Admission

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Application process

Candidates must apply and be accepted by Miami University's Graduate School and the Department of Educational Leadership. The Graduate School requires an applicant to have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 (or 3.0 in the last 60 hours).

Submit an electronic Graduate School application, including

  • Transcripts from the school you obtained your undergraduate degree from and any other college or university at which you have done graduate work
  • An autobiographical statement and professional vita
  • Name and email address for two letters of reference, one from current supervisor
  • A $50 non-refundable application fee

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More Information About Our Requirements

1. The autobiographical statement, submitted electronically with the Graduate School application, is intended to provide the admissions committee with information about your professional background and aspirations.

Your statement should include the following:

  • Briefly describe your professional experience since receiving your baccalaureate degree
  • Describe your interest in leaderships roles in education and give some examples of your leadership accomplishments
  • Describe your professional goals and explain how our doctoral program can help you achieve them
  • Describe one or two areas of interest for a dissertation study involving a problem of practice in your building, community, district, region or state
  • Explain how you satisfy your intellectual curiosity

2. In addition to the information provided in your autobiographical statement, the admissions committee requires a professional vita. It should include:

  • Educational background
  • Professional experience in education and other professional experiences
  • Leadership roles
  • Presentations and publications

3. Submit three references from colleagues, teachers, or peers who can attest to your professional work, potential for successful graduate study, and potential for making a positive contribution as leader in an educational context.

What happens after the application is submitted?

The Graduate School will evaluate your application to determine whether you meet the minimum university requirements. If you meet these standards, your application will be forwarded to the Department of Educational Leadership (EDL) for further consideration.

The Ed.D. Admissions Committee in EDL reviews the application, grades, letters of reference, test score, and autobiographical statement. Students who do not meet department standards are denied admission at this stage. Applicants who exhibit potential for academic success and who appear to have a good "fit'' between their goals and the department's program are invited to an interview with the Ed.D. Admissions Committee in February.

Applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the interview process about an admission decision.

Contact our Ed.D. Coordinator Lucian Szlizewski for more information. Dr. Szlizewski is a former Elementary and Middle School teacher, a Middle and High School Principal, and a former Superintendent. He has been in Higher Education for the past 12 years as professor, program director, advisor and chair.

Ed.D. Current Cohorts

Currently, Miami University has 6 active Ed.D. Cohorts with Cohort 7 planned for May 2021 start. Cohorts 1,2, & 3 had an 85 % graduation rate.

Cohort 1 and 3 were located at Upper Arlington.

Cohort 2, 4, and 6 are located at West Chester – Voice of America Learning Center (VOALC).

Cohort 5 and 7 are located at Wilmington.

Cohort 8 is planned to begin at Voice of America (VOA) near West Chester: Summer 2022.

More Information