Frequently Asked Questions About the Doctor of Education

Absolutely. Our School of Education faculty have refined this doctoral program based on their extensive leadership experience and firsthand understanding of what it takes to balance doctoral studies with professional responsibilities.

The program is 100% online and asynchronous, which means that you can complete assignments and study when it works for your schedule. Most students take two courses each semester and spend 7 to 8 hours per class on school work each week, on average. You can also choose a part-time schedule, taking one course per semester.

Every aspect of the online Doctor of Education reflects what busy practitioners actually need: streamlined coursework focused on practical application, clear weekly modules so you can plan ahead and no time wasted on theory without purpose. We focus on what matters for leading real change in real schools.

Each week, you’ll work through one module with clear objectives and assignments. All weekly materials and assignments are outlined from the start of each semester, so you can plan ahead and work at your own pace. Assignments are typically due Sunday night.

Weekly activities may include:

• Participating in discussion boards with peers and faculty
• Analyzing case studies from real schools and districts
• Writing research papers that apply to your current role
• Completing group projects with other education leaders
• Creating presentations or recorded videos
• Reviewing and responding to peer work

You’ll need to participate in each of your courses weekly to meet engagement requirements.

We use Canvas as our online learning management system, and you’ll have access to all university resources including Texas Wesleyan’s West Library and technical support.

No, the program is completely online. There are no required campus visits.

Even your dissertation defense can be conducted virtually, but you’re more than welcome to defend on campus if you prefer. Many of our students choose to come to campus for their defense, and some even bring family members to celebrate this milestone achievement.

Yes. You’ll engage with peers through discussion boards and group projects as well as collaborative presentations.

With small class sizes, you'll get to know your cohort well and have meaningful exchanges rather than getting lost in large forums. Many students form lasting professional relationships with classmates who become part of their leadership network.

You’ll also have access to Doctor to Doctor sessions. These optional online meetings feature current education leaders and recent graduates who share their experiences during and after their doctoral program. They share what worked, what they wish they’d known sooner and how to avoid common pitfalls. This is a great way to expand your professional network and talk with others who’ve been where you are.

Semesters are 15 weeks in the fall and spring and 12 weeks in the summer.

The Doctor of Education program can be completed in as little as three years. Most students take two courses per semester (6 credit hours) as full-time students and finish in this time frame.

If you need more flexibility, you can take one course per semester (3 credit hours) as a part-time student and extend your timeline.

Your first semester includes two introductory courses that help you identify your dissertation topic and write a concept paper. If you start in the fall, you’ll have this concept paper done by December. From there, each course helps you prepare for your dissertation.

When you reach your final three semesters, you already have a clear topic, initial research and a solid foundation to build on. From this point, you will work one-on-one with a dissertation chair who guides you through writing, research and defense.

This supportive approach is why more than 80% of our students finish their dissertation in three semesters.

Yes. In fact, we encourage you to choose a problem of practice from your own district or organization. Your research should produce actionable solutions you can actually implement. Your faculty advisor will help you shape your topic to be both academically rigorous and practically useful.

This is your chance to transform the challenges you care about into meaningful research. Past students have researched bilingual education programs, teacher retention strategies, technology integration and more. Our goal for you is to graduate with research-based solutions you can put to work immediately.

Faculty help you develop your concept paper in your first semester and build your research foundation throughout the program.

When you enter the dissertation phase, you’ll be assigned a dissertation chair, who serves as your primary mentor. Chairs only work with about five students at a time, so you get close, personal attention.

As you complete your dissertation and get ready to defend, you and your chair will select two committee members to provide additional feedback and expertise. They will also be there to celebrate with you when you defend and earn your doctorate.

Yes, all students must choose one of the two concentration options.

• Curriculum & Instruction focuses on instructional innovation, program evaluation and curriculum development — ideal for those wanting to lead teaching and learning improvements.
• Educational Leadership emphasizes organizational change, finance, policy and systems leadership — perfect for those pursuing administrative, principal or superintendent roles. This concentration includes the option to add a Superintendent Internship course, which qualifies you to take the Texas superintendent certification exam.

The Superintendent Certificate is an optional add-on for Educational Leadership students. It requires one internship course and prepares you for the Texas superintendent exam. You will complete 160 hours of on-site experience under the supervision of practicing superintendents.

Once you complete the course, you will be eligible to sit for the TExES Superintendent 195 exam if you have your principal certification or equivalent.

