Doctor of Education

Program Description

With the present climate of accountability, there is a substantial demand for educators who have a high level of expertise in school improvement, professional learning, and educational research.  Educators who work with various student populations should be able to identify current needs, examine or explore those needs, and implement practices and/or policies based on empirical literature to improve those needs.  The College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University is committed to developing this level of expertise through the Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Leadership Program.  The EdD Program offers three specialization program tracks: (1) Curriculum, (2) Educational Leadership, and (3) Higher Education Administration.

The Curriculum program track follows a cohort model implemented through a blended format of online and face-to-face instruction at Frank Brown Hall in Uptown Columbus, Georgia.  Courses in the 63-credit hour, doctoral program are intended for classroom educators, school administrators, district personnel, and other individuals seeking professional expertise in curriculum and instruction.  Upon program completion in the Curriculum specialization program track, EdD students may add Curriculum and Instruction certification (i.e., S-7) to their Georgia teaching certificate after passing the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators in Curriculum and Instruction. 

Additional program information can be found on the CSU Department of Counseling, Foundations, and Leadership website.

Career Opportunities

Careers, such as teacher leaders, curriculum specialists, and curriculum leaders in schools or districts, are available to individuals who earn a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Leadership with a specialization in curriculum.

Admission Requirements

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic combination of criteria, including the interview, writing assessment, recommendations, professional experiences, academic transcripts, and GRE scores. 

• Applicant must hold at least a master’s degree from an accredited United States institution, or the equivalent from an international institution.
  
  
• Good academic standing at previous institution(s).
  
  
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on all graduate course work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirement for a graduate degree and post-baccalaureate coursework.
  
  
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores within the last 5 years.  Preferred minimum scores include a combined total of 297 for the general portion (Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning) and 3.5 for the Analytical Writing component.
  
  
• Four (4) years of experience in a school setting or in a leadership role in the private sector.
  
  
• Background check to verify no criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for related teacher, counseling, or leadership certifications.
  
  
• Successful completion of interview and timed writing assessment.
  
  
• For international students, additional criteria may be required.  See International Graduate Admissions for more details.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• Demonstrate advanced ability to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum that promotes student learning.
• Demonstrate advanced ability to plan, implement, and evaluate instruction to facilitate student learning.
• Demonstrate advanced depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in their academic discipline and pedagogy.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the student as influenced by cognitive, physical, emotional, social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct research that contributes to the education profession.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of assessment and the ability to use multiple sources of assessment for maximizing student learning.
• Demonstrate high standards for professional practice.

Additional Program Requirements

Additional Program Requirements

• Completion of all required EdD coursework (i.e., minimum of 63 semester hours and a minimum of 51 semester hours in residence) with a 3.25 GPA and no more than one grade of C applying toward the degree (i.e., good academic standing).
• Appointment of an approved EdD dissertation committee.
• Approval of the Dissertation Prospectus by the EdD Dissertation Committee.
• Approval of the Dissertation Proposal by the EdD Dissertation Committee.
• Met all program requirements (i.e., successful defense of final dissertation and approval of final dissertation publication by the EdD Dissertation Committee, Director of Doctoral Program in Education, Director of COEHP Office of Graduate Studies, Dean of COEHP, and CSU Library).
• Maintained continuous enrollment in EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation) until completion of the EdD dissertation.

Program of Study

RESEARCH Required Hours: 15
EDUF 8117 Qualitative Research Methods
EDUF 8125 Mixed Methods Research in Education
EDUF 8126 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Education
EDUF 8127 Quantitative Experimental Research
EDUL 8715 Doctoral Seminar in Curriculum and Leadership

SPECIALIZATION Curriculum Required Hours: 24
EDUF 8112 Curriculum Design and Evaluation
EDCI 7157 Curriculum Development and Reform
EDCI 8115 Diversity in Education 
EDCI 8116 Trends and Issues in Curriculum Studies
EDCI 8117 Professional Development and Learning
EDCI 8157 Quality Assessment and Evaluation
EDCI 8555 Selected Topics in Education
EDUL 8108 Applications of Neurological Research to Student Learning

DISSERTATION Required Hours: 12
EDUF 8000 Dissertation Defense
EDUF 8129 Developing the Dissertation Prospectus
EDUF 8999 Dissertation
EDUF 8999 Dissertation
EDUF 8999 Dissertation

ELECTIVES Required Hours: 12 
12 approved semester hours in discipline as approved by advisor

Total Required Hours: 63