Doctorate in Education in Professional Educational Practice

FAQs

General

Is the EdD an accredited doctoral Program?

Yes. The degree was provisionally approved by the Board of Regents on January 20, 2011, and by the WASC Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities on November 09, 2012. We are a recognized affiliate of the Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate (CPED).

What is the difference between the professional practice degree and the PhD degree in the college of education?

There are several differences.

First, the aims of the two degrees are different. The PhD is a degree for those who wish to become university researchers in the field of education. The EdD degree in professional practice is for career professionals (teacher leaders, school administrators, clinical faculty, etc) who are looking for an advanced degree that will provide them with experiences that apply knowledge to resolve a problem of practice. Second, the EdD is a cohort program that engages students in academic study, collaborative and individual work as well as discussion and consultation. Emphasis is placed on contributing to the wellness of all through team work and individual achievement. Third, this program is designed for the working professional. Coursework is offered during the summer and on Saturdays throughout the academic year. Lastly, in addition to a dissertation, the EdD Program also requires completion of a group consultancy project that benefits the community.

Still have questions?

Contact the EdD Program at: eddprog@hawaii.edu

Application

When is the deadline for application to Cohort V?

The deadline for applications to University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Office of Graduate Division and supporting material is November 01, 2022. Applicants must ensure that all documents have been received and are on file by the deadline. Incomplete files will not be considered.

How do I apply?

Please visit the EdD Professional Educational Practice webpage for step-by-step instructions: www.coe.hawaii.edu/academics/edd/

The application process is has two required steps:
1) Graduate Division:
www.manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/

2) College of Education EdD Program
https://makalei.coe.hawaii.edu/student

Application Deadline: November 01, 2019

Eligibility

Are people from neighbor islands able to participate in the program?

Yes, folks living on a neighbor island will travel into O'ahu for class or meetings. During the academic year, these occur five time per semester on Saturdays, from 9 am to 4 pm (approximately). During the summer, students will attend classes/meetings for 4-5 weeks.

Is the program available to students in the continental U.S. via distance learning formats; do you offer any online programs or hybrid programs for EdD?

No. WASC approval is required to offer the EdD as a distance program (25 miles or more from the campus). Remote participation is not possible at this time.

Do you require a Master of Education degree to apply for the program?

A master's degree from an accredited institution is required; educational background is preferred.

Is it possible that some of my previous graduate coursework will count toward degree requirements for the EdD?

This cohort program requires that all students take and complete all 64 credits in the same sequence.

Can an EdD student apply for a GA/TA/RAship at UH Mānoa?

EdD students are normally full-time employees, usually in educational (e.g. UH, DOE, Independent) and/or community organizations in Hawaiʻi.

Is the GRE required?

Not at this time.

Coursework

What is the time commitment to the program?

As noted, students will attend class/meetings five times per semester (academic year) and 4-5 weeks during the summer. All courses are delivered in person. Preparation for class, contributions to group consultancy project, and dissertation work will primarily occur outside of the class/meeting times and can represent more than 70% of the total time commitment to earning the doctorate degree.

Will I be required to write a dissertation?

Yes, a dissertation is required and is one of two major written publications (the other is the consultancy project) required for completion of this program. This EdD's DiP-- Dissertation in Practice--orients students to apply research and theory to resolving a problem of practice. Students formulate this problem, review relevant literature/research, and design and implement an action plan (e.g. data collection, data analysis, reporting). Many students will take a practitioner-based action research approach to solve for their problem of practice.

Funding

Will there be financial aid of any sort to offset tuition costs?

Yes, students may apply for scholarships, financial aid, and/or student loans through the following link-- http://www.hawaii.edu/fas/mymanagement/summer.php (note: this is a summer online application). Please complete the 2019-2020 application process; this will include starting the program in Summer, 2020.

What are the total costs associated with the program?

Based on current (EdD) tuition rates for residents, the cost of the program is $44,864.00 ($701/credit x 64 credits). Program costs may change and are associated with the official tuition schedule (see http://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/myuh/fees2019.asp). In addition, there are costs associated with books, software, travel, and other incidentals.