1. How is the accelerated program different from the “traditional” Ed.D.?
2. Which Ed.D. programs offer an accelerated option?
3. What is the advantage of the accelerated option?
4. Are there different requirements to be admitted into the accelerated Ed.D. option?
5. Can I move from the accelerated to the traditional Ed.D. program, or vice-versa?
6. What kind of courses can I transfer?
7. Can I still do the accelerated option even if I cannot start my program in the summer?
8. Can I still do the accelerated option if I can’t commit to complete all the coursework in 2 years?
9. What if I cannot keep up the pace?
10. Does the accelerated program have room for electives?
11. How does the dissertation differ from the traditional program?
12. How early in the process do I need to select a dissertation topic?
13. What happens if I cannot finish my dissertation within the prescribed 1 year?

1. How is the accelerated program different from the “traditional” Ed.D.?

The accelerated program is an option that we offer within each of our existing Ed.D. programs for students who are experienced professionals in their field. Each accelerated program has been designed to place the practical experience and knowledge that experienced professionals can bring into an Ed.D. program in the center of research inquiry. As such, the accelerated option will enable experienced professionals to satisfy all the course requirements and milestones of the corresponding Ed.D. program on a part-time basis in a minimum of 3 years while maintaining their full-time job. In order to make this possible, students in the accelerated option need to comply with a prescribed sequence of courses, participate in a number of “cohort experiences” as designated by their specific program, complete their milestones within a prescribed timeline, and limit their choices of dissertation options to the ones supported by specific dissertation seminars.

An accelerated option’s main differences can be listed as follows:

• Admission: Students need to be admitted to the regular Ed.D. program, as well as request admission to the accelerated option (to ensure that they have the necessary pre-requisites). Each program area may have additional admission requirements.
• Course requirements: Students in the accelerated option will take essentially the same required courses as other students in the same Ed.D. program; depending on the program, however, their choices of electives may be more limited. To fulfill the cohort requirement in some program areas, a majority of the courses will be taken with their cohort group.
• Course sequencing: In order to complete the program part time in 3 years and fully benefit from a cohort experience, students are expected to start in summer and generally take two courses each semester (including summers) in a pre-determined sequence. Internships may require additional time.
• Cohort experience: Students in the accelerated option can be a part of a cohort that will take most of their courses together, support each other during the dissertation work, and participate in a number of non-credit-bearing “cohort experiences” (as determined by each program).
• Milestones: Students will need to successfully complete a Portfolio Evaluation and Comprehensive Exam, as do all other Ed.D. students; the nature, format and timeline for these milestones, however, has been adapted in each program.
• Dissertation: Students in the accelerated option have a limited choice in terms of the type of dissertation, as they are expected to conduct a field-based dissertation that can be supported by one of the available dissertation seminars and can be completed within a year.

2. Which Ed.D. programs offer an accelerated option?

The accelerated option is available for all our existing Ed.D. programs:

• Educational Leadership (with specialization in K-12 Schools OR Higher Education)
• Teaching & Curriculum
• Counseling & Human Development (with specialization in Counseling OR Human Development)

However, it is important to note that students who want to pursue a specific certification and/or licensure as part of their Ed.D. program may have additional requirements (especially in terms of internships) that may not be possible to complete within the 3-year minimum timeline. Students are encouraged to discuss their specific situation with the admissions director or a program faculty, to better determine which option is most conducive to their unique career goals and constraints.

3. What is the advantage of the accelerated option?

It is important to note that the accelerated option has been developed to meet the needs of working education professionals; specifically, it is likely to be advantageous to a particular group of students who (a) enter the program as experienced practitioners in the field, (b) are interested in advancing their career and/or becoming a leader in that field (rather than looking toward an academic or research career), and (c) have a preference to complete the program on a part time basis in a shorter amount of time, even if this means a more intensive commitment on their part for that period of time. For this group of students, the most obvious advantage is that the accelerated option provides them the opportunity to complete an Ed.D. program in 3 years part time while maintaining their full-time job.

The accelerated option has been specifically designed to build on the unique background of experienced professionals by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and practices needed to be effective leaders in their fields, and by preparing them to use research to promote improved educational policies and practices. This is especially the case as students work on a field-based dissertation supported by a dissertation seminar. Another significant advantage is the opportunity to be part of a “cohort” of students who can support each other throughout the program and benefit from each other’s expertise and experiences.

