Curriculum and Instruction Ed.D.

EdD Cohort 5

Introduction

The Ed.D. is offered to advance the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of candidates committed to scholarly study of and contribution to the field of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I). Doctoral candidates acquire expertise in leading P12 curriculum design, development, and evaluation in their respective fields of content specialization and model best practices in the domains of teaching, learning, and assessment.

Candidates are admitted as a cohort, and they complete courses in the program of study during a two-year period. Following the completion of courses and a comprehensive examination, candidates initiate dissertation studies. 

There are two tracks in the Ed.D. Program:

• If students enter the program with a Level 5 or Level 6 C&I certificate (meaning that they have already completed an initial C&I program), they will be entered into the non-certification/degree-only Ed.D. program track. Upon completion of the dissertation, students will be eligible for the Level 7 upgrade to their C&I certificate.
• If students enter the program without a Level 5 or 6 certificate in C&I, or if they enter the program with a Level 5 or 6 certification in something other than C&I, they will be entered into the (initial) certification-only track of the Ed.D. program. Once students complete the initial certification track (ABD status), they may apply for the Alternate Level 6 upgrade to their C&I certificate. Upon completion of the dissertation, students will be eligible for the Level 7 upgrade to their C&I certificate.

Degree Requirements

Admission Criteria

Primary Admission Criteria

• GPA of 3.5 or above in all graduate degree coursework (Masters and/or Specialist).
• Masters or Specialist degree completed from a regionally accredited institution.
• Two professional recommendations from colleagues in current or previous professional settings.
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. (Alumni from Georgia College & State University will have the GCSU transcript on file and need not send that one separately.)
• A curriculum vitae or resume describing your professional experiences and accomplishments in detail.
• A Graduate Application, including application fee. See the LINK TO GRADUATE ADMISSIONS for details
• A 4 - 5 page, double-spaced writing sample that includes:
  • a synopsis of pivotal experiences in your career as an educator.
  • your rationale for applying to the GCSU Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction program.
  • an articulation of your professional and personal goals as an educator.
  • a discussion of how you expect this program to contribute to your ongoing professional and personal goals.
  • a description of how you envision your role as a P12 curriculum leader in a content field.
• Official score report for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General or the Miller’s Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the past five years.
• Applicants who wish to seek certification in Curriculum and Instruction through the GAPSC must provide evidence of a valid, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate, leadership certificate, service field certificate, or Life certificate. The Five-Year Induction Certificate holder is also eligible. 

Secondary Admission Information

• A faculty panel will evaluate all applications and make a prioritized decision on admission to each cohort. Selected applicants will be invited to campus for interviews with a faculty panel. Acceptance decisions are finalized after all interviews have been completed.
• *NOTE: A qualified application DOES NOT guarantee admission. Cohort admission is highly competitive.
• Cohorts begin only in Maymester.

Important Dates

• Application Available: January 2, 2025
• Application Deadline: Feburary 19, 2025
• Acceptance Decision Date: March 31, 2025
• Registration Deadline: April 25, 2025 (Accepted candidates must register by this date or forfeit their acceptance to the program.)
• Curriculum and Instruction Ed.D. Orientation: May 17, 2025 (Tentative)

Additional Information

The degree requires 2-3 on-campus meetings per course each semester in addition to online course studies delivered using GeorgiaVIEW. Transfer of up to 9 credit hours into the program is at the discretion of the program advisor, coordinator, and department chair.

Candidates are advised to contact their school system Human Resources department to determine changes in pay following degree completion.