Learning, Leadership & Community
Doctor of Education
Innovate. Investigate. Inspire. Plymouth State’s Doctor of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Community creates an environment for students to engage in collaborative inquiry, focused scholarship, and applied research. The Doctor of Education is a degree oriented to the improvement of professional practice by extending the knowledge, expertise, and skill of candidates through the application of research to leadership issues.
Experienced practitioners and professionals, including teachers, administrators, counselors, and individuals in higher education, related community agencies, and organizations, will be prepared to become system leaders and agents of change in their communities and will be ready to advance in their professional careers. It is expected that students typically will complete the coursework and dissertation within a four- to six-year period; a total of eight years is allowed with approval.
Plymouth State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) and formed the first EdD cohort in 2009.
Prerequisite Coursework
| A graduate-level research design course |
| An advanced graduate-level qualitative methodologies course |
Specialization Component Courses – 27 credits
| Students select coursework based on professional goals, certification needs, and interests. In some instances, career goals may require a degree program in excess of 60 credits; therefore, consultation with an academic advisor prior to taking courses is essential. Course selection must have the approval of the academic advisor and the doctoral program coordinator.
This requirement can be fulfilled with courses taken for a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) or equivalent program. |
Doctoral Core Component – 24 credits
| EP 8000 Emerging Perspectives on Learning and Development | 3 |
| EP 8010 Program Evaluation: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EP 8020 Ethical Leadership and Advocacy | 3 |
| EP 8030 Leadership in a Diverse World | 3 |
| EP 8045 Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EP 8025 Writing a Literature Review | 3 |
| EP 8820 Externship | 3 |
| EP 8050 Vision: Synergy and Synthesis | 3 |
Dissertation – 9 credits
| EP 8800 Dissertation Research | 9 |
Admissions Requirements – Completed applications, including required additional documents, must be received online and by March 1 to be considered by the Doctoral Admissions Committee.