The Doctor of Education can be completed in three to four years and follows a fast-paced quarter system. Students choose from four concentrations based on their interests and incorporate these interests into their dissertation in practice as well.

Students come from diverse disciplines and professions and gain a practical education that translates to their work environments.

While all EdD courses can be completed online, annual two-day residencies are held on campus. Residencies focus on tools for career success and allow you to connect with faculty and fellow scholars. You’ll attend residencies in your first and second years of the program at one of our campuses in Boston or Seattle.

The EdD program is grounded in a qualitative-dominant action research framework. Research courses will also introduce key quantitative methods to build research literacy and skills, including descriptive statistics, survey construction, and the interpretation of quantitative information. There is no prerequisite statistics course required or recommended.

This degree is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

MacFarland Scholarship Opportunity

New, incoming students, who are working or have the intention of working as a leader in a public school at the elementary or secondary level, within an urban area, are eligible to receive a scholarship award of up to $18,000. Learn more here.

EdD Program of the Year

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate selected Northeastern’s EdD program as the 2022-2023 Program of the Year, noting the “redesigned Dissertation in Practice Curriculum and the adoption of action research as its guiding methodology.” The committee praised “the program’s efforts to move beyond the typical five-chapter dissertation and engage scholarly practitioners in the acquisition of skills to realize meaningful change in their local contexts, emphasizing social justice.”

Dissertation in Practice

As you begin the program, you’ll also begin your dissertation in practice. After identifying your problem of practice, you’ll develop an action plan—incorporating cycles of data collection and analysis, collaboration, change work, and reflection—and culminate in the dissemination of your findings. A faculty advisor will support your research.

Sample Dissertations from EdD Students

• Higher Education-related dissertation: Seeing the unseen: an action research study of first-generation college student persistence at a mid-size private Institution in the Northeast.
• K-12-related dissertation: Cultural inclusivity in a predominately white district
• Workplace Learning-related dissertation: Competency development of university dining managers

Program objectives

• Choose a concentration to focus your studies and further customize your curriculum.
• Develop a broad understanding of scholarly approaches to education, education reform, and organizational development/leadership
• Learn methods for researching and analyzing critical practice-based issues
• Conduct a doctoral research study that investigates a compelling educational/organizational challenge

Concentrations

Higher education administration: This concentration allows experienced higher education professionals to expand their previous understanding of practices within all sectors of postsecondary education and advance their professional practice by developing and deepening their understanding of the roles of colleges and universities in our society. Sectors examined include community colleges, four-year colleges, for-profit institutions, and research universities.

Artificial intelligence in learning: This concentration prepares professionals to assume leadership roles in learning, educational technology, instruction, training, and related fields by grounding their practice in the foundational principles of learning sciences. Students develop an ethical framework for integrating generative AI into learning contexts and are uniquely positioned to apply theory to their professional and research environments. The concentration is particularly relevant for education IT leaders seeking to specialize their applied research at the intersection of generative AI and learning design.

Innovative teaching and learning: This concentration focuses on transforming education through innovation, justice, and policy by providing engaging opportunities for current and aspiring teaching and learning specialists working in various education spaces. The concentration focuses on teaching and learning both inside and outside the bounds of P-20 schools, developing and leading innovative curricula, and professional development.

Transformative school leadership: This concentration provides innovative opportunities for experienced education professionals who are current and aspiring leaders of early childhood centers, public or private schools, or school districts. The concentration prepares students to lead and transform educational spaces and be equipped to shape the needs of education in K-12, higher education, organizational contexts, and beyond.

Integrative electives: This option allows students to design a program of study that fits their own professional goals and includes the required foundation and research courses, concentration courses from any EdD concentration, and electives from the Doctor of Education or Doctor of Law and Policy programs.

Unique Features

1. All coursework is online—providing flexibility for working professionals. Your residencies will be fulfilled in person, at one of our campuses in Boston or another location on one of our global campuses.
2. You'll begin dissertation in practice work. You'll select a compelling educational/organizational challenge and will work with faculty to support your research throughout the program.
3. You'll learn alongside faculty practitioners—engaging with respected leaders who contribute to the field as authors, journal editors, school board members, bloggers, and podcasters.
4. In-person participation in the residency is also available for international students.