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Florida State University's online Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy will provide you with expanded knowledge and skills in educational leadership to address the most pressing problems in education. Mid-career education leaders and scholarly practitioners will become knowledgeable about organizational systems, actively engaged in research to improve policy and practice in their own contexts, and attuned to issues of equity. If you're a working professional with a master's degree and relevant professional experience, this program is for you. You'll work with outstanding faculty and develop the professional and analytical skills needed to address a variety of issues in education at either the K-12 or higher education levels.
FSU's Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies has been a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) since 2010, and FSU's online Ed.D. program in educational leadership and policy is recognized by CPED as an “experienced” program. The program was developed according to the CPED Guiding Principles of Design and driven by CPED’s 6 core values:
- Diversity: We value every learner and the different perspectives, skills, histories, and voices of members of diverse communities.
- Learning: We value continuous improvement, growth, practical application of knowledge, and inquiry.
- Partnership: We value solving authentic and critical problems of practice in partnership with others.
- People: We value the professional expertise and lived experiences of every educational professional.
- Social Justice: We value ethical, just, and inclusive practices.
- Students First: We value the success of every student.
The EdD program is designed for educational practitioners who are working full-time and aspire to identify and address problems and possibilities of practice in their local contexts. Coursework is completed online and delivered asynchronously. Students will also visit Tallahassee each summer for a 3-day Summer Institute to meet their peers and program faculty and participate in a variety of activities and events designed to enhance their learning and preparation as scholar practitioners. The Summer Institute takes place in June and is held on the FSU campus. Finalized dates will be sent to admitted students. Please note that this program does not lead to certification in educational leadership; if you're looking for a program that leads to certification, please see our online master's and specialists programs in educational leadership/administration.
Applications for the Ed.D. are only accepted for Summer.
Application Portal Opens – August 1
Early Admission – November 1
Final Admission – February 1
Degrees & GPA
Bachelor’s Degree: An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in Upper-Division coursework attempted (Last 60 hours).
Graduate Degree: An earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a recommended minimum 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA).
GRE Scores
GRE Test Scores: For applicants submitting GRE test scores, we recommend the following minimum target scores: Verbal (149), Quantitative (147), Analytical Writing (3.5)
GRE Waivers: GRE Waivers are submitted through the application portal. The GRE requirement can be waived for outstanding applicants meeting ONE of the following criteria:
- Completed Master’s or EdS degree with a minimum 3.75 GPA from a US accredited institution. Unofficial Transcripts of the conferred Master's or EdS degree must be uploaded.
- Completed Doctorate in another field or discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA from a US accredited institution. Unofficial Transcripts of the conferred Doctoral degree must be uploaded.
- 10 years of professional experience in an educational setting with at least 5 years in a leadership role. The following documents must be submitted:
- CV/Resume: Detailing past educational and leadership experience.
- Leadership Statement: Summary providing specific details regarding your leadership experiences and the leadership skills acquired you during these experiences.
- 1 letter of recommendation from a direct supervisor that provides specific details regarding your leadership experiences and the leadership skills you acquired during these experiences.
Resume/CV
Please upload your most recent Resume/CV.
Statement of Purpose
(Approx 1,000 words): Applicants should write a brief essay highlighting their work as a practitioner, explain their decision to pursue an Ed.D. at FSU, and outline a potential problem(s) of practice they would like to examine as part of their Dissertation in Practice. Problems should be situated in their local context and connected to broader issues or problems related to educational leadership, administration, or policy.
Letters of Recommendation
Three Letters of Recommendation are required and must be on official letterhead. Letters of recommendation should speak to your ability to perform and succeed at coursework and research at the doctoral level. Letters may come from academic or professional references.
Once you provide the recommender’s email address, the application system will send instructions to your recommenders for uploading letters. The recommender will upload the letter directly into the portal.
Transcripts
Please see the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website for detailed information and submission instructions: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions
- Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are ONLY required for admitted students & applicants who require SpanTran evaluations of International Transcripts.
- Unofficial Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts are required for your application to be reviewed. Please submit ALL unofficial transcripts from each College and/or University attended. FSU only allows for application review with unofficial transcripts from U.S. institutions. For applicants with transcripts from a non-U.S. institution, a credential evaluation must be received before the application can be reviewed. *Official transcripts on the application checklist will show a red “X” until they are submitted. Applicants who have submitted all required documents and are only missing official transcripts are still considered complete and will be reviewed.
- International Transcript Requirements: FSU requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for Fall 2024 applicants and beyond who have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES-approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU to ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Please see the “Transcript Requirements” section of the Graduate School website for detailed information. https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions
English Language Proficiency
Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. You can find the approved tests and minimum scores required here under the “English Language Proficiency” section: https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions
- Self-Reported Scores
Although official scores are required, most departments will begin reviewing your application with self-reported scores while waiting for the official scores to arrive. You can self-report your scores on your Online Status Page after you submit your application.
- Waiving English Language Proficiency
The English Language Proficiency requirement can be waived at the University level for applicants who have earned a BA or higher in the US or an English-speaking country. *A variety of countries are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement.
The FSU application is a 2-step process. You must first submit your online application. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email with information to access your Application Status Page. The Status Page is where you will pay your application fee, add recommenders to your application, and upload application materials.
Please select the applicable fields when applying:
Campus/Location = Online Distance Learning
Degree = Doctoral
Major = Educational Leadership & Administration – EdD - EH
Click here to learn more about our Educational Leadership and Policy faculty.
Tuition & Fees: Traditional Academic Programs → Distance Learning
FAFSA: Federal Student Financial Aid
Scholarships: Scholarship opportunities for the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
FSU Graduate School Funding & Awards: Awards, Grants, Fellowships
