Online Educational Leadership/Administration

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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:
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 the 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.
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 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:
Please upload your most recent Resume/CV.
(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.
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.
Guide for requesting Letters of Recommendation
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 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
Applications for the Ed.D. are only accepted for Summer.
Application Portal Opens – August 1
Early Admission – November 1
Final Admission – February 1
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
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