The online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy is designed to prepare transformative leaders in K–12 education. Students in the online Ed.D. program become equipped with the skills needed to fill leadership positions that improve education for all children, specifically those in marginalized or underserved communities.
Three distinct pillars shape the Ed.D. program:
Social Justice and Ethics
Utilizing education to create an
equitable society
Scholarly Inquiry and Research
Staying at the forefront of the
ever-changing education landscape
Problem-Solving and Design
Re-evaluating and improving on
education models for better outcomes
The Ed.D. employs improvement science as a primary approach. This method places importance on utilizing exploratory learning when seeking new strategies for long-term success in education systems. Students learn to use inquiry, problem-solving, and innovation to continuously design and implement effective solutions across schools, districts, and communities.
Admissions
Fordham Graduate School of Education seeks passionate educators who aspire to pursue advanced leadership careers in the field of education. Successful online Ed.D. applicants show an interest in becoming scholarly practitioners who are willing to engage in problem-solving and continuous development for a superior student learning experience.
3
years to complete
50
credit hours
3
start dates per year in
August, January, and May
Curriculum
Leadership—especially in education—must be an intellectual, creative, and moral practice. The Ed.D. curriculum focuses on preparing social-justice-minded educational leaders to solve problems and design solutions that benefit schools and student learning.
The Ed.D. program consists of 50 credit hours. The curriculum is designed around four core practice areas:
- Educational Leadership and Organizational Change
- Leading Teaching and Learning
- Engaging and Transforming Schools, Districts, and Communities
- Policy and Advocacy
Through interactive coursework and collaborative discussions, students learn to advocate for educational policy reform, improve schools using research and improvement science, and act as change agents who engage with and support the transformation of schools, districts, and communities.
Immersions
Students meet classmates and faculty in person during two immersions on the Fordham Westchester campus in West Harrison, New York. During the immersions, students learn in person from Fordham faculty and have the opportunity to collaborate with classmates. Students expand their network of education professionals who can assist with future career growth or with brainstorming solutions to education-related challenges.
Careers for Ed.D. Graduates
Throughout the Ed.D. program, students master the skills needed to grow their leadership capabilities to affect change in K-12 education. Graduates are able to advance their high-level education careers with an Ed.D., and become eligible for positions including:
- Assistant Superintendent
- Superintendent
- School and district leader
- Nonprofit leader
- Administrator
- Public policy leader
Fordham is located within the New York-Jersey City-White Plains metropolitan area, which has the highest education administrator’s employment level among the country’s metropolitan areas. Administrators in K-12 education in this area earn an annual mean wage of $131,050*.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed June 1, 2018.