a Master of Arts in School Administration or in a related field must complete a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s level degree. The nature of doctoral studies implies a high degree of individualized program development to reflect the personal, professional, and academic goals of each student. Consequently, each doctoral student admitted to the program works with a committee chair and a committee to develop and carry out a research study.
Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout the course of the EdD program with a 3.66 GPA in the first 9 credit hours taken. No more than two C’s are allowed in the entire course of doctoral study. If a student receives an F, he or she must retake the course in the appropriate sequence. The F is not replaced on the transcript, but the two grades are averaged. EdD students are expected to complete the degree within five years. Students who do not meet the requirements of the EdD program will be able to apply earned credit toward the Educational Specialist (EdS) program. Students must complete and submit a Change of Major form to change their degree program from EdD to EdS.
Criteria for Admission to Doctoral Program
- A master’s degree
- Application to Graduate Admissions
- Application to EdD program
- Resume
- GPA of 3.40 or higher in previous graduate studies
- Interview and on-site writing sample
- Four letters of recommendation
- Graduate Record Examination
In addition to passing doctorate level coursework and a comprehensive exam, the final requirement is completion and approval of the doctoral dissertation. For specific deadlines and guidelines, please see the Lindenwood University EdD Handbook.
There are two distinct paths toward an EdD at Lindenwood: educational administration and instructional leadership. For more information about these two options, refer to each degree description.
Doctoral Continuous Enrollment Policy
To promote continuous quality and progression toward current best practices in learning and leading, all doctoral students must remain continually enrolled in each fall and spring semester from the time of first enrollment in the doctoral program until completion of the EdD degree. Students can maintain continuous enrollment either by being enrolled as a regular student or being enrolled in a special course designated for this purpose during the fall or spring semester in which they are not regularly enrolled. The course is EDA 78000 Capstone Experience and carries a cost of $500.00 for no credit. Students can also request a leave of absence, which may not exceed two semesters throughout the student’s degree program. Students should request a leave of absence utilizing the policy exemption form. Approval must be given by the Dean for the School of Education and the Provost of Lindenwood University. If the student fails to apply or be approved for a leave of absence or does not maintain continuous enrollment, he or she will be required to apply for readmission. A student who is considering reapplication should first check with the Office of Evening and Graduate Admission for requirements.
Transfer of Credit from EdS to EdD Programs
Upon completion of EdS in Educational Administration (Advanced Certification), up to 24 hours may be transferred to the EdD program. Upon completion of the EdS in Instructional Leadership, (all emphasis areas) up to 24 hours may be transferred to the EdD Instructional Leadership Program. Upon completion of the EdS in School Administration, up to 6 hours (EDA 53000, EDA 53500) may be transferred into the EdD Educational Administration Program.