K-12 and Higher Education Leadership and Policy (Ed.D.)

Bridge the divide between theory and practice while working closely with educators from across the country in an innovative, cohort-based program designed to meet the needs of mid-career K-12 and higher education professionals.

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Education Leadership and Policy Program Overview

Our intensive Ed.D. program allows you to pursue a doctorate while continuing your full-time work through one of two academic concentrations:

  1. K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy
  2. Higher Education Leadership and Policy

The Ed.D. degree program culminates in a year-long capstone project in which you will showcase the analytic abilities, professional understanding, contextual knowledge, and teamwork skills you've accrued. The capstone will closely mirror the challenges of contemporary education practice.

  • #2

    Best Educational Administration Program, U.S. News & World Report 2025

  • #7

    Best Higher Education Administration Program, U.S. News & World Report 2025

Explore education policy, leadership and administration, and the right path for you.

Ed.D. Program Facts

Program Director: Marisa Cannata
Admissions Coordinator: Kashiri Favors
Admission Term: *Summer
Credit Hours: 84, including 30 hours that must transfer in from a prior master's degree

*This program begins in May during Peabody's summer term

Application Deadlines

  • Priority Decision 1

    January 3*

  • Priority Decision 2

    February 3

  • Rolling Decision

    After February 3

*For more information on application dates and requirements, and the benefits of Priority Decision, see the How to Apply page.

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Selected Faculty Research

Chezare Warren

Chezare Warren

Associate Professor of Equity & Inclusion in Education Policy, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations
Associate Professor of Teaching & Learning (Secondary), Department of Teaching and Learning

Chezare A. Warren, PhD is a scholar of race and intersectional justice whose research interests center on understanding the conditions that enable Black students’ education success and wellbeing. A former secondary math teacher and school administrator from Chicago, Dr. Warren is principal investigator of THE POSSIBILITIES PROJECT, an “arts-informed knowledge hub” that generates original research in Black Education. A 2024 TED Speaker, he has held visiting faculty appointments at Stanford University, New York University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Education Leadership and Policy Program Curriculum

As a student in the Ed.D. program you will begin your studies with a cohort of approximately 20-25 highly qualified students from around the country. Together you'll progress through a prescribed 3-year (36-month), weekend-based curriculum. Each year is divided into summer, fall, and spring semesters.

A full degree program comprises 54 credit hours, in addition to 30 transfer hours from an accepted master's degree, for a total of 84 credit hours.

Classes meet in-person on Friday evenings and Saturdays during specified weekends, allowing students to maintain their full-time professional role.

Ed.D. Coursework

  • Courses by Specialization

    Education Leadership and Policy Curriculum (K-12)

    Through required courses, you'll focus on education reform, instructional leadership, educational accountability and assessment, research methods and data analysis, the social context of education, politics and governance, teachers and teaching, and resource allocation and deployment.

    REQUIRED COURSES

    Summer 1

    • EHLP 8110 Advanced Leadership Theory and Behavior
    • EHLP 8260 Exploring the Foundations of Systemic (In)Equity in American Education

    Fall 1

    • EHLP 8130 Advanced Organizational Theory and Behavior
    • ELP 8150 Leadership for School Improvement

    Spring 1

    • EHLP 8810 Decision Analysis I-Logic of Systematic Inquiry
    • EHLP 8140 Social Context of Educational Leadership and Policy

    Summer 2

    • EHLP 8851 Decision Analysis II-Quantitative Analysis
    • ELP 9330 Teachers and Teaching

    Fall 2

    • EHLP 8820 Decision Analysis III-Qualitative Analysis
    • ELP 8220 Educational Accountability and Student Assessment

    Spring 2

    • ELP 8230 Politics and Governance in Education
    • ELP 8240 Education Law

    Summer 3

    • EHLP 8830 Decision Analysis IV-Program Analysis and Policy Evaluation
    • ELP 8210 Resource Allocation and Deployment

    Fall 3

    • EHLP 8120 Advanced Learning and Performance in Organizations
    • EHLP 9992 Capstone Experience

    Spring 3

    • ELP 9500 K-12 Seminar
    • EHLP 9992 Capstone Experience

    Higher Education Leadership and Policy Curriculum

    Through required courses, you'll focus on colleges and universities as organizations, the college student experience, research design and data analysis, the academic profession, public policy and higher education, history, finance, and higher education in international contexts.

