Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
The Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction degree at Boise State is designed to develop graduates who will be effective leaders in educational improvement. Courses are designed for teachers and school leaders and are offered in the evenings to allow educators to pursue the doctorate while working in schools. The coursework provides students with the basis for a thorough understanding of what schools are and can be, insights into the complexities of teaching and learning, and collaborative opportunities to work towards making a measurable and positive effect upon current education programs and student learning.
Official Degree Name: Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Degree Type: Doctor of Education (EdD)
What can I do with this degree?
Graduates of the doctoral program have become leaders in public education and school improvement, and bring their advanced expertise in education to work as school principals, university professors, as well as private businesses and organizations. Others go on to work in a variety of higher education, research and clinical settings.
Given the individualized approach of the program, doctoral candidates are able to design programs that best meet their career and academic goals.
Degree Requirements
The doctoral program is designed to develop skills in four broad areas:
- Curriculum and instruction
- Learning and cognition
- Research methods, and
- An area of specialization
Each student will also complete a comprehensive examination of his or her course work and then a dissertation study.
Admission Procedures
Admission Guidelines
To prepare your application packet, you will need:
- A letter of application in which you address:
- A description of professional experiences and how this has led you to seek a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction, and in which area you would like to specialize (ex., special education, math education, elementary education, etc.)
- A statement of how the Ed.D. in C&I will help you achieve your career goals
- A description of your research interests and how these interests might be aligned with faculty in the College of Education.
- A professional resume or vitae.
- A recent sample of scholarly and/or professional writing (e.g., a substantial writing project for a graduate course, Master’s thesis or project, scholarly papers or publications, project reports, grant proposal, etc.)
In the application process, you will be asked to provide the names of three people who can attest to your personal and professional integrity, professional effectiveness, potential to lead, and academic capabilities. The references do not have to write a letter; they can fill out a form that will automatically be sent by the Graduate College’s application system. You (the applicant) will not be able to upload reference letters to the system.
For more information about the application process, see “Applying to a Program” in our program handbook.
You can apply to the program here.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are NOT required for the application or for admission to the doctoral program.
Graduate Assistantships
The College of Education has graduate assistantships available each year, and any student who qualifies for admission to a graduate program in the College is eligible to apply for one of the limited number of opportunities. Full-time graduate assistantships work 20 hours per week over nine months. Typical assignments involve supervising pre-service teacher interns, teaching undergraduate courses, serving as research assistants for graduate faculty or a combination of tasks. A full-time assistantship includes an approximate $9,588 stipend, tuition and fee waiver, and student health insurance. Full-time GA’s who are doctoral students also receive a stipend of about $13,600 per academic year. Part-time positions (10 hours per week), and GA-at-a-distance positions are sometimes available. Applications will be reviewed by the Dean’s Office and notifications will be sent to students. Students must reapply each academic year for a Graduate Assistantship award. To be considered, applications must be submitted by March 1st, but can be accepted later if positions are not filled.
Scholarships
Scholarships for graduate students only
- Pat and Eloise Bieter Fellowship
- Angus McDonald Memorial Scholarship
- Purple Heart Spec Ed Scholarship
- Robert and Beryl Barr Fellowship
Learn More
Have questions or need more information? Contact us or explore other resources.