Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership

Grounded in the scholar-practitioner model, the program helps students translate research into action and apply evidence-based approaches to improve schools, organizations and communities. Through an inquiry-driven curriculum, students learn to investigate problems of practice, generate actionable insights and lead organizational improvement efforts that create lasting impact.

View the program of study for each concentration below.

The Ed.D. format is designed for working educational professionals. This program is structured to allow students to maintain full-time employment while earning a doctorate degree in as little as three years. The concentrations in K–12 and Higher Education Administration follow a hybrid format. The program includes two years of coursework, delivered through summer sessions, weekend residencies, and distance learning, along with applied dissertation research. During the first two years, students come to campus for a one-week summer session each summer and for (on average) two weekend sessions each semester.

William & Mary is a founding member of a national consortium participating in the Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate (CPED). The project provides guiding principles to reform the Ed.D. into a degree of practice for K-12 educational leaders and scholarly practitioners. The principles of CPED promote ethical, just and inclusive practices in learning organizations through the development of skilled leaders prepared for bold reform:

The Ed.D.:

• Is framed around questions of inclusivity, ethics and justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice;
• Prepares leaders to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, families, organizations and communities;
• Emphasizes collaboration and communication skills to work with diverse communities and build partnerships;
• Provides field-based opportunities to analyze problems of practice and use multiple frames to develop meaningful solutions;
• Integrates both practical and research knowledge that links theory with systemic and systematic inquiry; and
• Emphasizes the generation, transformation and use of professional knowledge and practice.

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.

Tuition for this program is $950.00 per credit hour.

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.

All Ed.D. programs are excluded from the W&M Employee Educational Assistance Program.