Online Doctor of Education in Leadership in Schooling
Earn your terminal degree online through UMass Lowell's Doctor of Education in Leadership in Schooling and prepare for leadership roles in K-12 districts or higher education. This program emphasizes the development of thoughtful and reflective scholar-practitioners.
Complete online courses in Summer, Fall and Spring semesters supplemented by a one-week summer residency each year. Delivered through a cohort model, the program starts in the middle of May. You will take two courses each semester and complete the program over a three-year period.
Please note that this degree does not lead to licensure. For more information on licensure programs for Massachusetts teachers, explore our M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees.
Earn a Top-Ranked Master's for Under $20k
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
No GMAT/GRE Required
Career Outlook
Curriculum Outline
- Number of Courses Required: 14 (42 credits)
Required Courses (5 Courses / 15cr)
- EDUC.6440 Foundations for Practitioner Scholars
- EDUC.6910 Developing Inclusive School Contexts
- EDUC.6940 Systems Leadership I
- EDUC.6960 Strategic Partnering with Families and Communities - Available Spring 2023!
- EDUC.6991 Reading and Applying Educational Research
Research Design & Methods (4 Courses / 12cr)
- EDUC.6911 Applied Research Design
- EDUC.6921 Quantitative Data Analysis for Practitioner Leaders - Available Spring 2023!
- EDUC.6922 Qualitative Research Methods Practitioner Leaders - Available Spring 2023!
- EDUC.6931 Data Analysis for Practitioner Leaders
Specialization Courses (2 Courses / 6cr)
- EDUC.6920 Law, Policy, and Finance
- EDUC.6930 Organizational Learning
Residency
One week residency required each summer*
Dissertation Planning and Execution (3 Courses / 9cr)
- EDUC.7501 Dissertation in Practice - Available Spring 2023!
- EDUC.7502 Dissertation in Practice: Data Collection and Analysis
- EDUC.7503 Dissertation in Practice: Dissertation Completion - Available Spring 2023!
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Ed.D. Program Requirements
The Ed.D. requires completion of 42 credits beyond the master's or education specialist (CAGS) degree. Nine of these credits are focused on dissertation research. The research for the Ed.D. is applied in nature and may examine an issue pertinent to a local setting. The Ed.D. program requires completion of 11 online courses (33 cr) and 9 credits of dissertation research support through online dissertation seminars. Additionally, candidates must attend a week-long summer residency each year they are in the program.
In order to complete either degree, candidates must:
- Complete the required minimum number of credits in the specified program;
- Complete all courses, including residency requirements, with a cumulative grade point average of B or better;
- Have no more than two courses below the grade of B counted toward their degree;
- Pass two doctoral examinations;
- Satisfactorily complete and defend a dissertation proposal;
- Satisfactorily complete and defend the dissertation;
- Submit all required paperwork at each stage of the degree;
- Maintain continuing matriculation if not enrolled in coursework or dissertation research credit;
- Conform to all human subjects requirements for research as specified by the Institutional Research Board (IRB);
- Complete the program within eight years from the date of admission.
Program Requirements
To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell doctorate degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.
General Requirements:
- Students must complete the program of study designed by the Department in which they are enrolled and approved by the University.
- Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned. See Academic Standing.
- All financial obligations, including tuition, fees and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
- Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Graduate Program Policies
In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.
Tuition & Fees
At UMass Lowell, we believe that students should have as much information as possible up front so they can make informed decisions before enrolling in a degree program or signing up for a course.
Tuition for all undergraduate courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition for all online graduate courses is also the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition is priced per credit. To calculate the tuition for a course, simply multiply the per-credit tuition by the total number of credits per course. Exception: If the total number of course contact hours is greater than the total number of credits, the per-credit tuition is instead multiplied by the total number of contact hours.
Spring 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Graduate Online Education Courses in the Ed.D. and Ph.D.**** | $495 | $1,485 |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Degree and Certificate Application | $50 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Looking for Financial Assistance?
Admission Requirements
Applications for 2023 will be accepted January - October 15, 2022. Admissions decisions will be sent by year end 2022. Applications received after the deadline, if there are openings, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- An M.Ed., Ed.S. or master's degree in a field relevant to K-12 education
- Should be currently working in a K-12 school or other setting that serves these students, have at least three years' experience as a teacher and/or as an instructional leader, have a commitment to continuing to serve such students as a leader who will influence excellence and equity
- Official transcripts from previously earned degrees
- Two letters of reference that speak towards the candidate's capacity for/record of leadership or STEM leadership in or relevant to K-12 settings and their commitment to learning and continued personal and professional growth including an ability to give and receive feedback/engage in interchange of ideas.
- A professional resume
- A two-page statement of purpose in which the applicant describes their understanding of equity-based educational problems and identifies and articulates the reasons to address a contextually relevant, equity-based problem (for STEM applicants should have a STEM focus).
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
