The Jewish Theological Seminary

What you'll study

Study combines theory and applied research so participants can use their workplaces as laboratories for leadership growth. The programme emphasizes leadership across institutional and community contexts rather than a single institutional setting. Students progress through a year-by-year curriculum:

• Year 1 (18 credits): Foundations — vision, research, and design.
• Year 2 (18 credits): Practice — fieldwork, analysis, and meaning making.
• Year 3 (12 credits): Integration — translating research into leadership practice and completing the Dissertation in Practice.

The Dissertation in Practice is an applied research project rooted in the student’s workplace, aimed at solving a substantive organisational challenge using rigorous methods. Live online sessions are complemented by targeted asynchronous work; cohort interaction and faculty mentoring are central to the learning model.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a completed master’s degree or equivalent graduate-level credential prior to beginning the EdD. The programme is designed for professionals with meaningful leadership experience who can engage their current workplace as the primary material for study and research.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with a doctoral degree focused on leadership practice, enhanced capacity to navigate complexity and change, stronger judgment and decision-making, and expanded professional credibility. The EdD is positioned to support advancement into senior executive roles across nonprofit, communal, public and organizational sectors rather than preparation for a traditional academic research career.

Scholarships & funding angle

Tuition is billed per credit; the programme requires 48 credits to complete and the published cost is $1,882 per credit for 2026–2027. The Davidson School offers need-based financial aid; additional financial information and resources are available from the programme office.