    REQUIRED COURSES

    Summer 1

    • EHLP 8110 Advanced Leadership Theory and Behavior
    • EHLP 8260 Exploring the Foundations of Systemic (In)Equity in American Education

    Fall 1

    • EHLP 8130 Advanced Organizational Theory and Behavior
    • HLP 8230 Advanced Nature and Function of Higher Education 

    Spring 1

    • EHLP 8810 Decision Analysis I-Logic of Systematic Inquiry
    • EHLP 8140 Social Context of Educational Leadership and Policy

    Summer 2

    • EHLP 8851 Decision Analysis II-Quantitative Research
    • HLP 8210 College and University Management

    Fall 2

    • EHLP 8820 Decision Analysis III-Qualitative Research
    • HLP 8250 Advanced Postsecondary Access

    Spring 2

    • ELP 8240 Education Law
    • HLP 8240 The College Student: Advanced

    Summer 3

    • EHLP 8830 Decision Analysis IV-Education Policy and Program Evaluation
    • HLP 9310 College and University Finance 

    Fall 3

    • EHLP 8120 Advanced Learning and Performance in Organizations
    • EHLP 9992 Capstone Experience

    Spring 3

    • HLP 9500 HE Seminar
    • EHLP 9992 Capstone Experience

Teacher Pathway Scholarship

  • Scholarship Details

    The Teacher Pathway scholarship guarantees a minimum 30 percent scholarship to all admitted students in initial licensure programs and advanced programs, and a minimum 20 percent scholarship for teacher leadership programs (eligible programs listed below). This guaranteed funding has been put in place in order to

    • broaden access to high-quality graduate education for individuals hoping to enter the teaching profession, and
    • make a commitment to increasing the teacher workforce, particularly in Tennessee.

    Eligible Programs

    Initial Licensure Programs (30% minimum scholarship)

    • Secondary Education
    • Elementary Education
    • Multilingual Education
    • Integrated Early Childhood Education
    • Special Education

    Advanced Programs (30% minimum scholarship)

    • Human Development Counseling (School Counseling track only)
    • Reading Education

    Teacher Leadership Programs (20% minimum scholarship)

    • K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy (Ed.D)

    Scholarship cannot be combined with other Peabody scholarships; if a student is eligible for multiple awards, the larger amount will be granted. Students who accept grant-funded positions with tuition coverage and those who opt out of merit aid consideration are excluded from the scholarship.

Education Leadership and Policy FAQ

  • How is the program structured?

    The program is nine semesters long and begins in May with the Summer semester. As a cohort-based program, students take two courses at a time with the same students. The class sessions are all scheduled on a weekend, beginning Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. You should expect to come to campus six weekends a semester, for nine semesters.

  • What is the curriculum?

    The curriculum is divided into three types of courses. One set of courses are about leadership, organizational change, and broad educational context. The second set of courses provide a grounding in research design, data analysis, and program evaluation. For both of these courses, all students take the courses as a whole cohort. The third set of courses allow students to concentrate on either K12 or higher education on issues specific to these educational contexts.

  • What background or experiences do I need to apply?

    This program is designed for mid-career professionals who have begun taking on leadership opportunities and want to further develop their leadership skills to improve educational processes and outcomes. While there is not a prescribed set of prior experiences, most successful applicants have between 5-7 years of experience and show increasing leadership in their work.

  • Do I need to move to Nashville to take the Leadership and Policy program?  

    No! The program is scheduled on the weekends to allow you to maintain your full-time professional role. On average, about a third of the students live in the Nashville area, a third drive in from surrounding cities, and a third fly in from further cities.

  • What kind of student thrives in this program? 

    We welcome applicants with a range of backgrounds, experiences, and post-graduation goals. Students who thrive are curious, committed to their long-term goals, and eager to grow as educational leaders. We review each application with an open mind, looking for individuals who are ready to engage deeply and make an impact in the field of educational leadership. 

  • What is a weekend class like? What happens in between class weekends?

    Class runs from 4:10-8:00 on Fridays and 8:00-5:00 on Saturdays. Faculty include frequent breaks, as well as a longer lunch break on Saturday. Students often go out to dinner together on Friday. Most class instruction involves students applying course topics to real professional situations, and include discussion and simulations.

    As with any academic program, there are readings and assignments that students complete outside of class time. Some classes involve student collaboration on projects and thus students will meet together between class weekends.

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