Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion

What you'll study

Coursework centers on educational leadership, research methods, and theory applied to practice. Core topics and expected learning outcomes include:

• Issues and ethics in education
• Learning and change management theories
• Research methods in education and statistics for education
• Action research conducted on a problem from the student's own workplace, completed alongside coursework and culminating in an action research dissertation
• Application of education history, learning theory, cultural responsiveness, and multicultural/global perspectives to action research
• Professional dispositions and scholarly writing and communication

Program-specific course codes listed on the program page include: EDD-719, EDD-720, EDD-740, EDD-760, EDD-820, EDD-840, EDD-860, EDD-880, EDD-950, EDD-990. Students must complete all required sections of the action research project to pass the associated courses.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements stated by the program include:

• Hold 30 doctoral-level credits or an educational specialist (EdS) at the doctoral level, or have a completed master’s degree in education or a related field from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA
• Graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in graduate-level courses from a master's degree-granting institution
• Minimum of three years' experience at an educational organization or related field
• At least two letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts sent directly from the degree-granting institution to Indiana Wesleyan University

Doctoral candidacy is selective and requires satisfactory completion of the EDL-723 Capstone, submission of required admissions selection committee documents, and committee approval for progression into candidacy at the program mid-point; meeting baseline application requirements does not guarantee candidacy.

Career prospects

The program lists potential career outcomes that align with leadership and research skills developed in the EdD, including:

• University professor
• Superintendent
• School administrator (P–12 and postsecondary)
• Education consultant
• Non-profit leader/educator
• Roles in various industries where educational leadership and applied research are valued

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Financial aid options noted include grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement. The program states that tuition rates are locked for continuously enrolled students and that applicable fees for resources and services, as well as any prerequisite or elective course fees, will be assessed in addition to listed tuition. The program page directs prospective students to request cost sheets or contact enrollment counselors for detailed cost estimates and the estimated cost of attendance available on the financial aid webpage.