Doctor of Education (EdD)

You have already proven yourself in your career. The application is where you show you are ready for doctoral-level work, and our team and the doctoral program coordinator will guide you through it. A complete application includes:

• A completed graduate application
• A current resume or CV
• Official transcripts verifying earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from regionally accredited institutions
• A 3.0 GPA in an accredited master’s program (a 3.0 graduate GPA earns a GRE exemption; otherwise, an official GRE score above 300 from the last five years)
• A letter of recommendation from a supervisor or professional in the field
• A personal statement (500 words or fewer) on your goals and how FSC’s EdD will help you reach them
• A personal interview with the Doctor of Education program coordinator

Have questions as you pull this together? Reach out to Kimmy Diallo, your admission counselor and advisor, and she will walk you through it.

The curriculum is designed to prepare visionary leaders to improve teaching, learning, and organizational effectiveness. Students develop expertise in leadership, systems thinking, strategic planning, organizational improvement, data-informed decision-making, policy, and applied research while examining real-world challenges facing education and related organizations. Throughout the program, a carefully sequenced research and dissertation experience equips students to investigate a significant problem of practice, generate meaningful evidence, and lead lasting, positive change in their profession.

Doctor of Education Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Course Code	Course Title
EDU 7005	Ways of Knowing: Research in Education
EDU 7035	Learning Theories
EDU 7090	Quantitative Analysis
EDU 7135	Planning and Evaluation
EDU 7025	Sociological and Economical Perspectives in Education
EDU 7120	Qualitative Methods of Inquiry
EDU 7115	Community Collaboration
EDU 7020	Curriculum, Learning, and Instruction
EDU 7075	Instructional Design & Improvement
EDU 7997	Advanced Research Methods*
EDU 7050	Policy, Politics, and Current Issues
EDU 7998	Advanced Program Evaluation*
EDU 7125	Advanced Research Design for Dissertation

Program Total - 60 hours

*Courses 7997 and 7998 are four credit hours each

Tuition per Credit Hour: (2026–2027): $555
Technology Fee per Semester: $25 to $100 (based on credit hours enrolled)
Non-Refundable Enrollment Deposit: $250 (upon acceptance, applied toward your first semester tuition balance)

A dissertation editing fee also applies: the final, successfully defended dissertation is reviewed by a professional editor selected by the FSC School of Education, with the fee based on the document’s length and complexity.

The Doctor of Education program follows a cohort model, allowing you to progress through the curriculum with the same group of peers and build lasting professional relationships. Courses are delivered in a hybrid format, combining face-to-face instruction with online learning. During the fall and spring semesters, students typically take two hybrid courses, each meeting for one-half day on designated Saturdays, with online coursework completed between class sessions. This flexible format is designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals while providing meaningful opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

A new cohort begins every summer, and students may also join in the fall or spring terms.

At the doctoral level, you are full time at 8 credit hours a semester.

It comes down to where you want to lead. The Doctor of Education (EdD) is the broad doctorate for leaders across every sector, including higher education, business, nonprofits, government, and P-12, and many students enter with a master's degree outside of education. The EdD in Educational Leadership is built specifically for P-12 teachers and administrators who want to lead schools and districts.

Still weighing the two? Connect with Kimmy Diallo, our admission counselor and advisor, who can talk through your background and goals and help you find the right fit.

Complete the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid.