The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies requires a master’s degree from an accredited institution or 30 graduate semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree from an accredited graduate school with no grade lower than ‘B’ and a graduate GPA of at least 3.50. In addition, an Autobiographical Statement to include career/academic goals and research interests (1000–1500 words), three recommendations (two professional and one academic), and an interview may be required.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program with provisions for educational leadership, including special education administration, is designed for a person who is planning on working in the field primarily as a practitioner; interested in educational research in settings such as a school district or educational institution; interested in developing continued leadership in education; and policy-making roles.

The minimum number of credit hours for the degree is 75, which may include up to 30 credits from the student's master’s degree and Education Specialist Certificate Coursework.