Master’s and Ed.D. Programs

Peabody’s master’s and Ed.D. programs offer distinct benefits:

a solid reputation we protect with high standards and personal attention
theory-driven practice, supported by more than 15 research centers and outreach programs
opportunities to work on critical research, including:
- educational reform, especially the school choice movement
- the effect of public policy on the administration of schools
- behavior disorders and their amelioration
- performance assessment of K-12 public school leaders

Note: For the 2023 application cycle only, GRE scores are not required, although they are strongly recommended for the Ed.D. They are optional for the master's degree.

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Learn more about Ed.D. programs

Vanderbilt Links

A Degree of Difference

Our M.Ed., M.P.P., and Ed.D. are professional or practice-oriented degrees for those who want to advance in their careers in education-related fields including teaching, special education, community development, policy, administration, and beyond. Our Ph.D. programs follow the apprentice model of doctoral preparation, and are designed to prepare the next generation of researchers and scholars studying education and human development.

Child Studies with Applied Professional and Empirical Research Tracks

This highly individualized program is designed to train students as practitioners and researchers who seek to improve outcomes for children and adolescents in a variety of settings, including schools, nonprofits, and research institutions.

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Community Development and Action

The CDA program combines theory, research, and practice to prepare students for professional leadership as change agents in local communities and organizations. Students have the opportunity to complete a concentration in topics such as leadership and management, international development, education, public policy, community health and wellness, and more.

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Education Policy

The M.P.P. program offers a practice-focused curriculum grounded in social science research, empowering students to understand the broader social, economic, political, and historical context of contemporary education and education policy. Students may pursue one of three concentrations: K-12 Policy, Higher Education Policy or Quantitative Methods in Education Policy.

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Elementary Education Degree plus Licensure

The ELL program is designed for students who already possess a state teaching license or those who wish to pursue advanced study in teaching linguistically diverse students in international settings. The program offers two specializations: Teaching English Language Learners in the U.S. and Teaching English in an International Setting.

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English Language Learners

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Higher Education Administration

The HEA program is designed for students who wish to enter professional roles in colleges, universities, state education agencies, or related nonprofits. Students may pursue one of three concentrations: Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and General Administration and Policy.

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Human Development Counseling
(on-campus) with specializations in School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The HDC program trains students who want to become clinical mental health or school counselors, and teaches them to translate sound theoretical knowledge and research into effective counseling programs. The school counseling specialization is also offered online.

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Human Development Counseling
(on-line) with School Counseling Specialization

The HDC online program prepares students to become effective K-12 school counselors. This program equips students with the necessary skills to translate theoretical knowledge and extensive research into successful counseling programs that help children thrive and succeed.

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Independent School Leadership

This unique 15-month program fosters leaders who understand the complex educational, political, social, fiscal, and moral dimensions of independent schools, and who are able to propel their schools to high levels of achievement.

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International Education Policy and Management

Through a multifaceted approach to education, IEPM equips students with the skills and knowledge to become change makers in the field of international education and human and economic development around the world.

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Leadership and Organizational Performance

The LOP program trains highly effective leaders. Students explore and master the organizational and social context in which human performance and organizational performance intersect, with a focused curriculum that aligns leadership theory with contemporary leadership practices.

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Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies

The LDUS non-licensure master’s degree program designed for teachers and other professionals who aspire to understand the complex ways in which diversity influences learning in settings both inside and outside of schools.

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Learning and Design

This immersive 10-month program focuses on how people learn, how contexts and tools influence learning, and how to design learning environments and activities to support learning.

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Quantitative Methods

This program provides students with strong quantitative methods training for applied research settings. Alumni work in school systems, government, industry, dedicated research institutes, academic settings, and medical school research settings.

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Reading Education

A degree program for teachers who are already licensed that focuses on literacy theory, research, and instruction for grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. Students are prepared to return to the classroom as skilled literacy teachers, literacy coaches, department chairs, and deans of instruction.

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Secondary Education

This program is for students wanting to obtain initial teacher licensure in grades six through twelve. Students choose from one of four concentrations in english, math, science, or social studies.

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Special Education

This program is designed both for students who have teacher licensure and those wanting to obtain it. Students choose from 4 concentrations: early childhood, high incidence disabilities, severe disabilities, and visual disabilities.

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K-12 Educational leadership and policy (on-campus)

This track prepares scholar-practitioners for leadership in education and policy-related settings including elementary and secondary public, charter and independent schools, district-level offices, research organizations, government agencies, professional associations, and consulting firms.

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Higher education leadership and policy (on-campus)

This track prepares scholar-practitioners to lead and operate colleges and universities, government agencies, professional associations, and consulting companies.

