Program Overview
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If you’ve reached ABD (“All But Dissertation”) status or earned doctoral-level credits in a previous program, you’ve already invested years of effort toward your doctorate. Don’t leave that work unfinished.
The Doctor of Education in Professional Studies (Ed.D. PS) at Thomas Edison State University (TESU), the only program of its kind currently offered by a New Jersey public institution of higher education and nationwide, is specifically designed to help experienced professionals complete their doctoral journey and cross the finish line.
This innovative 48-credit degree-completion program builds on the doctoral coursework you’ve already completed, integrating it with applied research methodology and culminating in a scholar-practitioner field project rather than a traditional dissertation. This program requires you to transfer at least 21 credits (and up to 30) from prior doctoral coursework. It builds upon your prior doctoral training and leverages your prior coursework to accelerate through to completion.
Eligible students may also leverage Credit for Prior Learning, where applicable, to maximize previously earned experience and coursework.
With TESU’s long-standing commitment to adult learners, you’ll find an accelerated, student-centered pathway that respects your professional expertise while supporting your academic, leadership, and career goals.
Courses and Terms
Domain II: Core Courses (Required Transfer) (21 Credits)
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| Accepted through transfer or Credit for Prior Learning methods | |
Domain III: Cultural Competency (Eligible for Transfer) (3 Credits)
| EDD-8800 | Ethical Leadership and Cultural Competency in the 21st Century | 3 |
Domain IV: Research Methods (Eligible for Transfer) (6 Credits)
| EDD-8100 | Qualitative Research Methods and Application | 3 |
| EDD-8300 | Quantitative Research Methods and Applications | 3 |
Domain V - Doctoral Field Projects (12 Credits)
| EDD-9050 | Seminar in Scholar – Practitioner Research | 3 |
| EDD-9100 | Scholar-Practitioner Field Project I - Research Methods, Project Identification, Framing, and Site Preparation | 3 |
| EDD-9200 | Scholar-Practitioner Field Project II - Research Methods Supervised Practicum: Data Collection and Analysis | 3 |
| EDD-9300 | Scholar-Practitioner Field Project III - Project Completion, Presentation, and Publishing | 3 |
Domain I: Foundational Courses (6 Credits)
| EDD-8000 | Critical Thought and Informed Action: Models of Decision Making and Organization Achievement | 3 |
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| One specialization course (choose one) | |
| EDD-8030 | Seminar in Organizational Dynamics: Leadership, Culture and Change | 3 |
| EDD-8040 | Seminar in Strategic Planning and Organizational Effectiveness | 3 |
| EDD-8070 | Seminar in Law, Ethics, and Global Society | 3 |