Lead Schools and Communities with Vision and Impact
With a doctoral degree in educational leadership, you’ll be able to take on high-level leadership positions and be able to address fundamental challenges in schools and districts. The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, with a specialization in Leadership in Early Childhood Education–Grade 12 will prepare you to find innovative solutions to real challenges through a blend of leadership theory and practice.
For educators who already have experience as a leader in early childhood education through grade 12, the educational leadership doctoral program will prepare you to take on increased leadership responsibilities in public, independent, and charter schools, as well as communities. The EdD in Educational Leadership has a strong focus on academic excellence and social justice. It is a three-year program is offered on a part-time basis and includes the option to obtain licensure.
Program Features
Strengthen your ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships to effect systemic change on behalf of all students in your school or district. As a student in the EdD in Educational Leadership in Early Childhood Education–Grade 12, you’ll learn to address fundamental challenges in our schools, including:
- Developing and sustaining inclusive and collaborative governance structures for our school and district cultures that reflect a “we/not I” ethos
- Aligning school and district core values and goals with policies, practices, and budgets
- Exercising leadership in challenging political environments
- Engaging a diverse set of stakeholders in decision making
- Ensuring equitable opportunities for student success
- Planning strategically for an ever-evolving educational environment
- Supporting families as partners in children’s success
- Addressing longstanding and new legal issues that impact schools
- Preparing for and managing crises
- Providing alternatives to special education in math and literacy
- Integrating high-impact strategies for behavioral/social/emotional development and intervention
- Developing and implementing effective communication strategies Having difficult conversations with educators in need of improvement
- Empowering district and school-based leadership teams to develop their own professional learning
The EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies is offered in an executive education format designed for working professionals. You will join a cohort that includes organizational leadership peers, including superintendents, principals, assistant principals, department chairs, deans, program directors, and curriculum leaders. Classes meet for two weeks in July and then for one weekend (Friday and Saturday) per month during the academic year.
A practicum in a school setting is required for EdD students seeking state licensure. You’ll apply your learning to practice through a project based in your home school or district or one nearby. Faculty can help assist you in identifying an appropriate setting for your practicum.
You’ll complete the educational leadership doctoral (EdD) program by writing a dissertation of the practice, which builds upon coursework and experience from your home schools and districts. To ensure timely completion of the dissertation, the program provides three dissertation development courses that serve to scaffold each phase of the research and writing process.
Note: As the EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program is part-time, International students are not eligible for this program.
“My professors’ impact on me has encouraged me to go harder as an advocate for change and to apply theoretical frameworks to my work. I also lean on research data more to support reasons for decisions or to be able to look into gaps in research where I could see myself being able to contribute to narrowing that gap.”
Career Outcomes for an EdD in Educational Leadership
Grow as an effective educational leader in schools and districts for early childhood education through grade 12. When you complete an educational leadership doctorate (EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies) from BU Wheelock, you’ll have the following skills:
- Creative problem-solving around organizational issues
- Deep understanding of theories and evidence-based practices regarding education and school leadership
- Knowledge of how to recruit and retain high-quality colleagues
- Performance-based instructional leadership
- Effective communication skills
- Knowledge of and skills in effective crisis management
- Knowledge of and skills in school finance
- Understanding of the relationship between school and community
Join Alumni in a Rewarding Career
Graduates of Boston University’s EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies are well-prepared to seek high-level administrative positions in educational settings from early childhood through Grade 12, including public, independent, and charter schools.
Licensure roles
- Principal or assistant principal
- Director
- Supervisor
- Superintendent or assistant superintendent
Non-licensure roles within community, state, and federal organizations and agencies
- Equity, diversity & inclusion officer
- Executive director
- Head of school
- Policy leader
“When I saw the opportunity to further develop my leadership skills through a program that emphasizes research, collaboration, and experiential learning, I knew BU Wheelock was the right place to continue my journey. I was especially drawn to the cohort-style model and the chance to learn alongside and from experienced leaders across various roles in education.”
Featured Faculty
The core faculty in the EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at Boston University include individuals who have exercised leadership in a variety of educational settings and communities. The program faculty offer numerous opportunities to connect theory to practice.
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Ramon Gonzalez
Professor of the Practice
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Stacy Scott
Senior Lecturer
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Pipier Smith-Mumford
Field Director, EdD Program
Master Lecturer -
Jalene Tamerat
Director, Carol Johnson Leadership Fellowship
Senior Lecturer -
Jeffrey M. Young
Program Director, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Master Lecturer
Dr. Pipier Smith-Mumford is the field director for the EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program. She consults with local school administrators and faculties on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion, in addition to coaching and mentoring newly appointed school administrators. Prior to joining BU Wheelock, she was a principal for 19 years in Brookline, Mass.
Educational Leadership EdD Courses
The doctor of education (EdD) program in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies consists of 14 required courses, three Leadership Seminars (“Cultivating a Leadership Disposition”), and unit-bearing dissertation support. As a student in the EdD program, you’ll take courses such as:
- Advanced Strategic Planning
- School Improvement Science and Implementation
- Analysis and Design of Curriculum
- Child Policy
- Education Politics: Local, State, and National
Admissions & Dates
Note: The EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program admits new cohorts every other calendar school year. The next cohort will launch in July 2026.
July 2026 START
Aug 15, 2025
Application Opens
July 2026 Start
March 1, 2026
Application Deadline
Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, with a specialization in Leadership in Early Childhood Education–Grade 12 program. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.