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Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Admission Requirements
- Master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent.
- See International Admissions for details regarding evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.
- Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.
- Prior successful completion of statistical analysis coursework preferred
- Professional knowledge and experience to which you can apply course concepts and strategies
- Computer with internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described on the Technical Requirements page. Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.
What this program looks for in an applicant
Applicants with rich backgrounds and a variety of professional and academic experiences are ideal candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program. There is no one typical background, but rather the successful student is characterized by a lifelong curiosity, a natural perseverance, and an inclination to take on new challenges. The program is designed for mid-career professionals who are currently working in leadership positions or who have the capacity to initiate change within their organization. Successful alumni come from fields such as education, military, service agencies, health care and business organizations and more. The ability to learn and adapt to new tools and technology is an asset in this program. Students with the capacity to manage multiple competing priorities are most successful in our online learning environment.
Please note: If your goal is to become an Administrator in the State of Maine, and you currently have your master’s degree, the 30-credit CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership is the program that would lead to Building Administrator 040 certification in the State of Maine. If you will be working outside of the State of Maine, UNE Online highly recommends that you research your specific state requirements for entry level into assistant principal or principal positions before entering this (or any) program.
Application Process
Step 1
Create an account for the Online Application Portal, start a new application and fill out all required fields.
Step 2
Upload all supporting documents:
- Professional Resume/CV: Must be current and include current professional roles and responsibilities
Application Essay (maximum of 1500 words): Please describe your leadership experiences in your professional role. What challenges have you encountered and what lessons have you learned? With your experience as context, please describe why you value the study and practice of educational leadership. Please include any academic and professional experiences that support your candidacy to pursue this unique program of study. Finally and most critically, propose your initial thoughts on a topic of research for your doctoral study and the institutional context in which you might conduct your research.
- Your essay should follow APA format demonstrating strong academic writing including references to peer reviewed scholarly work.
Your essay will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Indications of leadership experience and potential
- Desire for professional improvement and growth
- Capacity to frame a compelling argument for study
- Two completed Application Recommendation forms – may be completed one of the following ways:
- 1. Electronic – Please provide your enrollment counselor with contact information for two references. An electronic form will be sent directly to your references to complete. The completed form will be sent to the enrollment counselor and added to your application.
- 2. Print – You may print these forms out and complete the applicant section by hand, then give them to your supervisor/recommenders to complete and send back to us. Please remember these forms need to be submitted to us by your supervisor or recommender directly, either by email or mail.
- Please note that these recommendation forms are confidential and will not be added to the official student file.
Step 3
- Request an official transcript reflecting conferral of master’s degree and any other post-master’s certificates or coursework.
- Official transcripts must be submitted to UNE directly from the institution. Please contact your college or university as soon as possible and request that they send an official transcript via mail to the address below or by certified electronic delivery. We will notify you as soon as we receive your official transcript.
- If your transcript is from an international institution, it will need to be translated and/or evaluated for U.S. grade and degree equivalency and sent to us directly from the evaluation company. Please contact an enrollment counselor for more information.
- If sent electronically, request that your transcript be sent to: education@une.edu
- If mailed, request that your transcript be addressed to:
- Please Note: Additional transcripts may be required or requested. You can always submit additional transcripts if you feel they would strengthen your application.
Step 4
Pay non-refundable $40 application fee.
Procedures and Policies
*Students who are currently or previously enrolled in a University of New England-College of Professional Studies (UNE-CPS) CAGS or PMC program may apply to transfer up to four, 3 credit (maximum of twelve credits) UNE-CPS Education courses earned in these programs.
**Students who are currently or previously enrolled in a doctoral program at another institution may apply to transfer up to two-3 credit courses earned in this program.
Transfer courses must be:
- **taken at a regionally accredited institution;
- *taken and completed in a UNE-CPS CAGS or PMC program;
- **classified as doctoral level earned in a terminal degree program;
- taken within five years of application;
- worth 3-credits;
- completed with a grade of “B” or better;
- **equivalent to one of the required program courses or an elective course that meets programmatic goals.
*applies to UNE-CPS courses only.
**applies to external doctoral programs only.
All application materials submitted to UNE are valid for 12 months from the date received by the University. To avoid needing to re-request transcripts and letters of recommendation, we recommend that you complete your application and enroll in a timely manner. In the event that you need to re-apply or re-activate your application, materials older than 12 months will need to be re-submitted without exception.
Students not seeking a degree may enroll in individual courses as a non-matriculated student, space permitting and upon approval by the program manager. Non-matriculated students must hold a bachelor’s degree and submit an official transcript reflecting conferral of the degree. Students may not move from non-matriculated to matriculated status within the same semester. Please contact an enrollment counselor to assist in this process.
More information explaining the admissions requirements for international students or applicants with international degrees can be found here on the International Admissions page. If you have specific questions, please contact an enrollment counselor for personal guidance through the application process.
Your Dedicated Enrollment Counselors
Enrollment counselors are here to help you understand the Education admission requirements and assist you throughout the entire application process.
If you have any questions about the graduate programs in Education coursework or the program requirements, please speak to one of our enrollment counselors at the email or phone number below.