Education, Ed.D.

Contact Information

Lynda Wiest, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Educational Studies
(775) 682-7868
wiest@unr.edu

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The Education Ed.D. program with the Educational Leadership emphasis prepares students at an advanced level for work in the professorial ranks of higher education or positions of leadership in schools and agencies with a scholar-practitioner focus. The degree provides rich preparation by exposing students to a wide variety of courses and experiences related to fundamental theories and concepts associated with education, as well as current issues and trends in in Education with a focus on leadership needs. Strengths of the program lie in the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of courses and faculty members in the College of Education and Human Development and the University, while having a defined area of emphasis for study. The Education Ed.D. program leads to both a broad and a deep scholarly knowledge, with an emphasis on using new knowledge to serve as scholar-practitioner within the profession.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will complete a research proposal that includes a complete methods section tailored to the design chosen.
• Students will conduct and explain an original research study that demonstrates their understanding of research methods and the appropriate data analysis.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to read and critically analyze research studies and trends in their emphasis area as demonstrated by successful completion of the dissertation.
  

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the doctoral degrees must meet general university requirements for admission, Graduate School requirements, College of Education and Human Development requirements and program requirements.

Each applicant must satisfy the regular graduate admission requirements listed for doctoral programs and the following special requirements:

1. The COEHD recommends, but does not require, that you have at least three years of relevant professional field experience by the time you finish your degree. This may be three years of work experience related to the area of emphasis prior to admission, three years of related work experience while in the doctoral program, or some combination thereof.
2. Preference for applicants who hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in an area related to the chosen emphasis area. Emphasis of prior degree area(s) should be appropriately related to the chosen emphasis area.
   
3. All applicants must complete the GRE. Scores for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing are each considered by the review committees. Although high scores are expected in all three areas, particular emphasis is placed on the Analytical Writing subtest.
   
4. Gain recommendation by the graduate faculty of the area of emphasis and gain approval of the doctoral admissions committee.
5. At least one faculty member in the area of emphasis must be willing to serve as temporary chair of the applicant’s committee.​​​​​​​

I. Program Requirements

The standard doctorate graduate regulations apply with the following modifications:

Full-Time Study: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) students must complete two successive semesters in residence. Ed.D. students have the option of satisfying the residency requirement by completing at least two full-time summer or regular semesters with a minimum of nine graduate units per semester. For the Ed.D., a maximum of three units of dissertation, independent study, or workshop units may be applied per full-time term. Residency requirements must be satisfied after admission to the doctoral program.

Program: The Ed.D. requires a minimum of 60 semester units beyond the baccalaureate degree, including 12 units of dissertation.

An Ed.D. program may include 24-36 units earned for the master’s degree. The standard is 24 units; en route to doctoral degree is 36 units. The student’s committee makes the determination of which units, if any, can transfer from the master’s degree based on the relevance of the coursework. If the master’s degree is not relevant to the doctoral emphasis area, it is possible that no units may be approved for transfer, especially for those programs where the minimum is 60 units beyond the baccalaureate degree. In addition to master’s degree units approved for transfer to the doctoral program, a maximum of 16 relevant units in an accredited post-master’s or licensure program may be applied to approved Ed.D.

A maximum of six graduate units of S/U grades may apply toward the doctor of education or the doctor of philosophy degrees. In preparation for the dissertation, all Ed.D. students must complete a required sequence of research/statistics courses, totaling 12 units.

Dissertation: The dissertation must involve empirical study of a professional problem.

Foreign Language: There is no foreign language requirement.

Fees: All fees are assessed based on the schedule in effect at the time of registration.

II. Total Units (60 units)

The Education doctor of education degree program (Ed.D.) includes a minimum of 60 units beyond the baccalaureate degree, including 12 units of dissertation. The Education Ed.D. offers the Educational Leadership program area as a subplan.

Degree candidates should consult the college’s website for more information.