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Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy (Ed.D.)
Take Your Leadership Skills to the Next Level with a Doctorate of Education from Fordham University.
Our Ed.D. in educational leadership is designed to prepare equity-minded problem solvers to improve schools, districts, and communities for all children.
This hybrid program—available both online and on campus—is designed around four core areas:
- Educational leadership and organizational change
- Leading teaching and learning
- Engaging and transforming schools, districts and communities
- Policy and advocacy
Advance your career and expand your knowledge base in a program emphasizing improvement science as a primary problem-solving approach and innovation for school improvement.
Leadership—Especially in Education—Must Be an Intellectual, Creative, and Moral Practice.
Get to Know Our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
The Ed.D. curriculum focuses on preparing social-justice-minded educational leaders to solve problems and design solutions that benefit schools, student learning, and the community.
Curriculum and Immersion Experiences
Consisting of 50 credit hours, the curriculum is designed around four core practice areas:
- Educational Leadership and Organizational Change
- Leading Teaching and Learning
- Engaging and Transforming Schools, Districts, and Communities
- Policy and Advocacy
In addition, students meet classmates and faculty in person during two immersions on the Fordham Westchester campus in West Harrison, New York, where they learn from Fordham faculty as they collaborate with classmates. The two immersions allow students to expand their network of education professionals while brainstorming solutions to education-related challenges with their peers.
Laboratories of Practice
Students complete four Laboratories of Practice (LoP) during the first two years of the program. These practicum experiences are incorporated into four core content courses, one from each domain. Each LoP provides an opportunity for candidates to apply their understanding of research and theory to authentic problems in the field. The four LoPs include:
- Practicum in Professional Learning
- Practicum in Policies for Improvement
- Practicum in Transforming Schools, Districts and Communities
- Practicum in Leadership and Organizational Learning and Change
Dissertation of Practice
As they earn their Ed.D. in educational leadership, students complete an inquiry-grounded, solutions-oriented Dissertation of Practice. Following the principles of improvement science, students address relevant problems of practice in their school or district setting—making a significant contribution through their work while taking an inquiry-grounded and solutions-oriented approach to improvement that can guide their work as leaders in the future.
During Year Three, students complete four courses, in which they design and complete a dissertation addressing a problem using improvement science and relevant applied research methods.
Get to Know Our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
The Ed.D. curriculum focuses on preparing social-justice-minded educational leaders to solve problems and design solutions that benefit schools, student learning, and the community.
Curriculum and Immersion Experiences
Consisting of 50 credit hours, the curriculum is designed around four core practice areas:
- Educational Leadership and Organizational Change
- Leading Teaching and Learning
- Engaging and Transforming Schools, Districts, and Communities
- Policy and Advocacy
In addition, students meet classmates and faculty in person during two immersions on the Fordham Westchester campus in West Harrison, New York, where they learn from Fordham faculty as they collaborate with classmates. The two immersions allow students to expand their network of education professionals while brainstorming solutions to education-related challenges with their peers.
Laboratories of Practice
Students complete four Laboratories of Practice (LoP) during the first two years of the program. These practicum experiences are incorporated into four core content courses, one from each domain. Each LoP provides an opportunity for candidates to apply their understanding of research and theory to authentic problems in the field. The four LoPs include:
- Practicum in Professional Learning
- Practicum in Policies for Improvement
- Practicum in Transforming Schools, Districts and Communities
- Practicum in Leadership and Organizational Learning and Change
Dissertation of Practice
As they earn their Ed.D. in educational leadership, students complete an inquiry-grounded, solutions-oriented Dissertation of Practice. Following the principles of improvement science, students address relevant problems of practice in their school or district setting—making a significant contribution through their work while taking an inquiry-grounded and solutions-oriented approach to improvement that can guide their work as leaders in the future.
During Year Three, students complete four courses, in which they design and complete a dissertation addressing a problem using improvement science and relevant applied research methods.
Four Core Practice Areas
Leadership—especially in education—must be an intellectual, creative, and moral practice. Using improvement science as a primary approach, the Ed.D. curriculum focuses on preparing social-justice-minded educational leaders to solve problems and design solutions that benefit schools and student learning.
- Educational Leadership and Organizational Change
- Leading Teaching and Learning
- Engaging and Transforming Schools, Districts, and Communities
- Policy and Advocacy
Three Signature Pedagogies
- Social Justice and Ethics
- Scholarly Inquiry and Research
- Problem-Solving and Design
Watch Rosalyn Barnes Share Her Experience as an Ed.D. Student.
Watch Amy Kaiser Share Her Experience as an Ed.D. Student.
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Take a Closer Look at Our Graduate School of Education
Are you ready to make an impact in your career and shape the future of education? Find out what you can do with an advanced degree from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education.
- Our ProgramsAcross 40 programs taught by educational experts, your career as an educator will be taken to new levels.
- Program Deadlines Apply early and get a head start on advancing your career by checking our application deadlines.
- Financial AidWe understand that tuition costs are critical to your graduate school selection. Luckily, we have lots of options available for you to secure your education.
- Our Values Discover what makes Fordham University special through the goals and values that have shaped our teaching for more than 150 years.
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Become a leader of tomorrow and enjoy a more rewarding career with a graduate degree from our Graduate School of Education. Apply today with these advantages:
- No test score requirement
- A priority admission decision (for most programs)
- One-on-one application and admission guidance
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