Program Overview

Overview of the Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation

The online Doctor of Education in leadership and innovation at Arizona State University is designed for practicing educator-leaders seeking to transform their practice and create better learning opportunities for all students. This program is delivered in a collaborative, cohort model and incorporates academic and personal support through leader-scholar community groups.

Program Details

• The program is 3 years long, with 9-10 semesters.
• It consists of 20 classes, each lasting 7.5-15 weeks.
• The total credit hours required for the program are 60.

Educational Pathways

The program offers three distinct educational pathways:

• Higher education change leadership
• Pre-K–grade 12 change leadership
• Systems, professional and reimagined change leadership

Collaborative Learning

In the second and third years, students collaborate in an assigned, virtual leader-scholar community (LSC) group. These groups support one another in conducting action research and preparing individual dissertations, with personalized guidance from a designated faculty member.

Practical Research

Students must hold a position in an educational setting that embraces innovation for positive change. They conduct multiple cycles of inquiry in their workplace to identify problems of practice and propose and test solutions.

Ideal Candidates

The program is designed for full-time education practitioners who want to bring innovation into their workplaces as academic leaders in schools, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses, or administrative leadership roles in colleges and universities.

Diploma

Arizona State University’s diplomas do not specify whether the degree was earned online or in person.

Courses

The program features a curriculum that encourages self-reflection and collaboration with the leader-scholar community group. Some of the core courses include:

• Collaborative Approaches to Data-Informed Decision-Making
• Dynamic Contexts of Education
• Innovation in Teaching and Learning
• Introduction to Doctoral Studies
• Leadership for Organizational Change
• Mixed Methods of Inquiry
• Reading the Research
• Research (Directed Field Study)

Career Paths

As a graduate, you can excel in advanced education leadership roles in settings ranging from pre-K–grade 12 to higher education. Potential career paths include:

• Director of education
• Education administrator
• Instructional designer
• Student services director
• Superintendent

Faculty and Research

The Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation faculty draws from a range of academic disciplines, including cognitive science, psychology, and economics. They seek to answer questions about the process of learning, teaching practices, and effects of education policy.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. This includes:

• Holding a position related to education that will allow them to implement change in their workplace.
• A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• A minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program and in an applicable master’s degree program.
• Submission of:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee.
  • Official transcripts.
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Personal statement.
  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume.
  • Writing sample.

Application Review Criteria

The application will be rated and ranked based on:

1. Interest in the doctoral program given current or prior professional experiences.
2. The extent to which the local problem of practice is unique, important, and worthy of investigation.
3. How the program will help address the identified problem of practice and achieve professional goals.
4. Commitment and ability to engage with issues of diversity and inclusion.
5. Overall fit with the program’s goals and objectives.
6. The overall quality of writing.

Personal Statement

The personal statement should answer three topics:

1. Why you’re interested in pursuing an EdD in leadership and innovation.
2. A local problem of practice in your current professional work.
3. How your background and experiences demonstrate commitment to the ASU Charter.

Guided Writing Sample

The writing sample should address the prompt: What is action research and how can it be used to address a problem of practice you identify in your local educational/learning context?

Recommendations

Three professional references are required, preferably from:

• Your current supervisor.
• Someone in an academic position.
• A person of your choice.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Use the tuition calculator to estimate full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Accreditation and Rankings

Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation is recognized with peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report, including rankings for online master’s programs in educational administration, curriculum and instruction, and special education.