Education
The Doctor of Education prepares experienced professionals for leadership in their communities, empowering its graduates from all over the world to pursue the issues they’re passionate about.
Part-Time
Northeastern's Doctor of Education degree is designed to be completed in three to four years of study, following a fast-paced quarter system rather than the traditional semester schedule. Students begin working on their dissertation in practice at the onset of their coursework by identifying their problem of practice and working through cycles of planning, data collection and analysis, change work, and reflection throughout coursework.
The Doctor of Education fosters leaders in professional fields to employ existing research and theory to develop and conduct research to investigate, explore, and transform organizational and institutional landscapes. With a deep respect for students' practical experience and knowledge, we teach students via experience how to incorporate practice-based research into their day-to-day professional work.
The program includes: two years of online coursework in one of three concentrations, face-to-face learning experience at our campus in Seattle, and a dissertation in practice that examines a compelling educational challenge. For students in residence at our Seattle campus, students begin each of their four foundation courses online and then attend on-ground classes delivered at the campus throughout select weekends during the first two quarters of the program.
Our students come from diverse disciplines and professions seeking more than just a degree. They’re gaining a practical education that translates to their everyday environment. In three to four years of study, students learn to apply advanced research principles to real-life problems they face in their own organizations.
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Unique Features
- Students choose one of three areas—Higher Education, Organizational Leadership Studies, or Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership—to focus their studies and further customize their curriculum
- Students begin work on the dissertation in practice at the onset of their program around a self-selected, compelling educational challenge—also known as the students' problem of practice
- Students are assigned a faculty advisor at the beginning of their program to help with their dissertation in practice
- Two years of online coursework allows for flexibility for working professionals
- Face-to-face learning experience on the Seattle Campus in Seattle, WA, a dynamic city synonymous with software development, Internet titans, information technology, biotechnology, the life sciences, and nonprofit work
Scholarships
- MacFarland Scholarship - New, incoming students, who are working or have the intention of working as an educator in a public school at the elementary or secondary level, within an urban area, are eligible to receive a scholarship award of up to $10,000.
Concentrations
- Higher Education Administration: The Higher Education Administration concentration provides the context in which to investigate a complex problem of practice. The concentration course work includes the study of practice and scholarship within all sectors of postsecondary education including community colleges, four-year colleges, for-profit institutions, and research universities. The increased globalization of higher education is addressed throughout the program. The concentration allows experienced educators to be well-grounded in the areas essential to understanding and articulating the educational roles of colleges and universities, and develop skills and knowledge for establishing and sustaining initiatives in higher education.
- Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership: The Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership concentration provides the context in which to investigate a complex problem of practice. It engages educational leaders in research and practice to develop the competencies, dispositions, and values to promote educational innovation based on a commitment to social justice. This concentration is appropriate for both P-12 and university-level educators as well as professionals in for- and nonprofit organizations. All students are committed to the investigation of teaching and learning. This concentration provides the opportunity to conduct research at the worksite that contributes to the resolution of a complex problem of practice, and develop skills and knowledge to serve as transformational leaders in a variety of educational settings.
- Organizational Leadership Studies: Learning occurs in both formal educational settings including K-12 and higher education, and informal settings including the workplace. Leaders and other working professionals must enhance their skills in eliminating the boundary between work and learning. The Organizational Leadership Studies concentration prepares leaders and other professionals to systematically transform corporate and nonprofit firms, government organizations, sports industry, and formal educational settings. The concentration addresses ways leaders interact, make meaning, and collaborate within their organizations and throughout their local and global networks. Leaders and other working professionals develop diagnostic skills for assessing the learning, leadership, and organizational systems.
- Sports Leadership Specialization – Students have the option to specialize in Sports Leadership within the Organizational Leadership Studies concentration. Students in this specialization will investigate the impact sports has on a global scale, and identify leadership principles to effect positive change in the sport. This requires a total of 9 quarter hours.
Program Objectives
- Develop a broad understanding of scholarly approaches to education and education reform
- Learn methods for researching and analyzing critical practice-based issues
- Conduct a doctoral research study that investigates a compelling educational challenge
Student Outcomes
Interested to see how this degree impacted students careers? Read here for graduates survey feedback
Accreditation Description
The Northeastern Doctor of Education degree is accredited. There are six regional accrediting bodies. The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) awards accreditation to Northeastern University.
Testimonials
Lisa R, Current Student
Aaron B., Program Graduate
Doctor Joan Burkhardt, Program Graduate and Senior Lecturer
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Requirements
- Online application
- Academic transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate degree documentation
- Admission statement: Respond to both questions separately and stay within the prescribed word limits. The ability to demonstrate clear, succinct, well-reasoned writing is essential.
