Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Ed.D.

Program Overview

Our rigorous high-quality leadership doctorate prepares outstanding leaders in Vermont’s K-12 schools, districts, non-profits, and social service organizations. 

We are excited to announce our newly revised and reinvigorated 3-Year+ Ed.D. program! Core courses and electives are offered during the summer, fall, and spring. New cohorts begin in July every year. Our low-residency program. is primarily online with synchronous evening classes aligned to the needs of the greater Vermont community.

Although designed to be completed in three years plus one extra summer semester (10 semesters total), you have up to seven years to complete the program.

Mission and Purpose

The Ed.D. is an applied research program for professionals serving in educational leadership positions in schools, colleges, policy arenas, non-profits and social service organizations. 

We strive to produce leaders who can construct and apply knowledge to make a positive difference in the lives of children, youth, individuals, families and communities through promoting excellence in a number of areas, including:

• Leadership and change strategies in and across organizations
• Development of learning organizations in response to social issues
• Design, implementation and analysis of applied research in education
• Interpretation and application of research
• Understanding of broad social issues, policies and critical perspectives of social justice, equity, and diversity
• Meeting the needs of students with learning challenges and disabilities and their families
• Analysis of policy and fiscal management in education and human services
• Implementation of policies and practices that promote equity and social justice, collaboration and cultural awareness and responsiveness

Cohort Model

Students enjoy and benefit from our cohort approach to learning. We believe that a cohort approach for adult learners fosters a spirit of community, maintains commitment, and leads to higher completion rates as compared to other approaches to doctoral studies.

Each year, newly admitted and enrolled students form a cohort. Each cohort proceeds through program together, enrolling in all required core courses. Program faculty will assist each cohort to develop into an effective learning community wherein students challenge and support one another. 

The composition of the cohort represents a variety of specialized interests including PreK-12 education, higher education, non-profits, and social services. Through knowledge acquisition, research, spirited dialogue, and collaboration, students form lifelong professional relationships that often span decades.

"Equity and social justice drive my personal purpose and the purpose of our agency's work with constituent school systems. I strive to be a leader who can make a difference across our public PreK-12 educational system. My bi-directional professional and academic experiences helped me make direct connections between research, theory, and practice." 

– Lori Dolezal, Ed.D.

Funding and Scholarships

• Funding and scholarships for doctoral students
• Research Travel Grants

Faculty

Visit our doctoral faculty profiles to learn about their internationally recognized teaching, research and service collaborations. 

How to Apply

The Admissions section/tab of this page provides specific guidance on the application process.

Contact Us

• Email: edd@uvm.edu
• Phone: (802) 656-2936
• Submit the inquiry form below.

You are also welcome to reach out to our Office of Graduate Student and Program Services for help.

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

The coursework and experiences within the core course requirements encompass five major themes. Throughout the core and in the comprehensive exam, students provide evidence of their knowledge and skills related to these program themes:

Organizational Theory, Change, and Leadership

• Analyze, develop, and construct policy that advances humane and just goals.
• Clarify and articulate one’s role as a leader in creating a society grounded in an ethical/moral vision of a humane and just world.
• Communicate clearly for the purposes of critically examining an argument, reporting research, presenting a policy, and advocating for a cause.
• Critically examine one’s own leadership dispositions and style in relation to theory and knowledge to increase one’s capacity as an effective, caring leader.
• Understand and apply the principles of inter-professional collaboration in multiple education and human service contexts.
• Understand and apply knowledge of organizational development and change theory to the design and implementation of strategies and practices.
• Demonstrate one’s knowledge of the richness of diverse cultures to expand our perspectives, enhance our understanding of effective leadership, and inform what we do.

Process of Inquiry / Applied Research and Utilization of Knowledge

• Develop a philosophical and epistemological understanding of diverse research paradigms and methods to promote applied scholarship.
• Critically examine and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to gain insight into educational dynamics and develop strategies for intervention.
• Utilize research skills to conceptualize and conduct a study.

Critical Perspectives

• Critically analyze societal and educational dynamics related to justice, equity, freedom, and diversity.
• Critically examine the interrelationships among ideology, power, and socio-historical context with particular reference to the control of knowledge.

Learning and Development

• Employ theories of human development and learning in constructing frameworks for program development and evaluation, organizational change and professional development.
• Apply understanding of collaborative learning and exhibits effective interpersonal skills.

Policy Study and Analysis

• Understand the relationship between policy and practice
• Examine policy as a lever for change
• Apply knowledge about policy for organizational improvement

Admissions

To be successful, the admissions application process should begin months before the deadline. 

GRE scores are not required for admission consideration.

See application instructions on the Graduate College webpage. The application process includes the following submissions:

• Online application
• Current resume or curriculum vita
• Detailed Statement of Purpose including a summary of how the Ed.D. program relates to your professional, career and educational goals, and faculty with whom you'd like to work. Visit our doctoral program faculty webpage to learn about their research
• Three letters of recommendation using the Graduate College form
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Writing sample that demonstrates the ability to write in the academic context

Application Deadline

For summer 2025 matriculation, all application materials for should be submitted to the Graduate College Admissions Office as early as possible, but no later than January 15, 2025. Notification of admission, wait listing, or denial will be communicated to applicants by April 15.

Questions?

The status of your application can be obtained through your personal portal on the Graduate College Admissions website.  

You can also call (802) 656-2699 or email graduate.admissions@uvm.edu.