College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions

EdD in Educational Leadership

About Our Program

Our EdD program focuses on high-impact, practical research that makes a difference at your institution. Hear more from our students and faculty in this short video.

Special features of the program

• We deliberately seek to maintain a diverse student body, drawn from universities, colleges, schools, health-related professions, government, and human service organizations. These individuals are typically fully employed, bringing with them significant work experience and dedication to improving their respective constituencies.
• Students are admitted in cohort groups each summer, fall and spring. The groups serve as a support network as students advance through the program. To the extent possible, courses are scheduled to enable students to complete the program together with colleagues.
• The diversity of each cohort lends itself to vibrant student-faculty interactions in and out of the classroom. This, in turn, leads to a sense of shared commitment to acquiring knowledge, developing and practicing leadership skills, and conducting research in the context of “a private University with a public purpose.”
• Active enrollment in summer courses allows students to move through courses rapidly and replaces the residency requirement in more traditional doctoral programs.

Our Alumni

Many graduates of our EdD program have advanced to senior leadership positions in education and health care. They include:

Mark Benigni, EdD, Superintendent - Meriden Public Schools; Mayor - City of Meriden, 2001-2008

Steven Minkler, BA, MA, EdD, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Central Connecticut State University

Lisa O’Connor, BS, MSN, EdD - Dean of the School of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

Marisol Aponte Ostrov, EdD, Director - Health Services, Central Connecticut State University

William Perez, EdD, Chief - Fire Department, University of Connecticut

Maria Tackett, EdD, Nursing Director, Professional Practice, Hartford Hospital

Danielle Wilken, EdD, President, University of Bridgeport

Degree Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 63 credit hours beyond an earned master’s degree in order to be eligible to receive the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership.

For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

The program is organized into the following areas:

Program Completion Plan

The EdD program typically begins the final week of June for summer starts, the third week of August for fall starts, and the third week of January for spring starts. Students complete the curriculum over the next three years as a cohort, taking two classes each session.

Classes are offered in a remote synchronous format and are generally scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate professional working schedules. Summer classes meet two evenings per week from late June through July; fall and spring classes meet back-to-back one evening per week.

Approximately 20 students begin each year and remain together through their coursework. They complete the dissertation phase individually, typically finishing the dissertation in one to two years.

Click below for the typical summer start full program completion plan:

EdD Program News

Congratulations to recent graduate Dr. Jennifer Feitel, who is now a full-time tenured assistant professor of criminal justice at American International College (AIC) in Springfield, Mass.

Read more news and announcements from our EdD program below:

News December 2022

News November 2022

News October 2022

News September 2022

News August 2022

Application Process

Requirements

You must hold a completed master's degree in a related field by the start of your program. We prefer that you have professional experience (minimum of 3 years). 

Applying to the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership is a two-phase process.

Application Phase 1

• Application for Admission: You will need to create an account in order to submit an application. You can continue to log in and out as you complete the forms, and your application will be saved for editing until all required items are complete.
• Writing sample. This may include a publication, research paper written in a master’s program, master’s thesis, or other scholarly paper.
• Personal statement
• Supplemental essay (maximum 750 words): Describe an issue higher and secondary education institutions are facing, or a problem of practice related to higher education, that is important and timely. What is the significance of this issue and what aspect(s) of it need further attention from researchers, practitioners, and/or policymakers?
• Current resume/curriculum vitae
• Official transcripts (from all issuing college-level institutions)
• Two professional references
• Application fee

A description of how to submit these materials can be found at Application for Admission.

Additional application requirements for international students are here. As classes are offered in a remote format, the University of Hartford is not able to issue an F-1 visa for incoming students.

Faculty members in the program review applications on a rolling basis, typically once a month.

Interview - Phase 2

Once the faculty has reviewed an application, you may receive notification requesting an interview with a member of the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership faculty. The admission interview is the last phase in the application process.

Upon acceptance into the program, students are required to pay a $300 non-refundable deposit which will be applied to their tuition.

Deadlines and Dates

Admission into the EdD program can occur for the summer, fall, or spring semester. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis until the cohort is filled. Prospective students should submit completed materials as soon as possible. The admission committee will review complete applications in the order in which they are received.

Additional Information