1. From among the most significant issues in education/organizations today, what specific problem of practice are you interested in investigating during your doctoral study? (1,000 - 1,200 words)- Describe the problem of practice
- Explain why you want to investigate it
- Provide a strong rationale for the significance of the problem
- Minimum work experience: Three years in a related field
- Professional resumé: Must summarize work and education history, include an outline of your educational/academic skills with examples such as research and teaching experience, affiliations, publications, certifications, presentations, and other professional skills.
- Faculty recommendation: Must be from a faculty member in your previous graduate program who can attest to your readiness for doctoral work. If you are no longer acquainted with a faculty member, please choose a professional who can speak of your academic capabilities to engage in doctoral-level research and writing. Recommendations should be presented as a letter attached to the general recommendation form.
- Two professional recommendations: Must be from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities, a supervisor, mentor, or colleague. It is preferred that one letter of recommendation come from your current employer and/or supervisor. Recommendations should be presented as a letter attached to the general recommendation form.
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language.
Admissions Dates
| Priority deadline (September 20, 2021 start date): | August 1, 2021 |
| Final deadline (September 20, 2021 start date): | August 15, 2021 |
General Requirements
Note: A minimum of 51 quarter hours must be taken at the College of Professional Studies.
Required Foundation Courses
9 quarter hours
Must be completed in the order listed:
Required Research Courses
12 quarter hours
Must be completed in the order listed:
Concentrations
Choose one from the following:
Required Courses (12 quarter hours)
Elective Courses (15 quarter hours)
Complete any four courses (or 12 quarter hours) at the EDU 7000 level that you are not already using as a foundation or concentration course. You may take a course from another concentration and/or you may choose from the Concentration Electives course list located at the end of this webpage.
Complete one of the following:
Required Courses (12 quarter hours)
Elective Courses (15 quarter hours)
Complete any four courses (or 12 quarter hours) at the EDU 7000 level that you are not already using as a foundation or concentration course. You may take a course from another concentration and/or you may choose from the Concentration Electives course list located at the end of this webpage.
Complete one of the following:
Note:
Students who choose to pursue the international higher education track within the higher education administration concentration should complete Comparative International/Global Higher Education (EDU 7260) rather than Strategic Management in Higher Education (EDU 7258).
Students who choose to pursue the international higher education track within the higher education administration concentration should complete Educating Global Students: Issues and Practices (EDU 7264) and EDU 7261 International Student Markets as an elective.
Required Courses (12 quarter hours)
Elective Courses (15 quarter hours)
Complete any four courses (or 12 quarter hours) at the EDU 7000 level that you are not already using as a foundation or concentration course. You may take a course from another concentration and/or you may choose from the Concentration Electives course list located at the end of this webpage.
Complete one of the following courses:
Note:
Students who choose to pursue the sports leadership track within the organizational leadership concentration should complete Contemporary Models of Sports Leadership (EDU 7290) rather than Contemporary Leadership Perspectives (EDU 7275).
Students who choose to pursue the sports leadership track within the organizational leadership concentration should complete Social Justice in Sports (EDU 7292) and Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports Leadership (EDU 7293) as electives.
Dissertation in Practice
Complete 12 quarter hours.
Residency Requirement: Each student is required to satisfy two on-ground residencies. Dates and other event information are released annually. Seattle and Charlotte students will satisfy residency requirements through regional campus hybrid courses.
Electives
Below is a list of courses regularly offered as electives within the Doctor of Education program that can satisfy the Program Elective requirement. However, any EDU 7000 level course not already being used towards your degree can satisfy this requirement.
Note: To complete the Concentration Electives requirement, follow the required detailed instructions listed under the Elective Courses section located in the Concentration options listed above.
Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.
The core of the mission of the program is to allow educators to remain in the places they work, focus on a problem of practice and through experiential learning and site-specific research opportunities in the program, make an immediate impact in their professional environments. The program explicitly integrates research and practice for professionals so they develop the requisite skills for conceiving, designing, conducting and producing original site based research in order to affect ethical change related to real-life problems of practice.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 255,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Education & Learning alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
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Where They Work
- Boston Public Schools
- Chicago Public Schools
- NYC Department of Education
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Tufts University
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What They Do
- Education
- Community and Social Services
- Business Development
- Human Services
- Entrepreneurship
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What They're Skilled At
- Teaching
- Public Speaking
- Curriculum Development
- Leadership
- Research
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.