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Leadership and Learning in Organizations (online)

This track prepares leaders to bridges the divide between theory and practice, equipping students with relevant skills to lead organizational change.

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Community Research and Action

The Ph.D. degree in Community Research and Action prepares action-oriented researchers for academic or policy-related careers in applied community studies with a social justice orientation.

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Educational Neuroscience

The Ph.D. degree in Educational Neuroscience prepares each student to make significant contributions in neuroscience and fosters development from trainee to independent research scientist and educator.

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Leadership and Policy Studies

The Ph.D. degree in Leadership and Policy Studies is designed for those who intend to build an academic career focused on the study of education and policy, as researchers, professors, and policy analysts.

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Learning, Teaching, and Diversity

The Ph.D. degree in Learning, Teaching, and Diversity prepares students to address the interdisciplinary nature of problems related to learning environments, culture, and diversity.

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Psychological Sciences

The Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences degree focuses on psychological theory and the development of original empirical research. Students are admitted to work toward the Ph.D. degree in the following areas: clinical science, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental science, neuroscience, and quantitative methods.

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Special Education with specific emphases on research and teaching

The Ph.D. degree in Special Education is designed to prepare students for faculty and leadership positions in colleges, universities, research institutes, or human service agencies. The program is competency based, with specific emphases on research and teaching. Students choose one of four areas to specialize in: early childhood, high incidence, severe disabilities or visual impairments.

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Human and Organizational Development

This undergraduate major fuses a liberal arts foundation with applied coursework in human development, organizational theory and dynamics, service learning, and decision analysis. A capstone internship will ensure you're ready for the professional world.

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Child Development

Focusing on children from infancy through adolescence and the contexts in which they live--including family, peer, school, community, and cultural influences--this program offers excellent preparation for graduate work in psychology, medicine, nursing, social work, education, or public policy.

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Early Childhood and Elementary Education

This program will prepare you to teach all curricular areas from pre-K through fifth grade. This major is field-work intensive, with a unique focus on children’s developmental thinking and reasoning in both school and non-school settings that involve teaching, advocacy, policy, and informal learning opportunities.

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Secondary Education

If your goal is to teach students in grades 7 through 12, the secondary education major will provide strong grounding in one or more content areas, experience in teaching methods, and an introduction to current research in the field.

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Special Education

Peabody's Department of Special Education is among the best in the nation. Combining theory, extensive field experience, and innovative practices, the program equips future teachers to assess and design programs for individuals with disabilities.

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Child Studies

An interdisciplinary major with a broader focus than child development, child studies enables you to work with children outside formal educational settings.

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Cognitive Studies

If you are intrigued with the process of learning itself, this major will shed light on how people think, solve problems, and reason. The program frequently sends students on to graduate work in the social and behavioral sciences or areas such as medicine and law that stress inquiry and clear thinking.

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Human Development Studies

With the Human Development Studies master’s degree, set yourself apart as an effective leader focused on equity and systemic change, working with diverse populations in a wide range of settings.

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Leading Organizations

The MLO is an online, part-time program that will elevate your skills and knowledge to manage, lead, and strengthen organizations of all kinds. Whether you want to implement change and effectively solve problems or cultivate a dynamic and inclusive workplace that responds to today’s needs, you can become the leader you envision and make a difference within and beyond your organization.

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World Languages

Peabody’s two-year, 31–34-credit M.Ed. degree enables students to earn certification in World Languages and ESL. Candidates learn and apply theories of linguistics, intercultural communication, and language pedagogy that responds to the needs of multilingual learners in a wide range of capacities.

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Master’s and Ed.D. Programs

Learn more about Master's programs

Learn more about Ed.D. programs

Related Links

Vanderbilt Links

A Degree of Difference

Child Studies with Applied Professional and Empirical Research Tracks

Community Development and Action

Education Policy

Elementary Education Degree plus Licensure

English Language Learners

Higher Education Administration

Human Development Counseling (on-campus) with specializations in School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Human Development Counseling (on-line) with School Counseling Specialization

Independent School Leadership

International Education Policy and Management

Leadership and Organizational Performance

Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies

Learning and Design

Quantitative Methods

Reading Education

Secondary Education

Special Education

K-12 Educational leadership and policy (on-campus)

Higher education leadership and policy (on-campus)

Leadership and Learning in Organizations (online)

Community Research and Action

Educational Neuroscience

Leadership and Policy Studies

Learning, Teaching, and Diversity

Psychological Sciences

Special Education with specific emphases on research and teaching

Human and Organizational Development

Child Development

Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Secondary Education

Special Education

Child Studies

Cognitive Studies

Human Development Studies

Leading Organizations

World Languages

Human Development Counseling
(on-campus) with specializations in School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Human Development Counseling
(on-line) with School Counseling Specialization