You don't need to decide about the certificate when you enroll. You can choose to add it after starting your Ed.D. program and getting to know the coursework.

Important: Texas superintendent certification does not transfer to other states. Out-of-state educators should verify their state’s specific requirements.

No, you can decide after starting the program and learning more about each concentration.

We have three start dates per year: fall (August), spring (January) and summer (May). Visit the Ed.D. admissions page to see the upcoming start date and application deadline.

No, your master’s degree can be in any field, as long as it’s from an accredited institution.

No, while you need professional experience in education, you do not need a teaching certificate to apply to the Doctor of Education program.

The one exception is if you decide to pursue the Superintendent Certificate add-on and want to sit for the TExES Superintendent 195 exam. To qualify for the exam, you must have a principal certification or the equivalent.

No. We don’t require any standardized test scores.

We’re flexible. Your experience can include teaching, administration, instructional coaching, curriculum development or education-related roles in higher education or nonprofits. We look at each applicant’s background individually. If you have questions about whether your experience qualifies, we strongly recommend you talk to an enrollment specialist — call 817-785-9307.

Yes, we offer opportunities for scholarships and discounts.

If you work for any of the following organizations, you will receive a Strategic Partner Scholarship that saves you 15% off tuition:

• Arlington ISD
• Blue River Partners
• Burleson ISD
• City of Fort Worth
• Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
• Fort Worth ISD
• GM Financial
• Godley ISD
• JPS Health Network
• Peterbilt Motors Company
• Tarrant County
• Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• White Settlement ISD

The FAFSA school code is 003645.

A Doctor of Education offers different opportunities depending on where you are in your career path.

If you’re an assistant principal or principal, this degree positions you for central office roles, such as assistant superintendent, curriculum director or superintendent roles. Districts increasingly require or strongly prefer doctoral credentials for these positions. You’ll also have the expertise and credibility to contribute meaningfully to cabinet-level decisions.

For those already in district leadership, the Ed.D. provides practical tools to address persistent, large-scale challenges. You’ll gain frameworks for leading sustainable organizational change, not just launching another short-lived initiative. Current superintendents and assistant superintendents in our program report that the degree helps them work more effectively with school boards, manage community expectations and make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.

If you’re an instructional coach or curriculum specialist, the doctorate establishes you as a recognized expert in your field. You’ll develop the research skills to evaluate programs rigorously and earn the credentials to drive district-wide instructional decisions. Many graduates in these roles go on to lead federal grant initiatives, direct professional development departments or build consulting practices.

The Ed.D. prepares you for various leadership roles in schools, district offices and curriculum instruction. You might become a curriculum director, assistant superintendent for instruction, director of professional development or educational consultant or pursue higher education positions. This degree gives you a versatile skill set and the leadership capability for a variety of roles.

An Ed.D. transforms how you work within your current role. You’ll gain research skills to evaluate programs with real evidence, not just intuition. You’ll understand organizational change theory, so you can get genuine buy-in for your initiatives instead of getting approval without support or facing resistance.

The dissertation process itself builds critical leadership skills, confidence and strategic thinking ability. You’re managing a complex multi-year project, gathering stakeholder input, analyzing data and building consensus around your findings. These are exactly the skills you need to lead district-wide initiatives or secure grant funding.

The reality is that "Dr." carries weight in education. Board members, parents and community stakeholders view your contributions through a different lens. You become part of the broader educational leadership conversation, with access to more influence and opportunities. A Doctor of Education degree transforms your hard-won experience into recognized authority.

Both are valuable degrees, but they serve different purposes.

• An Ed.D. is a practitioner’s degree that is designed for people who plan to stay in (or advance in) K-12 or higher education leadership. The coursework and dissertation are more focused on what it takes to lead schools and solve real problems facing education today.
• A Ph.D. is a researcher’s degree that is best if your goal is to become a professor or conduct research. Most Ph.D. programs emphasize creating new knowledge through original research, and you will be prepared to publish in academic journals and contribute to educational theory.

A general way to think about the difference between the two programs is that an Ed.D. encourages you to ask, "How can we solve this problem?" while Ph.D. programs want to know, "Why does this phenomenon exist?"

Education administrators who have a doctorate earn a median salary of $97,700, more than $25,000 higher than those with only bachelor’s or master’s degrees – though actual salaries can vary based on location, experience and role. (Source: Lightcast Labor Market Data)