Western Education's EdD | Field of Curriculum and Pedagogy
Lead meaningful change in curriculum—without pausing your career!
The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Pedagogy invites professionals who work in educational roles—wherever learning happens—to join a community of change-makers. Whether you work in schools, higher education, health care, community organizations, law, government, or industry, this program is designed for those who lead and learn through their work.
Together, you’ll connect your professional experience with leading-edge academic research to turn problems of practice into evidence-informed innovation.
Offered in a supportive, cohort-based format, the program allows you to pursue your studies alongside your career—learning with and from peers who share your passion for transforming education and transforming lives.
Curriculum & Pedagogy theory and practice
Teaching and learning innovation
Study online
Finish in three years
What I like about my EdD program is the diversity of my cohort. I love engaging in rich and fulsome dialogue with my classmates from different professions and industries.
- Carlyn Tancioco, Graduate 2021
Beyond the program details
Admissions
See requirements and deadlines for updates on cohorts with space availability.
Applicants are required to submit:
1. Statement of Intent,
2. 3 letters of recommendation (from academic and/or professional supervisors, or equivalent),
3. transcripts,
4. a Writing Sample, and
5. a current resume.
Please review the links to additional information about the Statement of Intent and the Writing Sample before submitting an application to the EdD Curriculum and Pedagogy Program.
Successful applicants to the EdD Program in Curriculum and Pedagogy typically have 5 or more years of full-time teaching experience and a Master's degree. A Masters degree in curriculum, pedagogy, teaching and learning or a related field is preferred. Other Masters degrees will be considered. Applicants should use their Statement of Intent and résumé to highlight how their curricular and pedagogical experience in professional practice has prepared them to study Curriculum and Pedagogy at the Doctoral level.
Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. For more information go to requirements and deadlines
*Please note: If your Master’s Degree was granted as part of your Initial Teacher Education program, which certified you to teach in the K-12 system, it is insufficient to count as a graduate degree that prepared you to enter study at the EdD level.
Required
- A Master's degree in curriculum, pedagogy, teaching and learning or a related field are preferred Master's degrees in other areas will be considered.
- Minimum GPA of 3.5. Typically, an "A" standing (80%) or equivalent in previous graduate work.
- Minimum three years of full-time teaching experience; OR,
- Minimum five years of full-time work experience in a related curriculum or pedagogical role in a community setting.
- For applicants whose first language is not English, you must provide evidence of your proficiency in the use of the English language. For more information, go to the requirements and deadlines section of the apply page.
Tuition
Program information is subject to change. Full-time tuition amounts are set each year by Senate and then published on the Office of the Registrar's Fees Schedules web page. Full-time fees are paid per term (Fall, Winter, Summer) not by course.
For questions about fees, including how to pay fees and the methods of payment that are accepted, students should go to the Student Financial Services pages of the Office of the Registrar's web site or contact Student Financial Services (Office of the Registrar) at 519-661-2100.
Funding
The Faculty of Education recognizes the financial commitment required to pursue professional graduate studies.
Since the majority of our programs are fully online, we offer students flexible learning that allows them to fund their education by remaining in their current employment. Some employers offer subsidization or time release opportunities for the professional learning of their employees. As a result, internal funding is not available for these programs.
There are also many external funding opportunities for competitive candidates in our professional programs. Go to our current students fees and funding page for an additional list of over 30 external awards (see more information below). Also, visit online sites that contain numerous award opportunities.
Please note that students must apply for these awards individually. Read the qualifications carefully, and contact the award provider for more criteria and award information. Some application support is available from the Research Office for research-based awards only.
Many private financial institutions offer financing options (with particular rates and payment plans) to full-time students. Please contact a representative of your preferred financial institution for more information.
Provincial governments offer a variety of loan programs to help students finance their studies. Ontario residents may be eligible to apply for OSAP.
The Government of Canada's CanLearn website provides a listing of contact information for the offices of all government student financial assistance programs. Please visit CanLearn to find your province or territory listing. The Government of Canada implemented the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) to encourage higher education and training. The LLP allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 a year from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance training or education for you or your spouse or common-law partner. For further information on this plan, visit the government's lifelong learning plan website.
Technology
Fully online and hybrid professional programs provide students with synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities.
Online courses are available via the Brightspace OWL platform. Access to a course in Brightspace OWL is typically opened the first business day of each term. Please note that although your own access may be granted prior to the first business day, course content may not be posted until closer to the scheduled term start. Your Western University login and password is required to access the course (your Western email without the @uwo.ca and its accompanying password) are required to access to Brightspace OWL can be found here: Brightspace OWL.
