Curriculum overview

Academically rigorous yet flexible, the EdD in Leadership and Innovation is designed for working professionals who are passionate about creating organizational change. Utilizing a cohort model, the program unites cross-sector leaders to examine real-world challenges through the lens of their own diverse perspectives and professional experiences. 

Our online curriculum includes 17 courses and 42 credits that can be completed in as few as 24 continuous months, beginning with a three-day immersive residency at the NYU Steinhardt campus. Rather than completing a traditional dissertation, students identify a persistent problem in their organization and examine it throughout the program. This unique project is called the Problem of Practice (POP).

At the end of the program, students participate in seminar-style sessions with leaders in education. This also includes the formal presentations of culminating projects.

The program’s ongoing Master Speaker Series attracts distinguished scholars from different departments and leading experts in a variety of fields.

Course listing

Months 1–12

Immersive Residency (in person)

EDLED-GE 3006:
Introduction to Doctoral Studies

EDLED-GE 3016:
How Do We Learn & Why Does It Matter?

AMLT-GE 2053:
Organizational Theory I

APSTA-GE 3208:
Management and Ethics of Data

EDLED-GE 3032:
Leadership I

EDLED-GE 3321:
Management of Resources

Capstone deliverable:
Autoethnography

EDLED-GE 3001:
Research Methods in Educational Administration

EDLED-GE 3004:
Cross Sector Policy Analysis

Capstone deliverable:
SWOT Analysis

Months 13–24

EDLED-GE 3219:
Advanced Research Methods (Quant)

OR

EDLED-GE 3215:
Advanced Research Methods (Qual)

EDLED-GE 3218:
Advanced Research Methods II (Quant)

OR

EDLED-GE 3217:
Advanced Research Methods II (Qual)

EDLED-GE 3216:
Organizational Change and Innovation

EDLED-GE 3195:
Capstone I

Capstone deliverable:
Problem of Practice (POP) proposal

EDLED-GE 3033:
Leadership II

EDLED-GE 3096:
Partnerships for Leveraging Impact

EDLED-GE 3196:
Capstone II

Capstone deliverable:
Problem of Practice (POP) proposal continued

EDLED-GE 3197:
Capstone III

EDLED-GE 3198:
Master Speakers Series

Capstone deliverables:
Problem of Practice (POP) final draft and reflective narrative

Months 25–26

EDLED-GE 3199:
Capstone IV

POP defenses (by candidate, pending completion of research and writing)

EDLED-GE 3120:
Capstone V (one-on-one advising, as needed)

POP defenses (by candidate, pending completion of research and writing)
Doctoral convocation and hooding ceremony (NYU Washington Square campus)

Course listing

Average time commitment, including classes, is about 15–20 hours per week. This will vary.

Immersive Residency (in person)

EDLED-GE 3006:
Introduction to Doctoral Studies

EDLED-GE 3016:
How Do We Learn & Why Does It Matter?

AMLT-GE 2053:
Organizational Theory I

APSTA-GE 3208:
Management and Ethics of Data

EDLED-GE 3032:
Leadership I

EDLED-GE 3321:
Management of Resources

Capstone deliverable:
Autoethnography

EDLED-GE 3001:
Research Methods in Educational Administration

EDLED-GE 3004:
Cross Sector Policy Analysis

Capstone deliverable:
SWOT Analysis

EDLED-GE 3219:
Advanced Research Methods (Quant)

OR

EDLED-GE 3215:
Advanced Research Methods (Qual)

EDLED-GE 3218:
Advanced Research Methods II (Quant)

OR

EDLED-GE 3217:
Advanced Research Methods II (Qual)

EDLED-GE 3216:
Organizational Change and Innovation

EDLED-GE 3195:
Capstone I

Capstone deliverable:
Problem of Practice (POP) proposal

EDLED-GE 3033:
Leadership II

EDLED-GE 3096:
Partnerships for Leveraging Impact

EDLED-GE 3196:
Capstone II

Capstone deliverable:
Problem of Practice (POP) proposal continued

EDLED-GE 3197:
Capstone III

EDLED-GE 3198:
Master Speakers Series

Capstone deliverables:
Problem of Practice (POP) final draft and reflective narrative

EDLED-GE 3199:
Capstone IV

POP defenses (by candidate, pending completion of research and writing)

EDLED-GE 3120:
Capstone V (one-on-one advising, as needed)

POP defenses (by candidate, pending completion of research and writing)
Doctoral convocation and hooding ceremony (NYU Washington Square campus)

Problem of Practice

The EdD in Leadership and Innovation replaces a traditional dissertation with a Problem of Practice (POP), focusing on addressing real-world challenges in organizations. Through rigorous academic coursework, students develop research and analytical skills to make informed decisions and drive innovative changes within their organizations. 

EdD students continue working while pursuing their degrees, leveraging their positions to influence organizational decisions. The Problem of Practice emphasizes thorough exploration and research, culminating in the implementation of actionable solutions within the student’s workplace, fostering impactful leadership and organizational change.

In-person immersive residency

During the immersive residency, students get to work together and learn from noted scholars across industries. This is an important part of the program and helps inform the entire EdD degree.

Students will discuss their own professional experiences and examine some of the persistent challenges they face in their organizations. They will immerse themselves in discussions and exercises to set expectations of what it means to be in a rigorous doctoral program while learning from cross-sector experts to set intentions for their course of study.

Innovative practice-based thinking

The NYU Steinhardt EdD in Leadership and Innovation allows professionals to continue working full time while studying. It is also one of only a few online EdD programs that focuses on real organizational challenges and available online with the ability to complete in as few as 24 continuous months.

View the January 2026 cohort full curriculum

Gain new perspectives on cross-sectoral leadership with our EdD.

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