Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy
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Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Overview
Are you looking to transform elementary and secondary education through evidence-based leadership and policy expertise?
The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership and Policy is designed for working professional educators who are interested in developing their skills as research-informed scholar-practitioners in policy, leadership, change, and social diversity in elementary and secondary schools and other educational settings for children and youth. The EdD culminates in a dissertation in practice involving the application of theory and research to a problem of practice. Program strengths include:
- A focus on equity, anti-oppression, and educational justice;
- Deep expertise both in the Ontario educational context and in comparative, international, and global contexts; and
- Training in advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The EdD program is designed to develop critical and highly skilled educational leaders, policy analysts, and public servants who will make positive change in schools, school boards (districts), government ministries, foundations, nongovernmental agencies, and international organizations in Canada and around the world.
The EdD degree is offered full-time in a cohort format specifically designed for working professional educators. The department welcomes applicants with diverse but relevant backgrounds and experiences.
Delivery options — although not all elective and research methods courses are offered in each modality, students may be able to complete the EdD degree program through one of two delivery modes:
- In-person: students will mainly complete their coursework and other program requirements in-person, with up to one-third of their coursework online; and
- Hybrid: students will experience a mix of modes of engagement, with some of their coursework and other program requirements in-person and between one-third and two-thirds of their coursework online, depending on their choice of elective and research methods courses, or an (optional) collaborative specialization.
Students interested in a hybrid EdD where in-person components are delivered in short on-campus institutes may consider the EdD in International Educational Leadership and Policy.
The next intake for this program will be Fall 2025
For detailed information about the program, please consult the .
At a Glance
Delivery Options
Hybrid
In Person
Study Options
Full-time (4 years)
Program Requirements
Coursework
Comprehensive Exam
Thesis Proposal
Thesis
Funding and Tuition
For current information about tuition fees, funding, and financial support, visit Tuition & Financial Support.
Deadlines
This program is not accepting applications for 2024-2025. The next intake for this program will be Fall 2025. Applications to the Ed.D. ELP program for the 2025-26 admissions cycle are set to open early October 2024
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Why I Chose Leadership, Adult & Higher Education
![Shahidul Islam](/home/sites/default/files/styles/inline/public/2022-10/testimonial-shahidul-islam.jpg.webp?itok=_Nmn4kzF)
Shahidul Islam (Master of Education 2020)
"If you are looking to analyze and address real-world problems in education, OISE is the place. At Leadership, Adult & Higher Education I developed my research skills and contributed to literature and policy that benefits schools and communities across the globe."
Admission Requirements
General Admission Requirements
Please visit the OISE Â鶹´«Ã½¼¯ÍÅ website for detailed information about the application process, including general minimum admission requirements and supporting documents.
Program-Specific Requirements
- Master's degree in the area of Educational Leadership and Policy or an equivalent degree with high academic standing from a recognized university.
- The applicant must be in a leadership position in education, or must have held a leadership position, or must demonstrate potential for leadership.
All applicants must submit:
- Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended.
- Two letters of reference (one academic and one professional).
- Resumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies.
- Answers to faculty admissions questions (applicants are to answer each question in an essay format). Please see questions in the next accordion.
- In addition to the answers to faculty admissions questions, a supplementary writing sample is required, which will help the admissions committee to assess an applicant's readiness to succeed in rigorous coursework and to conduct systematic research for the EdD. Applicants typically submit a master's-level Major Research Paper or thesis as their writing sample. Applicants who do not have a Major Research Paper or thesis must provide a writing sample that showcases their ability to write clearly and analytically about educational issues. Examples include a master’s-level course paper, a policy document, and a professional publication.
Applicants are to answer each question in an essay format.
- Please address the following (2000 words max):
- Describe your academic background, professional experiences, community service and other relevant experiences and accomplishments and how they relate to PK-12 Educational Leadership and Policy. If your academic background is not in education or a related social science field, you are encouraged to describe how your experiences have prepared you for the program.
- Discuss your research potential, prior research experience (if any), as well as any other related skills or experiences that make you a strong candidate for a research-stream program. This may include a master’s thesis, major research paper or other capstone project, and/or conducting research in professional, practitioner, or policy contexts. Discuss any prior experience with academic presentations, conferences and/or publications.
- Describe your research interests and/or state the problem of practice you wish to investigate and how. You should highlight the synergy between one or more of the program’s thematic areas (Policy, Leadership, Change, and Social Diversity) and your proposed research. You may want to cite core scholars or readings that orient you in this field.
