Program Overview

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Education (Online), EdD

The Johns Hopkins School of Education offers an innovative online Doctor of Education degree program designed to prepare an exceptional corps of educational practitioner-scholars, both nationally and internationally, who can set a high standard for transformational leadership in education, apply evidence-based practices to improve educational outcomes, and meet the vast challenges associated with improving learning outcomes in both public and private educational environments.

Overview

To address the dramatically changing landscape of education in the 21st century, which includes new research on the science of learning, advances in technology, and the emergence of a for-profit education sector, this EdD program is tailored to equip leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive positive change.

Admission Requirements

At minimum, applicants to the EdD program should hold a masters degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have at least three years of relevant work experience. Previous degrees must document high academic achievement (a minimum GPA of 3.25) in an area of study closely associated with the objectives of the program.

• Applicants must submit the online admission application form.
• Application fee.
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• A curriculum vitae (résumé).
• A Problem of Practice Statement.
• Online (asynchronous) interview.
• Two letters of recommendation signed by each recommender, including:
  1. A professor with whom the applicant worked in their master's program who can speak to the applicant's competency to conduct rigorous, applied scholarly work.
  2. A colleague/supervisor from the applicants professional context/industry who can attest to the applicant's qualifications to pursue a doctorate, and the applicants impact on the recommenders professional practice.

International students must fulfill the general requirements for admission and complete additional requirements.

Program Requirements 2025 Cohort

Program Structure and Requirements

Program requirements include a minimum of 90 graduate credits. Students must enter the program with a regionally accredited bachelor's and masters degree (with a minimum of 36 graduate-level credits for the master's). The master's credits will be transferred into the EdD program.

• Foundations of Education: 15 credit hours
  • ED.883.524: Critical Theory
  • ED.883.526: Understanding Social Problems
  • ED.855.710: Multicultural Education
  • ED.855.712: Multiple Perspectives on Learning and Teaching
  • ED.855.718: Disciplinary Approaches to Education
• Applied Research & Evaluation: 12 credit hours (select from a list of courses)
• Areas of Interest/Electives: 15 credit hours (select from various areas such as Neurodiversity and Neuroeducation, Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education, Urban Leadership, Learning Design and Technology)
• Doctoral Dossier Research: 12 credit hours
  • ED.883.521: Doctoral Dossier Research I
  • ED.883.522: Doctoral Dossier Research II
  • ED.883.523: Doctoral Dossier Research III
  • ED.883.525: Doctoral Dossier Research IV

Problems of Practice and Doctoral Dossier

Students examine a Problem of Practice (POP) that becomes the focus of the student's Doctoral Dossier, consisting of three main projects:

1. Scholarship of Integration: Synthesis of the literature reviewed to identify and describe the underlying causes of and factors contributing to the chosen POP.
2. Scholarship of Application or Scholarship of Teaching: Students choose one of these two options for their second project.
3. Scholarship of Discovery: Search for new knowledge, conducting evidence-based research that leads to knowledge creation.

Program Requirements 2023 and 2024 Cohorts

Similar to the 2025 cohort with some differences in course requirements and structure.

Program Requirements 2022 Cohort

Program Structure and Requirements

• Foundations of Education: 12 credit hours
• Applied Research & Evaluation: 9 credit hours
• Specialization: 12 credit hours
• Electives: 9 credit hours
• Dissertation Research: 12 credit hours

Problems of Practice and Dossier Style Dissertation

Students examine a Problem of Practice (POP) that becomes the focus of the student's Dossier Style Dissertation, which includes two pathways: Applied Project or Empirical Project Deeper Dive.

Program Requirements 2021 Cohort

Similar to the 2022 cohort with the option for a Dossier Style Dissertation or an Applied Dissertation.

Program Requirements Cohorts

For cohorts prior to 2021, the program structure and requirements differ, including the number of elective and dissertation credits required.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the EdD, graduates will:

• Cultivate an identity as a self-reflexive, social justice-oriented learner within diverse educational or learning communities.
• Analyze and critique educational practice and research from a social justice and systems perspective.
• Apply relevant methodologies to address critical challenges in education.
• Demonstrate a curiosity for, and a systematic approach to, at least one major topic of study within education resulting in an emerging expertise.
• Integrate research and practice-based knowledge to develop research-informed decisions and opinions about educational experiences, processes, policies, and institutions.
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences about educational research, experiences, processes, policies, and institutions.