Sample Degree Plans - Doctor of Education - College of Education

In addition to the 25 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of dissertation related coursework, students will need to complete 18 to 28 credit hours of elective courses, which will allow them to specialize in an area aligned with their career aspirations.

The individualized specialization may include:

certifications that have a set number of credit hours to complete the state certification as approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and MSU’s Educator Preparation Provider Council (EPPC). Some examples of certifications include Superintendent Certification (27 hours), Elementary Math Specialist (24 hours), Gifted and Talented Certification (18 hours), Library Media Specialist (12 hours + 6 additional elective hours).
an area of study, including a selection of up to 18 credit hours approved by the EdD program director, that contributes to a coherent plan of study that supports the student’s professional goals.

While students are free to design an individualized specialization by completing any combination of graduate courses offered at MSU (as long as they contribute to a coherent plan of study that supports the student’s professional goals), here are some sample degree plans¹ for certifications and areas of study that might be of interest to students considering MSU's EdD program.

The credit hours included below represent the total number of required credit hours for the EdD degree, which includes 25 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of dissertation related coursework, and the credit hours required for each individualized specialization.

Certifications

Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Education of Gifted and Talented Students Program page for more information about the program.
Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Educational Administration Graduate Program page for more information about the program.
Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Specialist in Education, Educational Administration Graduate Program page for more information about the program.

Possible Areas of Study

Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Early Childhood and Family Development Graduate Program page for more information about the program.
Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Educational Technology Program page for more information about the program.
Sample EdD Degree Plan(s)

Please visit the Student Affairs in Higher Education Program page for more information about the program.

¹These sample degree plans are only provided as examples to help students conceptualize possible individualized specilizations. They do not represent official degree plans.