Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Policy & Organizational Design

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The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a concentration in Educational Policy & Organizational Design is a terminal degree designed to prepare scholar-practitioners serving in educational settings and professional agencies. By combining educational theory with action research, students learn how to critically examine programs and provide solutions to meet the needs of their setting.

Program Highlights:

Graduates will possess the content knowledge and research skills necessary to improve educational and other systems
Courses are delivered 100% online
This degree is offered in a blended (i.e., asynchronous and synchronous) format for all courses
Students will be admitted into a cohort
The program provides opportunities to participate in on-campus cohort meetings
All online students pay in-state tuition

What are potential careers?
This doctoral degree offers opportunities for students to enhance qualifications for leadership and other key positions, to increase knowledge base appropriate to a doctorate, and to enhance the graduates’ trajectory in their selected career in educational and related settings, particularly within the school and district P-12 levels, universities, and government agencies.

Students will gain the skills necessary to engage diverse populations in educational settings and promote learning of individuals across the lifespan while employed with non-profit organizations, government agencies, private companies, educational settings, and academia.

Who should pursue this degree?
P-12 educators and other professional staff who wish to advance their career through the pursuit of a doctorate degree and have earned an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) or equivalent in P-12 or related fields. Students holding a master's degree may be admitted, but will be required to complete 30 credit hours of electives approved by their advisor.

This Ed.D. degree focuses on applied research, which is more appropriate and applicable to graduates who want to engage in application of their skills and knowledge, rather than pursue a career that focuses on a traditional theoretical research agenda as a faculty member in post-secondary education settings.

Program Structure

This 61-hour program (31 hours beyond the Ed.S. degree or equivalent) builds on a specialist degree (or equivalent) and will require a capstone or applied research project as the culminating of the degree rather than a traditional dissertation.

Course Number	Course Title	Hours
Major Required Courses	Shared hours from Ed.S. degree (Applicants should seek guidance from the EDED academic advisor regarding the selection of courses meeting this requirement)	30

Ed.D. Concentration Courses
EPY 8133	Crisis Prevention & Intervention	3
ED 8813	Applications of Systems Change in Education and Related Fields	3
ED 9413	Government & Agency Relationships in Education Policy	3
ED 9314	Systems- and Individual-Level Supervision, Mentoring, and Consultation	4
ED 9323	Program Development and Accountability	3
ED 9343	Organizational/ Project Design and Management	3
ED 9913	Capstone Seminar in Education	3
ED 8620	Capstone Project in Education	9
Total Hours:		61 hours beyond masters

Admissions Requirements

Please note that your application will not be considered until all documentation and official transcripts have been submitted and your application fee has been paid.

Admission Criteria:

A completed graduate application.
Statement of purpose detailing your professional goals and how those goals fit the program to which you are applying.
Names and email addresses for three references including two professional contacts and one instructor/professor who can speak to your academic ability. The admissions office will send them a link to an online reference form. Do not list family members and please inform your references so they can expect to be contacted by the admissions office.
A recommended minimum 3.4 GPA (master’s or specialist’s degree) for admission to Ed.S. and Ed.D. programs.
Participation in an interview.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Policy & Organizational Design as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Policy & Organizational Design online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Courses

Ed.D. Concentration Courses
(Minimum of 31 Credit Hours)

EPY 8133 Crisis Prevention & Intervention
3 credit hour seminar. Study of school crisis prevention and intervention strategies with emphasis on preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from crisis impacting students and schools

ED 8813 Applications of Systems Change in Education and Related Fields
(Prerequisites: Admission to a doctoral degree in Education or related field; or permission of the instructor) 3 credit hours. The study of theories and principles of systems change in public and private agencies including education, clinical and health service agencies, and other related fields.

ED 9413 Government & Agency Relationships in Education Policy
(Prerequisites: Admission to a doctoral degree in Education or related field; or permission of the instructor) 3 credit hours. Managing external relations with governmental and other agencies; grantsmanship & funding agencies.

ED 9314 Systems- and Individual-Level Supervision, Mentoring, and Consultation
(Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor). 3 credit hours lecture, I hour practicum. Systematic investigation and application of consultation, supervision, and mentoring as applied to individuals and organizational structures.

ED 9323 Program Development and Accountability
(Prerequisites: Admission to a doctoral degree in Education or related field; or permission of the instructor) 3 credit hours. Process of accountability, including standards within education and professional programs, accreditation processes, and general procedures, and data collection strategies to meet general regulations.

ED 9343 Organizational/ Project Design and Management
3 credit hours. The focus of the course is on the development of knowledge and skills in planning, designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating innovative projects and organizations in an area of student’s expertise and interest.

ED 9913 Capstone Seminar in Education
(Prerequisites: Admission to the Doctoral of Education or Doctor of Psychology program; permission of the instructor). 3 credit hours. May be repeated one time. Students prepare for their Capstone Project to investigate a specific problem of practice appropriate to the subject area and graduate-level specific to the student.

ED 8620 Capstone Project in Education
(Prerequisites: Admission to the Doctoral of Education or Doctor of Psychology program; permission of the instructor). Variable credit hours. Investigation of a specific problem of practice, review of related literature, development of an action plan, and presentation of data regarding the plan.

Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, you must contact your assigned advisor to determine the courses most appropriate to take. Before the upcoming semester, your advisor will send an email to your MSU email account, making course recommendations based on your program of study.

Mississippi State University uses email as its official means of communication with all MSU students. Please check your MSU email account (NetID@msstate.edu) daily. Information on setting up your MSU email can be found at the link for student services.