Curriculum

The Ed.D. degree program has a newly updated curriculum, and it requires 108 credits including up to 30 transfer credits from an approved master's program.

In the first two years, you will meet face to face two weekends per term with your cohort in the fall, winter and spring. Summer courses are completed fully online. After the first two years, you will be enrolled in applied research courses each term to complete your thesis work until graduation.

This degree can be completed in as little as three years. No face-to-face course meetings are required after the first two years.

Degree requirements

Instructional methods include individual and small group projects, seminars and a professional internship. A dissertation is required to complete the program. It is suggested that you plan for an average of eight hours of reading, research and writing on a weekly basis.

Visit OSU's academic catalog or the College of Education's program website for curriculum details.

Updated curriculum (as of fall 2021)

• Leadership courses (15 credits)
• Higher education courses (18 credits)
• Applied research courses (15 credits)
• Internship (6 credits)
• Dissertation (24 credits)

The total credits for this program will be 108. This includes 78 required AHE credits and up to 30 transfer credits.

Additional program features

Internship

The program includes a professional, practice-focused internship that all students must complete in order to graduate. Find more information on the College of Education's program website.

Dissertation

All students are required to develop a dissertation proposal for a research problem or issue related to institutions of higher education. Candidates must complete at least 24 dissertation credits.