Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Leadership

Courses in the Curriculum & Educational Leadership doctoral program cover topics such as teacher and leader effectiveness, education law, and leadership for excellence while incorporating extensive quantitative and qualitative research. Through a rigorous blend of interdisciplinary coursework, specialized doctoral training and faculty mentorship, students develop the expertise to investigate critical educational issues and contribute new knowledge to the field.

A year-long doctoral residency immerses students in a community of scholars and provides opportunities to participate in research teams, grant-funded projects, professional conferences, writing retreats and faculty-led seminars. Students work closely with faculty mentors while building the research, leadership and scholarly skills needed for careers in academia, educational leadership and policy.

Doctoral candidates conduct original research that contributes to educational scholarship and has the potential to inform educational policy and practice. Dissertation topics reflect the broad scope of the program, spanning areas such as teacher effectiveness, educational inclusivity, assessment, leadership, student achievement and curriculum innovation.

The EPPL K-12 Ph.D. program does not lead to licensure, but students who hold a Virginia Professional Teaching License may opt to complete a licensure-only sequence of five or more master’s level courses as cognate or elective courses to be eligible for the “K-12 Administration and Supervision” licensure endorsement in Virginia.

All graduates in recent years who sought full-time employment were able to secure a position in the profession. Current positions of some of our recent graduates include:

• Assessment Specialist in a university-based center for teaching and learning
• Assistant Director for Professional Learning at a university-based professional center
• Assistant Principal in a Virginia public elementary school
• Assistant Professor of Elementary Education (tenure-eligible)
• Assistant Professor of Special Education and Inclusive Elementary Education (tenure-eligible)
• Associate Principal of Elementary Education in an international school
• Associate Professor at a university in China
• Clinical Assistant Professor of Education in a Teacher Leadership master’s degree program
• Director of Outreach and Engagement at a marine science center
• Director of Teaching, Learning, and Accountability for a public school district
• Dual Language Instructional Specialist in a large urban public school district
• High School Advanced Placement Teacher and Department Chair
• Principal of a secondary collegiate institution in Jamaica
• Program Evaluation Specialist in a large urban public school district
• Visiting University Scholar, Germany

Application materials include your unofficial transcript(s), a personal statement, a resume/CV, and three recommendations. This program also requires applicants to submit a research paper to demonstrate their preparedness for doctoral-level study.

We encourage prospective students to begin an application, as the portal provides a clear overview of all application requirements, including the personal statement prompt.

Looking for the application deadline? See our Deadlines & Decisions page.

Students may apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA. If you have questions about your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@wm.edu.

We are pleased to offer a highly competitive graduate assistantship opportunity for full-time* students in the Curriculum & Educational Leadership program. To be considered, applicants should complete the Graduate Assistantship Interest section of the application, including relevant skills and a current resume or CV.

All applicants are also automatically considered for any scholarships for which they are eligible. Students who receive scholarship awards will be notified directly.

*Full-time status is defined as enrollment in at least nine credit hours per semester.

Jennings Fellowship

This is a merit-based Fellowship that will provide funding for two Ph.D. students for three years. This award provides additional funding, faculty mentorship and enhanced immersive experiences in educational research, scholarship and teaching to prepare internationally competitive doctoral candidates whose research addresses pressing challenges in K-12 leadership, such as curriculum leadership, educational policy and transformational change. 

Applicants to the Curriculum & Educational Leadership program should complete the fellowship application at the same time they apply for admission.