Doctor of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction (EdD)

Program Requirements

• Admission Requirements

  For acceptance into the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership Curriculum and Instruction program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

  • An applicant with a graduate-level degree and a 2.5 GPA from a regionally or nationally accredited institution can apply to Westcliff University. Graduate degrees obtained outside of the United States will only be accepted if they have been evaluated by a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or another nationally recognized credentialing service. In this case, the listed U.S. degree equivalency will be used.
• Graduate Writing Assessment

  Based on the results of the placement test, students will either move directly into their first program course or will be enrolled in the EDU 701 Advanced Academic Study and Writing writing support course that will be taken in tandem with the first program course. EDU 701 Advanced Academic Study and Writing helps students develop the academic writing skills necessary to excel in their coursework at the graduate level.

• Doctoral Dissertation Review

  In support and pursuit of candidacy for the Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction degree, doctoral students must submit a scholarly written report, with original research and investigation as to its foundation. This report is commonly and collectively referred to as the Dissertation and is indicative of high academic integrity and rigor, congruent with doctoral-level studies. The doctoral dissertation may focus on the development of a new theory, or it may focus on the practical and contextual application of theory to research topics and phenomena. The dissertation should have a research purpose and/or a research problem and include the associated research hypothesis/es and question(s), methodologies for research and data collection, and an analysis of the results.

  The oral defense of the doctoral dissertation research is performed at the conclusion of the program. Following the oral defense, the doctoral committee chair confers with committee members and reaches a consensus as to whether the candidate receives a grade of pass, pass with content revisions, major content revisions required, or fail.

  Upon graduation and fulfillment of all graduation requirements, including passing the dissertation oral defense, students will receive a Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction.

• Benchmark Courses in the Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction

  RES 803 Identifying and Planning a Research Project and RES 804 Educational Research Literature Review are benchmark courses in the EdD program. While most courses in the EdD program allow students three total attempts to successfully complete, benchmark courses only allow for two total attempts. Students who do not pass RES 803 in the first attempt are required to retake RES 803 while concurrently taking EDU 780 Writing for Research and Scholarly Publications I before progressing further in their program. Failure to pass RES 803 in the second attempt results in dismissal from the Doctor of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction program. Similarly, students who do not pass RES 804 in the first attempt are required to retake RES 804 while concurrently taking EDU 781 Writing for Research and Scholarly Publications II before progressing further in their program. Failure to pass RES 804 in the second attempt results in dismissal from the program.

  Students must meet all academic requirements to apply for graduation.

• Graduation Requirements

  Students must complete 60 total credit hours, composed of 18 credit hours of core courses (15 lecture, 3 practicum), 14 credit hours of research courses (12 lecture, 2 practicum), 12 credit hours for concentration courses (students choose either Leadership or Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; 10 lecture and 2 practicum credit hours), and 16 credit hours of dissertation courses (14 lecture, 2 practicum). Students must also publish by the end of Year 3 (WIJAR is an option) and/or attend a conference/presentation (SyBER is an option).

  Credit hours for some EDU 803-level courses completed at another institution may be transferred into the EdD program at Westcliff University in accordance with the university’s Transfer Credit Policy. All EdD students must complete the full EdD program in 4.5 years.

EdD Courses

• Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction Program Requirements

  Course Sequence—60 Credit Hours Total

  Core & Research (18 credit hours total)

  EDU 710 Effective Teaching and Learning Strategies	3 credit hours
  EDU 711 Educational Leadership in Theory and Practice	3 credit hours
  EDU 712 Curriculum Theory and Design	3 credit hours
  EDU 714 Online Blended Learning and Teaching Methodologies	3 credit hours
  RES 801 Quantitative Research in Education	3 credit hours
  RES 802 Qualitative Research in Education	3 credit hours

  Core, Concentration, & Research (20 credit hours total)

  EDU 715 Classroom Technology Integration	3 credit hours
  EDU 716 Managing Human and Fiscal Resources as an Educational Leader	3 credit hours
  Concentration: Select One	3 credit hours
  RES 803 Identifying and Planning a Research Project**	4 credit hours
  RES 804 Educational Research Literature Review**	4 credit hours

  **Students who do not pass RES 803 will retake the course in the subsequent session concurrently with EDU 780 to support their work in RES 803. Students who do not pass RES 804 will retake the course in the subsequent session concurrently with EDU 781 to support their work in RES 804.

  Concentration & Dissertation (22 credit hours total)

  Continue Concentration Selection	6 credit hours
  EDU 900 Dissertation Course I	4 credit hours
  EDU 901 Dissertation Course II/Preliminary Defense	4 credit hours
  EDU 902 Dissertation Course III	4 credit hours
  EDU 903 Dissertation Course IV	4 credit hours

• Program Concentrations

  Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction Areas of Concentration

  • Leadership

    The Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction with a concentration in Leadership prepares professionals to positively impact organizations and transform learning environments by examining educational issues and trends. Strategies are presented to address problems through strategic planning, response to diverse needs, and the analysis and synthesis of political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts that shape educational discourse. Advancing education through innovation, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, students are equipped with leadership skills to manage change effectively and interpret data for programmatic review, accreditation, evaluation, and efficient use of human and fiscal resources. Leveraging individual strengths, students cultivate the dispositions of ethical leaders and promote success for all.

    To complete a Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction with a concentration in Leadership, students must complete the four (4) courses listed below—12 credit hours total.

    EDU 821 Advanced Supervision of Curriculum and Instruction	3 credit hours
    EDU 822 Critical Analysis of Problems and Issues for Educational Leaders	3 credit hours
    EDU 823 Leading and Managing Choice in Education	3 credit hours
    EDU 824 Program Evaluation Methods for Academic Leadership	3 credit hours

  • Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment 

    The Doctorate of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction with a concentration in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment applies the theories of curriculum design with instructional practice. Setting learning objectives and aligning outcomes with assessment strategies are fundamental to learning and design frameworks. Applying practical solutions with technological integration fosters accessibility and inclusive methods to meet the needs of diverse learners. Using a variety of assessments including informal, formal, formative, and summative provides data-driven evidence of comprehensive learning experiences closing gaps and improving achievement for all.

    To complete a Doctor of Education in Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction with a concentration in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment students must complete the four (4) courses listed below—12 credit hours total.

    EDU 810 Classroom Pedagogical and Andragogical Approaches	3 credit hours
    EDU 811 Instructional Design for Equitable Education	3 credit hours
    EDU 812 Student Assessment Methods	3 credit hours
    EDU 820 Advanced Instructional Design	3 credit hours

• Westcliff University Catalog
  Student Handbook/Catalog

Scholarship Opportunities

• Scholarship Application

  As a Westcliff student, you have access to a powerful network of support from staff, faculty, alumni, and many others who take pride in investing in you. Scholarships are made possible by generous benefactors who are passionate about supporting your success.

  Apply Now
• Scholarship Application Deadlines

  2023-2024 Academic Year Calendar

  Semester	Session	Scholarship Deadline	Start Date	End Date
  FALL	Session 1	07/07/23	Start: 8/28/23	End: 10/22/23
  	Session 2		Start: 10/23/23	End: 12/17/23
  SPRING	Session 3	11/17/23	Start: 01/08/24	End: 03/04/24
  	Session 4		Start: 03/05/24	End: 04/28/24
  SUMMER	Session 5	03/16/24	Start: 05/06/24	End: 06/30/24
  	Session 6		Start: 07/01/24	End: 08/25/24