Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Education Program

The School of Education at Baylor University offers two Doctor of Education degrees. The Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change, offered through the department of Curriculum and Instruction, prepares students to apply essential principles of teaching and learning to manage the dynamics of organizational change. The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, offered through the department of Educational Leadership, prepares graduates for competent professional performance in executive leadership roles.

Admission Requirements for the Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change

Applicants to the online Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change program must hold a master's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least two years of professional experience. The online Ed.D. program starts three times per year, in January, May, and August. The admissions team accepts and reviews applications year-round on a rolling basis. Successful applicants possess backgrounds that demonstrate an ability to excel in a doctoral program and a strong desire to have a positive impact in their field.

Application Requirements

• Online application
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Official transcripts of baccalaureate and master's degrees from accredited institutions
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Video introduction
• GRE test scores are not required to apply to the online Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change program.

Program Requirements for the Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change

• Transfer Credit: No transfer credit is allowed in this program.
• Foreign Language: The Doctor of Education program has no foreign language requirement.
• Admission to Candidacy: Admission to doctoral courses is not equivalent to admission to candidacy. Students are admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Education degree only after they have passed LOC 6392 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase Two during their fifth term in the program.
• Major and Minor: In this program, there is a specific sequence of courses that provides students with a foundation in Learning and Organizational Change, so this is the major. No minor is available for this program.
• Faculty Advisors: Faculty Advisors are assigned to each student at the time they enroll in LOC 6391 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase One and LOC 6392 Problem of Practice Dissertation Phase Two.
• Problem of Practice/Dissertation: The Problem of Practice is a comprehensive and ongoing written product that is completed throughout the program.

Admission Requirements for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

The Doctor of Education degree requires a minimum of sixty-five semester hours beyond the master's degree, and an adequate background in teaching pedagogy, school administration, elementary education, secondary education, educational psychology, the history and philosophy of education, educational statistics, and educational measurement. Students must meet not only the general requirements for admission to graduate study but must have demonstrated in their undergraduate courses and in all work above the baccalaureate level a scholarly interest and ability considerably beyond the average.

Application Requirements

• Letter of Application
• Three Professional Reference Letters
• Current Professional Resume
• Certified University Transcript/s and professional certifications
• Professional Writing Sample
• Structured Interview
• Other Evidentiary Documents, such as portfolio of products that show leadership expertise, testimonials, performance evaluations, or sample innovations from teaching, leadership or writing experience.

Program Requirements for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

• Transfer credit: The policy concerning transfer, extension, and workshop courses is the same as that listed under the General Degree Requirements for Doctoral Degrees.
• Admission to Candidacy: Admission to doctoral courses is not equivalent to admission to candidacy. Students are admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Education degree only after they have passed the preliminary examination.
• Supervisory Committee: The major department appoints this committee typically no later than the student's third semester of graduate study.
• Dissertation: Candidates will be required to take courses in the methods and techniques of statistics, methods and techniques of research, framing and describing problems of practice as outlined in the degree plan.
• Foreign Language: The Doctor of Education program has no foreign language requirement.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test: The Doctor of Education program has no GRE requirement.
• Final Examination: This oral examination is conducted by an examining body appointed by the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the graduate program director only after all courses, research, and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled.