Class of 2023 Ed.D. graduates stand in a row with a faculty member while wearing their doctorate robes.

About UConn's Ed.D. Program

The Department of Educational Leadership’s Ed.D. degree program is designed for practitioners and accommodates full-time professionals. It is cohort-based, places an emphasis on a student’s problem of practice, and requires a capstone research project instead of a dissertation.

UConn’s Ed.D. – a doctorate in educational leadership – is geared toward the working professional who aspires to advance their ability to lead an educational organization. The program places a particular emphasis on equity-centered leadership and invites applicants from K-12 and higher education contexts.

 

Learn More on the Ed.D. Website

How is the Ed.D. different from a Ph.D.?

The Ed.D. is distinct from our department’s Learning, Leadership & Education Policy Ph.D. in several ways.

Our Ed.D.:

  • is designed for practitioners and accommodates full-time professionals
  • places an emphasis on a student’s problem of practice
  • a capstone research project is completed instead of a dissertation
  • is cohort-based

Our Ph.D.:

  • is designed for students interested in working in academic settings, becoming researchers, or working in other settings
  • caters to full-time students who often can work on campus in graduate assistantship roles (depending on available funding)
  • emphasizes courses in research methods (many advanced research courses are required or recommended)

Contact Us

For more information about the Ed.D. program please contact Dr. Casey Cobb. For information about how an Ed.D. program can assist your career in higher education please contact Dr. Kenny Nienhusser.