Doctor of Education

Doctor of Education (Ed. D.)

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By expanding your research expertise, Carson-Newman’s Ed.D. program prepares you for the highest levels of leadership in education. Designed for full-time educators who already have a degree (master’s or Ed.S.), the doctoral program at Carson-Newman builds on your previous education and experience. With an emphasis on analyzing theory and research findings in a variety of educational settings, the program will also have you explore applications of research and develop your leadership skills. In a flexible format, you complete assignments online and participate in online discussions and group activities. During the fall and spring terms, you will finish one three-credit course every eight weeks, and during the summer, you may complete up to four courses.

Ed.D. Options

  • Administrative Leadership
  • Curriculum and Instruction Leadership
  • Higher Education Administration
  • All But Dissertation Completion Pathway

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR Ed.D.

  • Choose an emphasis in Administrative Leadership or Curriculum and Instruction Leadership.
  • In your capstone research experience, you’ll develop a research proposal and dissertation under the direction of the Institutional Review Board of the Graduate Committee.
  • Apply advanced skills in analyzing theory and research findings in a variety of educational settings.
  • Demonstrate the leadership skills required for implementation of research-based change strategies.

Ed.D. AT A GLANCE

Program Overview

The All But Dissertation (ABD) Completion Pathway Program is designed to help students who are ABD status to finish their doctorate degree. A student becomes ABD status when he or she has finished all of the coursework in an Ed.D. program, but has not finished his or her dissertation. To help ABD students complete their dissertation and earn their doctorate, this program provides an accelerated, research-focused curriculum and intensive faculty support to ensure students have the structure and mentorship they need to get their dissertation back on the right track.

Course Requirments
  • Quantitative Research for Educational Practitioners
  • Qualitative Research for Educational Practitioners
  • Doctoral Research Practicum and Directed Readings
  • Critical Analysis and Research Design
  • Educational Contemporary Research I
  • Educational Contemporary Research II
  • Educational Contemporary Research III
  • Comprehensive Exam
  • Doctoral Dissertation, Beginning
  • Doctoral Dissertation, Continuing

The following are the 24-hour course requirements for the ABD Completion Pathway:

Admission Requirements

The admissions requirements for the ABD pathway are as follows, with information and explanations of each requirement: 

  1. No more than 15 academic years may have elapsed between application for enrollment in the ABD Completion Pathway Program since your last enrollment in a previous program. Please submit official transcripts from your previous enrollment in an EdD program. 
  2. Verify good standing with the previous institution where you started your EdD and no dismissal for ethical or moral issues. Link to Disciplinary Form (completed by institution from time in EdD) 
  3. Proof of ABD status from a regionally approved program with official transcripts and link to the catalog. Please submit official transcripts from your previous enrollment in an EdD program.  A link to your previous institution’s graduate catalog should be included in your application’s completion. A link to the catalog from the years attended is preferred, but a link to the current graduate catalog will suffice if it includes the EdD/PhD program in which you were enrolled. (Example: https://www.cn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2021-2022_Rev.Graduate_Catalog.pdf) 
  4.  A professional portfolio of sample coursework submissions and three (3) years of professional experience evidence, and career development Please include 2-3 items which capture evidence of your professional experience and achievements in the field of Education. Some of those items might include:  
  • Capstone projects and/or major projects in coursework 
  • Research papers, publications  
  • Evidence of three years of professional experience  
  • Evidence of professional development and learning
Additional Requirements
  • Master’s Degree graduate GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Please submit official transcripts from all graduate coursework, including the master’s, Ed.S., and doctoral level. 
  • A virtual interview with graduate faculty 
  • Once you submit transcripts and your portfolio, a faculty member will contact you to schedule a virtual interview. 
  1.  Three (3) letters of reference (professional or academic). When completing your application, please submit names and contact information for 3 professional and/or academic recommendations. Recommendation forms will be sent directly to the contacts you provide. 
  2. An EDLDA (professional disposition assessment) completed by the applicant’s current immediate supervisor. The EDLDA (Education Leadership Disposition Assessment) is a valid and reliable instrument used to assess the professional dispositions of students in advanced programs and used by C-N to assess students three times in the doctoral program. Link to the form to be completed by your supervisor.  
  3. Evidence of receiving a minimum score of 85 (Internet) on the TOEFL IBT Examination if English is not the student’s first language (score may be no older than two years). TOEFL scores are only needed for students who did not complete their master’s and/or bachelor’s degrees at an English-speaking regionally accredited university.
  4. Submit a criminal background check with fingerprints or verification through employment records. Link to employment verification form. If you are not employed in an educational environment, please contact adult@cn.edu for background check instructions.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graduates with a Doctor of Education degree can pursue employment in a variety of careers, including:

Admissions Requirements for Ed.D.

  • Official transcripts from all institutions in which you have attended
  • 3.3 minimum GPA from graduate studies
  • Statement of purpose
  • Two references
  • Sample of scholarly writing you have completed in the past. APA-formatted master’s research or thesis is preferred.
  • If you have a valid Professional Educators License, please submit a copy of your certificate to the Graduate Information Office by email.

Accreditation
Carson-Newman is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

The Doctor of Education is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). For information regarding the CAEP Annual Reporting Measures, click here.