An EdD from DU's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) is tailored to prepare experienced professionals like you to generate innovative and proactive solutions to complex problems within your organizations. You'll lead improvements in your school or educational organization and advance your career opportunities. Through the program's coursework, doctoral-level research, and field-based experiences, you will learn to apply research, theory, and frameworks that tackle important equity-based issues of practice.
Based on the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) approach, our program invites you to take a deeper look at the leadership, societal and education challenges affecting our schools and educational organizations. You’ll undertake coursework in research and leadership designed to bridge research, theory and practice. The cohort format ensures you’ll have a supportive network of fellow educational leaders learning collaboration and communication skills to work with diverse communities and build partnerships. Students graduate with the disposition and skills to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, families, and organizations.
After completing two years of required coursework, you'll continue to develop and complete your dissertation in practice. The dissertation in practice addresses questions of equity, ethics and social justice to design and enact solutions to complex problems of practice. ELPS prepares you to be a future-focused, critical-thinking change agent. Join us to transform research, policy, and practice, and expand your career opportunities in schools, school districts, universities, non-profits, or policy agencies.
Start Dates: Summer or Fall
Curriculum: 65 Credit Hours
Program Length: 3 Years
100% Graduates employed full-time within 6 months of graduation MCE Class of 2022
$87,000 Average base salary of EdD payscale.com
100% of admitted students receive some form of tuition assistance from the Morgridge College of Education
EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
How our curriculum prepares you for your career in education
Benefit from established partnerships and mentorship opportunities
You’ll gain access to well-established educational partnerships and networks across Colorado and the nation, enriching your learning experience. Benefit from mentorship opportunities with respected scholars in the field engaged in cutting-edge research across diverse contexts.
Use research to inform practice and policy leadership
You will design, conduct and use research for evidence-informed practice and policy leadership. Our EdD program will prepare you for careers in executive leadership, higher education and policy.
Become a leader with a future-focus for education
Required coursework in research and leadership is geared towards helping you forge crucial connections between practice, research and theory. In the ELPS program, we set ourselves apart from conventional doctoral programs in education because we firmly believe that the leaders of tomorrow should be forward-thinking, have analytical minds and catalysts for change.
Apply your learning in the field
After the initial two years of coursework, in your third year, you will conduct field research in collaboration with partner schools and districts.
Expand your career within the field of education
ELPS doesn't just react to existing systems; it empowers you to shape the future as a leader. Here, you'll be equipped to revolutionize research, policy and practice in the dynamic and evolving landscape of education.
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Application Information
Additional Scholarships
$9,000 Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship for Inclusive Engagement
This fellowship supports the retention of a diverse community of talented doctoral students. Nomination by the department is required.
$9,000 Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship
This fellowship assists in recruiting new, highly qualified domestic or international doctoral students. Department nomination is required.
$2,500 Graduate Education Dissertation Fellowship
This fellowship supports outstanding doctoral students during the research and writing phase of their dissertation. Each program nominates their top students based on academic potential and high-quality research and writing. College nomination is required.
Research Funding Opportunities
The University of Denver provides free student access to several subscription databases of research and dissertation grant opportunities.
For more information, please visit our database.
The Graduate Student Professional Development Grant
GSPDG was established to support graduate student academic progress and foster professional growth by encouraging students to present, perform, or compete at significant conferences or exhibitions. Funds are subject to availability. Students who have received partial funding from COESA in the prior academic quarter can apply for GSPDG funding from the Office of Graduate Education, when funding is available. The grant is competitive, and funds are subject to availability. More information.
ELPS Department Scholarships
The ELPS department provides up to $500 ELPS Scholarship Fund for ELPS graduate students and up to $500 ELPS Faculty/Staff Award Fund to support the development of ELPS students through conference fees, presentation materials, travel expenses and other sundry supplies.
If you are interested in donating to these funds, please visit our donations page.
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Advance your career with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Coursework — 55 Credit Hours
- RMS 4940 - Structural Foundations of Research in Social Sciences
- ADMN 4827 - Foundations of Educational History and Philosophy
- RMS 4910 - Introductory Statistics
- ADMN 4819 - Organization Theory and Behavior
- RMS 4941 - Introduction to Qualitative Research
- ADMN 4823 - Equitable and Socially Just Educational Policy Making in the United States
- ADMN 4900 - Advanced Inquiry and Analysis
- ADMN 4821 - Leading Design Improvement for Equity
- ADMN 4820 - Educational Program Evaluation
- ADMN 4835 - Leading Teaching and Learning
- ADMN 4812 - Perspectives in District Leadership
- ADMN 4844 - Critical Policy Analysis for Educational Systems
- ADMN 4836 - Improving Organizational Culture
- ADMN 4822 - Action Research and Systems Leadership
Doctoral Research — 10 Credit Hours
- ADMN 4700 - Special Topics in K-12 Administration
- ADMN 5900 - Research Planning and Design
- ADMN 5993 - Doctoral Research Seminar
Optional Internship — Only needed if seeking district level Administrator license
- ADMN 4817 - Administrative Internship
Notable EdD Alumni
Dr. Zach Rahn
Executive Director,
Curriculum and Instruction,
Aurora Public Schools,
Aurora, Colorado
Dr. Rana Razzaque
Director of opportunity, access
and inclusion and Title IX coordinator,
Englewood, Colorado
Dr. Klaudia Neufeld
Dean of students,
Five Star Online Academy,
Westminster, Colorado;
researcher on transgender rights
Dr. Frankie Carver
Principal,
Grand View Elementary School,
Frederick, Colorado
Dr. Annie Larkin
Principal,
Lowry Elementary,
Denver
Get Started on Your EdD Degree
Build your career in education with a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education