As a leader, it’s essential that you find the right program to leverage your leadership and support you in making transformational change in your organization and field. To help you in the decision-making process, we’ve compiled a set of answers to the most frequently asked questions about NYU Steinhardt’s EdD in Leadership and Innovation that we hear from prospective students.
In order to be eligible for this program, you must hold a bachelor's and master’s degree before the start of the EdD. You may apply while still enrolled in your master's but your bachelor's and master's must be conferred prior to the start of your first term in the EdD. You must also have at least seven years of work experience in a leadership role. The GRE is not required for admission.
Yes, this program is designed for professionals with at least seven years of work experience in a leadership position within their organization. You need to have the positional authority within your organization to manage the innovations or improvements related to the Problem of Practice, which is central to this EdD.
We look for leaders from various sectors: government, higher education, early childhood and K-12 education, community-based organizations and nonprofits, the private sector, education technology, and philanthropy. The ideal candidate is a leader and learner interested in working with others to solve big issues that they face within their organization. Successful candidates are inquisitive, innovative, and determined to make transformational change in both their organization and their field. It is also essential that a candidate is eager and open to learn from individuals across sectors and holds a position within his/her organization to enact change. As a student in the program, you will leverage and elevate your knowledge and leadership skills by building relationships and forming new networks to carry with you throughout your professional life.
If you’re considering how to bring about organizational change and change management at the school level, for example in terms of culture or curriculum, then this program could be for you. However if you are looking to develop your leadership with an emphasis on the classroom, then this isn't necessarily the appropriate degree option because there is not a focus on classroom curriculum.
If you want to become a school leader, or are a school leader, this program may be right for you if you seek a way to make transformational change within a school. For example, you may want to create a culture and system within your school that includes parents as school leadership. This program would be an effective way to examine and implement this type of project. We do not offer a School Building Leader credential through this leadership program.
Explore examples of Problems of Practice that students undertake in this program to learn more.
There are three letters of recommendation that are required to apply. One must be from a senior-level person in your current organization. This person will need to speak to your authority and qualifications to take on the Problem of Practice (POP) that you identify in your application. It should include information on the value the POP will have to the organization, as well as the ways in which the organization will support you in this endeavor. It is recommended that you speak in detail with this person about your ideas for the POP prior to asking them to write the letter.
The other two references can be from personal or professional connections who can speak to how you are suitable and ready to take on this rigorous EdD experience.
Attend one of our virtual or in-person information sessions. Dates, times, and RSVP information are located on the homepage. For a full list of application details and requirements, visit our EdD Application Process Page.
You must have the equivalent of a four-year US bachelor's degree as well as a master's degree to be considered for admission. Your ability to speak, write, and read with fluency in English is crucial to your success at NYU Steinhardt. If your native language is not English, you may be asked to submit results from one of the following English proficiency exams: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic.
Be sure to keep in mind your special requirements and any extra time required as you prepare your application. Read more about Steinhardt admissions policies for international applicants.
Yes, we accept applications from people who reside in most countries outside the United States. We do not accept applications from candidates residing in Australia, Germany, Spain, or Taiwan. Our program does not make non-US citizens eligible for F-1 or J-1 visas except for the period of time of the required program residencies (one week at the beginning and one week at the end of the degree program in New York City). According to US immigration regulations, F-1 students cannot pursue online degrees.
Applicants must be aware that our online program entails live, synchronous class meetings that are typically scheduled once per week between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. (18:00 and 21:00) Eastern Time (New York). It is the sole responsibility of the student to be available for live, online class sessions during those times.
If an applicant is located outside of the US, please note that online programs may not be recognized by institutions (such as the local ministry of education) within the home country. Further, the fee for programs may be subject to local taxes, which are the sole responsibility of participants located outside of the US.
Our faculty review all applications individually and comprehensively. Communication around final admission into this program can be found below for the January 2024 cohort:
Candidates are welcome to reapply if they don't gain admission the first time. When you reapply, review all of your application materials carefully. All documents must be new when resubmitted. Be sure to:
Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $2,101 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $2,185 per credit hour. For a full breakdown of costs and fees, visit the Tuition page.
There are several types of financial aid available. Review the Tuition page for more information.
US citizens and eligible noncitizens admitted to and enrolled at least half-time (six semester credits) in a graduate program are eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans that can assist in paying for school.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans of up to $20,500 may be awarded for every two consecutive semesters of enrollment to assist with educational expenses. Payment of the principal (not the interest) is deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time (six credits).
In order to apply for financial aid from NYU, you must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available on the FAFSA website each year starting on October 1. Submit this form as soon as possible after October 1 and indicate that your data is to be sent to New York University, code number 002785.
We encourage you to speak with your organization’s leadership team or board of directors to determine if financial support is available to you. Some organizations will partially support the cost of tuition, especially if you can demonstrate the value of your degree and how you will add value to your institution by completing the program. Consider sharing your ideas for the Problem of Practice and the ways in which it will solve for a unique challenge that your organization faces.
Yes, you are eligible. You can discuss this further with your human resources representative to confirm eligibility status for tuition remission programs.
Please note, employees in NYU Shanghai or NYU Abu Dhabi are not eligible for tuition remission.
No. This is an online doctoral program.
Yes. The fee to apply is $75. If admitted, a $200 non-refundable tuition deposit is required to secure your spot in the program. This fee is applied toward tuition.
Yes. This program is built for working professionals and to support students as they work and learn. Candidates should be aware that while the supports in the program are strong, this is a doctoral-level program that requires serious effort and time, especially during intense writing periods. As a result, it is crucial that applicants also have support and buy-in from their professional institution.