- (optional) You are encouraged to speak to your academic and professional goals (after graduation) and how pursuing the EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy would advance these goals.
- (optional) The Educational Leadership and Policy program seeks to maintain a diverse, inclusive, and engaged learning community. You are encouraged to identify any ways that your identity (including--but not limited to--ancestry, culture, gender, race, religion, socio-economic status or other social identities) or life experience will contribute to this community.
- (optional) Is there any additional information you want to share with the Â鶹´«Ã½¼¯ÍÅ Committee that will inform their review of your application?
- Indicate the faculty member(s) you would like to work within the program and why. How will the expertise of the faculty member(s) support your proposed research? Note you do not need to secure a supervisor prior to applying. Please take time to review descriptions of the Educational Leadership & Policy faculty members here (200 words max)
Program Information
Coursework
Students must successfully complete a total of 4.0 core full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- LHA3009H Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (monthly in Years 1-3)
- 1.0 FCE in research methods, to be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor.
- 1.0 elective FCE. Explore ELP courses
Comprehensive Examination (Guidelines)
Successful oral defence of a written paper that critically reviews and synthesizes the literature related to the problem of practice to be addressed in the student’s dissertation in practice, selected by the student in consultation with the supervisor/advisor. The comprehensive exam is normally taken at the end of Year 2, and must be taken no later than the end of Year 3. Students will be informed of their status (pass or fail) at the end of the exam. Students who are not successful in their first attempt will be permitted one additional attempt to pass.
Thesis (dissertation in practice) Proposal Hearing (Guidelines)
Thesis (dissertation in practice) (Guidelines)
The thesis (dissertation in practice) is the culminating component of the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy that shall include an identification and investigation of a problem of practice, the application of theory and research to the problem of practice, and a design for action to address the problem of practice. Specifically, the thesis (dissertation in practice) consists of original research in the form of a written proposal or plan for innovative and impactful educational policy, guideline, advocacy, development project, or activism within or beyond a traditional educational setting, aimed at improving practice at local, regional, national, or international levels.
Cohort Schedule
To see past cohort schedules visit ELP Cohort Requirements and schedules
Session | Course |
---|---|
Year 1 Fall | (In Person) Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) |
Year 1 Winter | Research methods course Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) |
May/June | Elective course* |
July/August | Elective course* |
Year 2 Fall | Research methods course Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) |
Year 2 Winter | (online) Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) |
May/June | Comprehensive Exam (Guidelines) |
July/August | Elective course* |
Year 3 Fall | (online) Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) |
Year 3 Winter | Professional Development Seminar for the EdD (LHA3009H) (monthly in Years 1-3; mix of in person and online meetings) Proposal hearing (Guidelines) (by August 31 following Year 3) |
2024 Onward | Thesis (dissertation in practice) completion and defence (maximum time limit is 6 years) |
* Note: There are 3 sessions available to complete 2 open elective courses.
- Students are full-time and must maintain continuous registration full-time and pay full-time fees until all degree requirements, including the thesis (dissertation in practice), are completed.
- Students cannot transfer between the EdD and PhD programs
See a complete list of all courses offered in the Educational Leadership & Policy program.
See course offerings for the current term: please visit OISE’s Course Enrolment website.
Collaborative specializations provide graduate students enrolled in participating degree programs with an additional multidisciplinary experience as they complete their home degree program.
Please note that all collaborative specializations are offered in-person only, and students should only apply to a collaborative specialization if they are available to take the required courses in person.
Learn more about the collaborative specializations offered to students in this program:
Dissertation in Practice Guidelines
Faculty in the Educational Leadership & Policy program have multi-disciplinary teaching and research expertise in a wide range of fields.
Our faculty's expertise includes, but is not limited to:
- Change facilitation and transformative pedagogies
- Educational policy and social inequality
- Large-scale data analysis
- Special education policy
- Politics of decentralization, privatization and accountability reforms
- Online education; technology, surveillance, and society
- School-level leadership in comparative context
- Decolonizing, critical, and anti-oppressive educational leadership
- Gender in education
- Education for refugees and in emergencies
- International organizations and educational change
- Human rights and the rights of the child
Questions about the Doctor of Education Cohort?
Administrative questions about admissions to future EdD cohorts:
Email: lhae.admissions@utoronto.ca
Administrative questions for current EdD students:
Email: lhae.doctoral@utoronto.ca
Academic questions for current or prospective students:
Prof. Anna Katyn Chmielewski- ak.chmielewski@utoronto.ca
Ready to join one of the world’s top universities?
Take the next step in your academic journey and start your application to graduate studies at OISE.