4. Are there different requirements to be admitted into the accelerated Ed.D. option?

The accelerated option was especially designed to meet the needs and capitalize on the unique expertise of experienced practitioners in the same field of specialization. Therefore, each program has articulated a set of additional requirements that need to be met by students interested in the accelerated option, in addition to the standard requirements to be admitted to the Ed.D. program in that particular field of specialization. These requirements include:

• Significant professional experience in the field of specialization
• Having completed, or having received approval to transfer into their Ed.D. program 36 credits of graduate coursework
• Access to a research site where they could conduct a field-based dissertation
• Commitment and capacity to complete this demanding program

Specific programs may have additional requirements.

5. Can I move from the accelerated to the traditional Ed.D. program, or vice-versa?

Under certain circumstances, students may need to move into the traditional Ed.D. after having begun the accelerated program. This shift may be possible given that all students must first be admitted into the general Ed.D. program. Conversely, students who began the Ed.D. program in the usual way and later become interested in the accelerated option have the opportunity to make a formal request to switch to that option. The request will be evaluated by the program faculty. Each program area has different criteria and procedures for making the shift to and from the traditional Ed.D.

6. What kind of courses can I transfer?

Students admitted in an accelerated option must have completed, or have received approval to transfer in 36 credits of graduate coursework. As is the case for all of our programs, the final decision of what courses can be transferred is made by the student’s program advisor, program chair, and associate dean of graduate studies when the Program of Study is submitted and approved. However, students requesting admission to an accelerated option can request a preliminary review of their transcripts to have a better sense of how much of their previous coursework may be eligible for transfer.

7. Can I still do the accelerated option even if I cannot start my program in the summer?

This is usually the case, although it is a program-specific decision. Therefore, we recommend that you discuss your specific situation and plans with a program faculty member.

8. Can I still do the accelerated option if I can’t commit to complete all the coursework in 2 years?

It will depend on the specific Ed.D. program you are in as well as the time commitment that you can make to the program. Therefore, we recommend that you discuss your specific situation and plans with a program faculty member.

9. What if I cannot keep up the pace?

One of the major advantages of being part of a cohort is that it helps individuals keep up with the intense pace of an accelerated program and finish it within the intended timeline. However, we understand that experienced practitioners may encounter life and/or professional events preventing them from completing a program at such a pace. In that case, the student should discuss with his/her advisor the available options to complete the program (which will depend on the program as well as the student’s unique circumstances).

10. Does the accelerated program have room for electives?

This will depend on the specific program you are applying to as well as the coursework you bring into the program. We recommend that you discuss your specific situation with a program faculty member or the admissions director.

11. How does the dissertation differ from the traditional program?

Students in the accelerated option have a narrower range of choices for their dissertation – both to enable them to choose a project that can be reasonably completed within a year by capitalizing on their professional position and expertise, and to capitalize on the support provided by a dissertation seminar organized specifically for their cohort. We believe that the field-based dissertation option offers a significant benefit to students who are working professionals as it will generally be more relevant to the kind of work they will pursue in their professional career. Furthermore, there is a strong possibility that the dissertation project will have immediate relevance for the improvement of education in the district or institution in which they work. The available dissertation options will vary by program. The dissertation seminar is another characterizing feature of the accelerated program; students will participate in a year-long seminar, along with students in their cohort working on the same type of dissertation; the seminar is designed to scaffold the challenging process of completing a dissertation.

12. How early in the process do I need to select a dissertation topic?

A critical premise of the accelerated option is that experienced professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences to their program. We expect students to come into the program with some ideas about issues or topics they would be interested in pursuing for their dissertation. Throughout the first 2 years of coursework, students will be supported in their identification and articulation of an appropriate and “doable” dissertation topic in a variety of ways depending on their specific program. For example, several of the required courses provide opportunities to try out and refine ideas, and specific cohort experiences may also be organized to help students work on this critical aspect of their program. In all cases, having finalized a dissertation topic is a pre-requisite to being able to participate in the dissertation seminar during the last year in the program.

13. What happens if I cannot finish my dissertation within the prescribed 1 year?

Students in the accelerated option are expected and should be in a position to complete their dissertation study in a 1-year period while participating in the dissertation seminar. Each program will have specific guidelines if the dissertation is not completed in the 1-year timeframe.