EdD in Curriculum & Teaching

This program is on moratorium until further notice.

Students in the Curriculum & Teaching doctoral program gain a thorough understanding of key areas essential to professional leadership in education. These include building a solid academic content foundation; strengthening the knowledge base and professional skills pertinent to forming, designing, implementing, and evaluating specific educational programs; and developing research capabilities for conducting and evaluating research.

Students may pursue study in one of the following areas of specialization:

• C&T–general track
• Early Childhood Education
• English Education
• History & Social Studies Education
• Mathematics Education
• Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching
• Science Education

Coursework and Requirements (60 units)

Pro-Seminars (8 units across two terms; completed in Year 1)

• WED ED 800 Doctoral Pro-Seminar 1 Theories of Teaching, Learning, and Equity (4 units)
• WED ED 801 Doctoral Pro-Seminar 2 Educational Foundations and Systems (4 units)

Two-term pro-seminar designed to develop a common conceptual understanding of Schools, Educational Institutions, Communities, Educational Foundations, and Systems and Theories of Learning and Teaching, with Social Justice being a unifying theme throughout, across all Wheelock EdD students.

Research and Teaching Apprenticeships (minimum: 6 terms)

• At least 1 teaching apprenticeship: WED CT 700 Doctoral Teaching Apprenticeship (0 units)
• At least 3 research apprenticeships: WED RS 799 Doctoral Research Apprenticeship (0 units)
• Remaining apprenticeship foci determined in consultation with student’s doctoral advisor

Research (minimum: 16 units)

• Qualitative (Required)
• Quantitative (Required)
• Mixed methods
• Advanced research course
• Additional courses may be required by programs

Specialization Courses (minimum: 24 units)

Course of study determined by program.

Qualifying Tasks—WED ED 900 Qualifying Tasks (0 units)

• Participation in a research project culminating in a formal write-up and presentation at a Doctoral Student Research Symposium at the end of the student’s second or third year. The research report will include a statement of the student’s contribution to the research. Work will be evaluated by the student’s Qualifying Committee.
• Completion of a literature review and an oral defense of that review on an area of the student’s field of study where there is a problem/challenge/gap in the literature and identifying one or more promising practical or theoretical approaches. Work will be evaluated by the student’s Qualifying Literature Review Committee.

Dissertation Proposal

• Preparation of written proposal for dissertation research
• Oral defense of proposal to Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Study and Oral Defense (minimum: 12 units)—WED ED 999 Dissertation Advising

• Dissertation, which can take one of two forms: Traditional or Alternative format with three publishable articles
• Oral Defense of dissertation findings to Dissertation Committee

Residency Requirement

Every doctoral candidate must spend a minimum of two consecutive terms in residence at Boston University. Residence is defined as registration for a minimum of 12 unit hours at the University during each of two consecutive terms. (Summer Terms may be considered one term.) The residency requirement may be met by holding a research or teaching assistant position or being employed at Boston University 35 hours or more per week and registering for a minimum of 8 unit hours for two consecutive terms. For additional information, students should contact their academic advisors.

For more information about requirements for the doctorate, please visit the EdD Implementation Policies page.