Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Education Program

The Doctor of Education program at Utah State University is a 46 credit hour program oriented to professionals and practitioners, designed to prepare educators for the application of appropriate and specific practices, the generation of new knowledge, and for the stewardship of the profession. As a professional doctorate for practitioners, the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) equips educators with the tools to implement tangible changes within their professional environments, enhancing educational outcomes.

Program Overview

The program is centered around key values of equity, ethics, and social justice, aiming to address intricate challenges in practice. Moreover, it is dedicated to preparing leaders capable of creating and implementing knowledge to enact positive change in the lives of individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Doctoral candidates are offered opportunities to cultivate collaboration and communication skills in diverse settings and to form partnerships.

Program Structure

The Ed.D. program focuses on analyzing real-world problems using various perspectives to create meaningful solutions. Additionally, doctoral students are provided the opportunity to develop a professional knowledge base that merges practical and research-based knowledge, linking theory with comprehensive inquiry. Emphasizing the creation, transformation, and utilization of professional knowledge and practice, this program stands on the principles of systemic and systematic inquiry.

Doctoral Capstone Project

The doctoral capstone project centers around research with a practical impact, aiming to leverage scholarly inquiry for the betterment of educational or professional contexts. In contrast to traditional dissertations that typically focus on investigating and analyzing educational issues or phenomena to contribute to the scholarly literature, a doctoral capstone project seeks to drive direct improvements in practice. Consequently, many doctoral capstone projects employ applied research approaches like content analysis, program evaluation, discourse analysis, action research, and improvement science.

Application Requirements

The application deadline for the TEAL Doctoral Program is December 1st. A competitive application file should meet or exceed the following requirements:

• Evidence of at least two years of experience in education
• A master's degree in education or closely related field (e.g., Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions of higher education
• Current curriculum vitae or resume
• Statement of Purpose

Statement of Purpose Guidelines

The statement of purpose should:

• Briefly introduce yourself and state your professional goals and current professional status
• State your academic interests, particularly which course cluster you are most interested in (cultural studies, leadership, literacy, mathematics, or science)
• Identify three USU graduate faculty members you think align with and might be able to support your research interests
• Specify which of our graduate faculty members we might assign as your initial advisor
• State a problem of practice that you are interested in focusing on during your doctoral program

Program Details

Admitted students will work with a faculty member to select courses best aligned to their research interests and work towards completing the doctoral capstone project. Typically, Ed.D. students can complete the 46 credits of coursework in 3 years, inclusive of the doctoral capstone project of 6 credits. However, students may take longer than a year to complete the capstone project.

Research Areas

The program offers various research areas, including:

• Cultural Studies in Education
• School Leadership
• Literacy Education
• Mathematics Education
• Science Education

Program Completion

The program is designed to be completed in 3 years, but students may take longer to complete the capstone project. The application process does not begin without the $55 application fee, and all materials must be submitted by December 1st for full consideration. After December 1st, TEAL doctoral applications are initially reviewed for completeness, and then TEAL graduate faculty review the applications and make recommendations to the Director of Graduate Programs. Typically, applicants will receive notice of their acceptance status before April.