This program is able to be completed at an accelerated pace of as few as 24 continuous months. The EdD's thoughtful course work with real-world focus and pace are designed to help you persist through the program. Cohorts move through each class and semester as a group, ensuring a community exists to support retention and completion.
We want you to stay in your professional role while obtaining this EdD. While many doctorates require you to leave your job, we leverage your leadership skills and apply course work to real challenges in your organization and sector.
Persistent organizational problems require us to look beyond our silos. This program intentionally brings together diverse leaders from across many sectors and organizations focused on education, development, and learning. This unique, cross-sector design supports transformational change as students gain valuable perspectives from others inside and outside of their fields.
Another attribute that sets this EdD apart from other doctorates is that a Problem of Practice (POP), which is central to this EdD, replaces a dissertation. In this project-based doctorate, you present a researched POP that you’ve implemented in your organization prior to the conclusion of the program. Identification of your POP begins at the application stage and is researched, refined, and enacted throughout the program.
This program is a high-quality, high-touch doctorate that offers flexibility without sacrificing academic rigor. The program is designed so domestic and international leaders can participate without uprooting their personal and professional lives. Technology is used to enhance the learning experience and support face-to-face interactions. The latest video and online communications tools are deployed for mentoring, building relationships, and exploring challenging issues through rigorous academic content.
Your online program experience is complemented by an immersive residency, which takes place in person on the NYU Steinhardt campus at the beginning of the program. This touchpoint will enable you to form deep relationships with your cohort of noteworthy scholars from various fields.
The program is designed to provide a strong cohort experience. All students in the cohort take the same sequence of courses and on the same schedule. Monthly small advisory group meetings with colleagues and faculty are arranged so students who focus on similar challenges have the time to discuss ideas, strategies, and experiences. You meet with this small group for the duration of the program.
On average, this degree requires 10 - 12 hours per week of work. Approximately three hours of that time will be online in class with faculty. The remainder of the hours will be spent working independently or in groups with other students from your cohort. During heavy writing times of this program, students will dedicate more than 10 - 12 hours of time per week. Classes in each course are majority synchronous (live), with a few asynchronous (not live) weeks each semester.
Courses are offered in the evening between 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. EST. Students take two courses per semester, offered on different nights of the week.
No. Since the program is a cohort model with courses that build on one another, transfer credits are not honored.
No. See the Problem of Practice frequently asked questions.
Currently there are no fellowships available for the EdD in Leadership and Innovation.
We encourage you to check if your employer will support some of the cost of tuition. The Problems of Practice that you tackle during the EdD can be very valuable to an organization and can help validate your request for tuition assistance.
We deploy the latest technology that enhances practice, mentoring, and course work. Synchronous (live) meetings are taught through Zoom software. Course readings and assignments are housed in Canvas, a learning management system. These virtual tools are easy to use and you always have access to tech support to troubleshoot any problems that arise. Each new cohort is given a guided tutorial to explore these technologies before the on-campus residency.
Yes! This program is designed for the working professional. As a working leader, you hold onto your passion – and your career – while using an academic lens to examine your organization’s most pressing challenges. This is a project-based doctorate with a real-world application created in a way that supports retention and persistence.
All of our EdD faculty members are leaders and experts in their field and have experience with organizational change in a variety of industries. Some are full-time professors at NYU Steinhardt, and others are practitioners, including alumni, recruited by the faculty to teach in the program so that students can learn from the most engaged experts in the field.
Students are required to complete 42 credits beyond a master’s level (typically a master’s level equals 36 to 54 semester credits of study over 12 to 18 graduate-level courses). There are 17 required courses, including five credits of research courses, a general methods course, and a qualitative or quantitative research course that is based on students’ research objectives and faculty advisement. Review the Curriculum page for more information.
The EdD in Leadership and Innovation focuses on the operational aspects of leading successful organizations. Some of the courses covered include:
You will be asked to create posts related to the curriculum, as well as comment on posts from fellow cohort members within Canvas (our learning management system). You will also be providing reflective writing based on the readings, and analysis of current topics related to leadership and innovation.
The culminating Problem of Practice (POP) project is comprised of five signature assignments:
There are several readings and written assignments. Upon admission, candidates will receive the specific requirements for the preparatory work before the immersive residency.
The POP replaces a dissertation. This is a project that you work on throughout the duration of the EdD. Identification of the POP begins at the application phase. This could be a problem you, your organization, or your field has struggled with for years that requires improvement, or it could be a new innovation that you want to implement at your organization. Your POP is something that can make transformational change at your organization and could be used as a case study for improvement or innovation in your field.
Download the Problem of Practice (POP) Guide to help you get started.
You will implement the innovation or improvement related to your POP during the EdD. As such, you must identify a POP that is central to the work you do as an executive leader and explain how you possess the authority to manage the innovations or improvements related to the POP. We need a leader in your organization to be a reference so we have written confirmation that they will support you with the POP and give you access to organizational information (e.g. data, sensitive business intelligence, strategic plan documents) that will inform the POP.
Download the Problem of Practice (POP) Guide to help you get started.
Your POP will be a written document that includes many different components:
The improvement or innovation related to the POP must be addressable within the timeframe of the program. You must have metrics and evidence before the completion of the doctorate upon which to measure the success of the innovation or improvement and build plans for further impact. Together faculty, advisors, and students explore the findings and apply theoretical learning to construct the POP.
In thinking about a potential POP, we encourage you to ask yourself, “What aspect of this project would be testable one year into this program?” This is useful information to include in your application essay as it conveys you are in the correct stage of implementation for the program’s duration.
We encourage you to bring those questions to an info session led by alumni to dig deeper into the program and get answers.