Doctor of Education (EdD)

36–48 months to complete
$860/per credit
Low residency (remote,
some on campus)
90 credits
NWCCU accredited

Schedule informational appointment

Apply

Application deadline: 8/15/2025

Program overview

Develop your leadership skills and influence with an EdD in education

Become an influential leader in education with this flexible EdD program from Seattle Pacific. Specialize in executive leadership, digital education leadership, literacy, curriculum and instruction, or create a self-designed program. Most students earn an EdD and a certification or master’s degree in their specialization.

Take the next step in developing the expertise to meet your goals.

Program Overview

The School of Education difference

Seattle Pacific was founded more than 125 years ago, and the University has been preparing some of the most sought-after educators in the region for more than 90 years. Today, entrance to School of Education graduate programs is highly competitive. Faculty members — each teaching his or her own courses and each holding a doctorate — have worked to develop rigorous programs of quality.

The School of Education at Seattle Pacific University offers more than a dozen graduate programs. You can choose from two doctoral programs, seven master’s degree programs, and five certification programs, all of which focus on developing competence, character, leadership, and service in educators. While many students train to become teachers, others prepare for roles as school counselors, principals, superintendents, district office personnel, or professors in higher education. SPU’s reputation in P–12 education in Washington and across the country is strong, and students who complete our graduate degree and certificate programs enjoy a higher rate of employment than the state's average.

Why Seattle Pacific for your Doctor of Education (EdD)?

The Doctor of Education (EdD) encourages you to develop an expertise appropriate to your professional and academic goals. Areas of specialization include executive leadership, digital education leadership, literacy, curriculum and instruction, and a self-designed program. Earning certification as a superintendent, principal, or program administrator can be accomplished while working on the doctoral degree.

Accomplished Faculty
Expert, caring faculty have a desire to help students succeed. Faculty are known for mentoring their students during and following their educational programs. These professors model lifelong learning through scholarly activities of their own, publishing frequently, and presenting at professional conferences.
AACU Membership
Seattle Pacific is a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) and of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. SPU certification programs are approved by the Washington state Professional Educator Standards Board. The School of Education is also a member of the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education, and has a chapter, Sigma Phi Upsilon, of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society that values academic and professional excellence in counseling.
Deep Character Emphasis
Built on an character education foundation, the graduate programs at SPU offer first-class education through the lens of Christian faith and values. Students take ethics courses, and character issues are integrated throughout the curriculum.
Flexible Format
Classes are smaller and students interact with professors and fellow students in a cooperative and reciprocal learning environment. Designed for full-time working educators, SPU doctoral programs offer classes online during the regular academic year (Autumn-Spring), with a two-week on-campus residency held each summer.
Connected Alumni
School of Education graduates move on to purposeful careers in schools and district-level leadership throughout the country. When you obtain a graduate degree from SPU’s School of Education, you join a community of alumni who stay connected.

Related Doctoral Programs

PhD in Education

Curriculum

All doctoral students in the School of Education, regardless of their terminal degree, take the same foundation courses, including a Leadership Colloquium. These core classes are designed to develop leadership by focusing on knowledge applicable to all fields and levels of education. Students will then begin their individual course sequences and specializations, which culminate in comprehensive exams and a dissertation.

As an EdD student, you will be required to: pass two comprehensive exams, research and foundations; produce a professional educational theory paper; complete a dissertation and receive passing marks; and pass the oral defense of the dissertation.

View suggested course sequences

Prerequisite coursework

Depending on your experience and background, you may be required to take the following classes as your elective credits:

EDU 6655 Human Development and Principles of Learning (3)
EDU 6524 Curriculum Design (3)
EDU 6526 Survey of Instructional Strategies (3)
EDU 6613 Standards-Based Assessment (3)
EDU 6975 Interpreting and Applying Educational Research I (3)
EDU 6976 Interpreting and Applying Educational Research (3)

Faculty

Core Doctoral Faculty

Julie Antilla

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
PhD, UC Santa Barbara

Email: antillaj@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2216
Office: Peterson Hall 410

Kristine Gritter

Professor, Curriculum and Instruction; Director of Doctoral Programs
PhD, Michigan State University

Email: grittk@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2323
Office: Peterson Hall 309

Nyaradzo Mvududu

Dean
EdD, Seattle Pacific University

Email: nyaradzo@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2551
Office: Peterson Hall 304

David Wicks

Professor of Curriculum & Instruction
EdD, Seattle Pacific University

Email: dwicks@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2367
Office: Peterson Hall 411

Affiliated Doctoral Faculty

Scott Beers

Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs
PhD, University of Washington

Email: sbeers@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2707
Office: Peterson Hall 409

Costs

Tuition and fees for 2023–24

$860

per credit

$50

application fee

See additional fee details.

90

credits to complete

Financial aid

Before applying for aid, you must first be admitted to a graduate program. Make sure you:

Enroll in at least 3 credits (or half-time) toward a degree or eligible certificate each quarter.
Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

You may take advantage of scholarships and loans. SPU does not have a deadline for graduate financial aid, though earlier is always better than later!

