Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning: Lead Systemic Change in Your Field
A scholar-practitioner doctorate with four concentrations, curriculum and policy, disability and equity, reading and literacy, and linguistic diversity, for educators ready to lead systemic change, delivered online with virtual residencies.
- Four Concentration Areas
- Online and Low-Residency
- Scholar-Practitioner Dissertation
- CAEP-Accredited NCE
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Program at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Lead curriculum, policy, or literacy reform
- Redesign disability and equity systems in education
- Advance multilingual and bilingual education
- Conduct applied, equity-focused educational research
- Build inclusive, culturally responsive leadership
- Complete a scholar-practitioner dissertation
Full Course List
Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- A master's degree and NCE graduate admission requirements
- Two letters of recommendation addressing doctoral capacity
- Three written responses on goals, community, and advocacy
- A two-stage process with individual and group interviews
- An advisor helps you choose your level and concentration
Curriculum and policy, disability and equity, reading and literacy, or linguistic diversity, each a focused specialization.
A scholar-practitioner dissertation that solves real problems in your organization and field.
The same four concentrations are offered at the specialist and doctoral levels; an advisor helps you choose.
Where Will Your Doctorate Take You?
The Ed.D. prepares graduates for leadership and research roles aligned to their concentration: curriculum director or education policy analyst, special education or disability services director, literacy coach or reading director, or multilingual education program leader.
Instructional coordinators, the broadest anchor, earn a median salary of $74,720 with about 21,900 openings a year (BLS, May 2024); concentration-specific roles in special education, literacy, and postsecondary leadership extend well beyond that. The applied dissertation positions you to lead evidence-based change.
How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps
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Request Information
Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment specialist will reach out within one business day.
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Choose Your Level and Concentration
Your advisor helps you select Ed.S. or Ed.D. and the concentration that matches your goals, and prepares you for the two-stage admissions process.
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Interview and Apply
Submit two recommendations and three written responses, then complete individual and group interviews. Next start: September 21, 2026.
Take the First Step
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to map your doctoral path in teaching and learning.
Take the First Step- Four Concentration Areas
- Online and Low-Residency
- Scholar-Practitioner Dissertation
- CAEP-Accredited NCE
*Salary and openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators (SOC 25-9031), May 2024. Concentration-specific roles map to other SOC categories.
**Concentrations, structure, and accreditation: SmartCatalog, National Louis University Teaching and Learning Ed.S./Ed.D. (nl.smartcatalogiq.com); NCE is CAEP-accredited.