Education, Ed.D, Transformative Education

Ed.D. in Transformative Education

• Online program with low residency 48 credits
• Average completion: 3 years
• The Ed.D. in Transformative Education is grounded in the belief that meaningful educational change begins with the transformation of the educator. We define transformative education as a process that empowers educational practitioners to lead change, respond to change, and undergo change-personally and professionally.
• The program curriculum emphasizes innovative applications of theory and research to transform educational environments and outcomes. Our program is built on the belief that to transform education, we must first transform the educator. Whether students come from classrooms, campus offices, community programs, or corporate training teams, they will leave this program equipped and inspired to lead meaningful change in their professional spheres.

Our program is intentionally designed to prepare scholar-practitioners who will:

• Lead as agents of change
• Graduates will be equipped to design and implement transformational initiatives across diverse educational contexts-including K-12 systems, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the broader educational industry. They will be skilled in mobilizing people, data, and resources to create equitable, forward-thinking learning environments.
• Navigate and respond to complex change
• The educational landscape is rapidly evolving due to technological disruption, demographic shifts, and policy changes. The program provides students with the theoretical grounding, applied tools, and strategic thinking necessary to analyze, interpret, and respond to these changes with agility and purpose.
• Experience personal and professional transformation
• True to the ethos of transformative education, students in will not only learn to transform systems but also experience transformation themselves. Through critical reflection, collaborative inquiry, and praxis-oriented coursework, they will deepen their leadership identity, challenge long-held assumptions, and emerge as more conscious, capable, and resilient agents of change in education.

Vision

Lead change, respond to change, and become the catalysts of change in education.

Mission

Empower educational professionals to foster innovation and transformation, lead with courage and knowledge, and adapt to complexity.

Alignment with the University’s Mission & Vision

The Program’s vision and mission statements are tightly aligned with the University’s vision, mission, and core values.

Format

• online (asynchronous online learning via Canvas LMS combined with ZOOM sessions)
• 7-week MODs

Residency includes:

• A virtual day of the program orientation
• A day on campus (with a virtual participation option): Graduate Symposium & Networking prior to the start of dissertation courses (Year 2)
• 5 days of residency on campus or international residency (Summer semester)

Length

The length of the program completion will vary depending on the number of credits per semester. With two courses per semester, the program may be completed in three years.

ABD Pathway

This pathway is for the applicant who has not completed the dissertation requirements of another Ed.D. program. The A.B.D. pathway requires a minimum of 18 hours of coursework to be completed at Alvernia.

Transfer and Accepted Credit Policy

• Up to 18 credits may be completed as follows with the approval of the Program Director.
• A maximum of 6 graduate credits at a doctoral level may be transferred from another accredited higher education institution*
• A maximum of 6 credits earned in Alvernia University’s MED or PHO courses in the period of 2020- present may be applied to research core, education core, or elective courses (concentration area)**
• A maximum of 6 professional experience credits may be applied to the education core courses in accordance with Alvernia’s 4.421O Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) policy.***

Notes:* Requires a review of the graduate transcript and course syllabus. **Requires a review of the graduate transcript.*** Based on a review of the resume and an interview. Transfers as following: 2 years of experience in the following positions (titles may vary): EDD 705: Education Policies - school district superintendent, assistant superintendent, special education director, director of grants, school principal; EDD 706: Curriculum (re) Design and Implementation of Change - school district curriculum director, director of learning & teaching, high-level position in the curriculum area in an educational company; EDD 707: Technology for Transforming Education - school district IT director, high-level position in the IT area in an educational company.

Admission Requirements

• Official transcript(s) indicating that the applicant has earned a master’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in a prior graduate program. Test scores (GRE or GMAT) must be required if GPA is below 3.0
• Statement of Purpose. Two-page statement in which an applicant summarizes the value of the program for their personal or professional growth and discusses the area of transformative change they are passionate about
• Professional resume
• Three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s professional experiences and abilities necessary to succeed in a doctoral program
• Interview with the Program Director
• International applicants may have additional requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the 48-credit coursework with a minimum of GPA 3.0
• Pass the Portfolio Assessment
• Complete the residency
• Defend the applied dissertation
• Meet the graduate requirement in ethics, leadership, and social responsibility through the successful completion of 3 ELS non-credit bearing modules