Learn more about the FAFSA and applying for financial help.

Learn more about scholarships, assistantships, and loans available to graduate students.

Fees

Find out more about administrative and other School of Education program fees.

Application

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A limited number of students are admitted to SPU’s EdD program each year. Applicants are required to hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. It is preferred that candidates have prior K-12 school experience. Those without experience in a K-12 setting will be considered for program admission on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must submit the following items:

Application and $50 application processing fee.
Official transcripts documenting excellent undergraduate and graduate GPAs from an accredited institution where an academic degree was conferred. Include post-master’s degree graduate coursework.
Personal statement expressing your professional plans, goals, and focus of study, as well as a rationale for pursuing an EdD. This should be no more than 500 words.
Three recent letters of recommendation, including one (1) academic and two (2) professional recommendations.
Résumé documenting a minimum of three years of successful experience at the P–12 level or other similar educational setting.
A writing sample demonstrating graduate-level writing skills.

Candidates who plan to seek Executive Leadership as their specialization must also submit:

Copy of Certificate — Teaching Certificate, ** OR Copy of Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate, OR Career Tech Educator (CTE) Certificate
Copy of Washington state administrator's certificate, if applicable
Site Agreement form

Following the submission of all of these items, your file will be reviewed by the core graduate faculty. You will be contacted regarding the status of your application, and to schedule an interview, within approximately two weeks.

All correspondence regarding the interview process will be carried out by email using the address you provide in the application. Please set your email filters accordingly.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Autumn Quarter: August 15
Winter Quarter: November 15
Spring Quarter: February 15
Summer Session: May 15

APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS?

Contact Graduate Admissions at 800-601-0603 or gradadmissions@spu.edu.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How selective is admission to the SPU School of Education graduate degree programs?

This varies by program. Admission to some programs, such as the Accelerated Master in Teaching Mathematics and Science (AMTMS) and Accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching (AMAT), is very competitive. Admission to each of SPU's graduate programs in education is standards-based, and all applicants must meet all standards for admission.

Can I continue to work while enrolled in a graduate degree program in the SPU School of Education?

Yes, in most cases. Most of the graduate degree programs offered by the School of Education are part-time programs, with classes offered in a variety of worker-friendly venues. Education graduate courses are scheduled at SPU or off campus, in the evenings, occasionally on Saturdays, and during the summer.

The Accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching (AMAT) and Accelerated Master in Teaching Mathematics and Science (AMTMS) programs are exceptions. They are one-year full-time programs due to their full-time internships.

Is it possible to complete a graduate degree from SPU's School of Education online?

The School of Education offers several fully online programs, including the AMAT-Online, AMTMS-Online, Digital Education Leadership, and Teacher Leadership programs. Please review the program pages for eligibility requirements.

Is a graduate program at SPU more expensive than comparable education programs at other universities?

SPU's graduate tuition rates are competitive with other accredited universities in Washington.

How does a graduate degree or graduate certificate from SPU compare with a similar degree or certificate from other universities?

SPU's School of Education has been offering a wide range of fully accredited master's and doctoral degrees in addition to graduate certificates for more than 20 years. SPU's reputation in P–12 education in Washington and around the country is strong, and students who complete our graduate degree and certificate programs enjoy a higher rate of employment than the state's average.

Still have questions? Contact gradadmissions@spu.edu, call 206-281-2091 (or 800-601-0603).

Why SPU?

Andre Stout | EdD Graduate

Deciding to pursue Seattle Pacific’s EdD program was a personal growth decision for me. I wanted to be the best person I could be, and I believe education was the avenue to fulfill my God-given leadership potential. I was raised as a Christian with a grandfather who was a southern Black preacher, so I know he is proud of my choice to obtain my doctorate from a faith-based institution. My dissertation focused on public school administration, and my plan is to start a consulting business to help other public-school leaders reach the goals they have for their schools. I fondly remember (and thank) the doctoral faculty and staff of this program. The relationship with my professors will be something that I will cherish forever. They helped me with understanding how to be a faith-based, ethical principal, and how to make it through challenging courses and my dissertation process, guiding me with gentle nudges that kept me motivated to complete the journey.

Sarah Zhou | EdD Graduate

Director of National Staff Professional Development, China

I first learned about SPU when interpreting for an SPU professor at a workshop for Chinese public-school principals. That professor’s knowledge and humbleness left a great impression. Before coming to SPU, I was the academic principal of an experimental international school for Chinese students in China. After establishing the school and running it for four years, I had many questions about school administration and management, so in 2017 I decided to pause my career and pursue further education to become a better school administrator with Seattle Pacific’s EdD program.

My passion is education in China. I help to equip Chinese teaching and supporting staff and support them to become professional international educators. My time in the EdD program further convinced me of the necessity and significance of building a robust teaching force. What I enjoyed most about the program were the discussions with professors and classmates in and outside the class, and the professors, who are knowledgeable and remarkably open-minded. I love that my intelligence and understanding has been constantly challenged and enriched by their insights. To me, SPU is like a family. The professors and fellow students were so kind. I felt welcomed into a family from the beginning of the program.