Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership
Program Overview
Our program is a three-year, 60-unit program offered online or face-to-face. Students specialize in either P–12 Leadership or Higher Education/Community College.
Pillars of the Program
- Leadership practice driven by research
- Guided by a social justice framework
- Commitment to education in California
Take all your classes in a cohort of 15-20 students.
Lower tuition than most national Ed.D. programs.
Preparing leaders to advance equity in California education.
Delivery Options
Students in both the face-to-face and online programs are admitted as a cohort. Both modalities go through the same curriculum; however, instructors will be different for each course.
Delivery Options DetailsCurriculum
The degree is granted upon completion of 60 units over 3 years (8 semesters) - 48 units make up didactic coursework and 12 units are required for dissertation. The culminating experience is met with the completion of a dissertation.
Curriculum DetailsStudent Support
All Fresno State Ed.D. students benefit from comprehensive support that enhances engagement, well-being, and academic success, including personalized advising, graduate writing and statistics support, research and dissertation guidance, academic learning resources, professional development workshops, and conference funding opportunities.
Division of Graduate Studies"This program helped me gain valuable knowledge through my classmates' life experiences and explore educational and courageous topics we didn’t typically discuss elsewhere."
- 2025 graduate, Dr. Estevan Parra-Guerrero, Director, Fresno State Upward Bound Programs
"Earning my doctorate from Fresno State has been a game-changer for my personal and professional growth. It is the best investment I’ve made."
- 2013 graduate, Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San José State University