For online courses, students are required to have access to the following:
- High speed Internet access
- Access to a computer that enables connection to outside websites (flexible firewall restrictions)
- Multimedia playback capabilities (video/audio)
- WebCam
- Computer capable of running a recent version of Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox; and/or Cisco MOVI client for PC or Mac
- Audio headset and microphone for computer
Program information
Description
The EdD in Curriculum and Pedagogy is designed to enhance both professional knowledge and expertise in curriculum and in teaching and learning. It builds on Western’s successful Masters in Professional Education (MPED) programs in Curriculum and Pedagogy, Mathematics Education, Literacy Education, and Early Childhood Education, as well as Western’s Masters in Arts (MA) program in Curriculum Studies.
This educational doctorate is designed for educators and leaders seeking to engage deeply with curriculum and pedagogy to make an impact in their professional fields.
The program provides a space to address current and near-future issues, challenges and opportunities, that are relevant to a wide range of professionals who are committed to lead educational innovation and reform; mobilize knowledge to influence policy and practice; advance equity, inclusion and decolonizing approaches in curriculum; and, conduct applied secondary research that contributes to the knowledge in the field.
Students are encouraged to reflect on their professional experience, and address problems of practice. The program culminates in completing a project designed to enhance professional learning and deepen understanding of curriculum and pedagogy.
Design
The EdD program is composed of 33 credits of sequential, fully online courses culminating in a final Dissertation in Practice (DiP) research project. Courses and program work run all year, typically allowing students to complete the program in three years.
This program values the rich knowledge and experience that students bring to this course-based program and actively seeks to apply what students learn in coursework to their professional practice. To promote effective adult and online learning, the EdD program prioritizes teamwork, collaboration, and networking within and beyond the program. Students in this program may expect regular group activities, peer-to-peer learning, and synchronous (live remote) and asynchronous instructional sessions.
This program of study is organized as a cohort model of approximately 20 students. This cohort structure provides ongoing support within the course work, enabling students to develop a professional community of practice and lifelong professional network. To ensure the integrity of the cohort model, continuous enrollment is required and will necessitate that students complete all the required courses within the timeframe stipulated.
Who
The EdD in Curriculum and Pedagogy is well-suited for a wide range of education professionals with concerns for what and how we teach, and how students learn.
Objectives
The primary objective of the EdD in Curriculum and Pedagogy is to prepare thoughtful, reflective, and capable professionals.
Students will engage with leading research and practitioners in the field, emphasizing the application of theory to practice. Students are encouraged to apply their research and theoretical knowledge in their professional roles.
Timing
The EdD is designated as a full-time program. Full-time status requires that students complete four half-courses in one year. Students complete the equivalent of 11 half courses during the three-year program. This is a full time, three-year program of study, which requires significant demands on students’ time. It is common for students to spend 15-20 hours or more every week on their EdD studies, throughout the year. Applicants must be prepared to meet these demands should they be accepted into the EdD Program. Continuous enrollment is a requirement until all program requirements are met. Full-time students have access to all student services. See SGPS (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) for details.
Delivery
Cohort Model
This program of study is unique due to its cohort model for course progression. Approximately 20 students are admitted to each cohort. This cohort structure provides ongoing support throughout course work, enabling students to develop a professional community of practice. To ensure the integrity of the cohort model, continuous enrollment is required, and will necessitate that students complete all the required courses within the timeframe stipulated.
Student Engagement
Students engage in learning together through regular synchronous learning sessions over platforms such as zoom, through peer discussions, presentations, and collaborative peer review opportunities. Asynchronous learning involves individual reflective practices, assignment completion, and scholarly reading and writing.
Course Progession
Year 1 - Students complete one half course (0.5) in Fall term (12 weeks in length), one half Course (0.5) in Winter term (12 weeks) and 2 half courses (0.5) in the Summer term (eight weeks each, sequentially).
Year 2 - Students complete one 0.5 course in Fall (12 weeks in length), one 0.5 course in Winter (12 weeks) and one full course (1.0) in the Summer term (16 weeks).
Year 3 - Students write their Dissertation in Practice, in the form of an Organizational Improvement Plan during the 1.0 Fall/Winter course (24 weeks). The Dissertation in Practice is submitted and evaluated in the final summer term course (0.25). Continuous enrollment is required during all terms until completion.
Courses
Dissertation in Practice
The Dissertation in Practice (DIP) is the final milestone in the EdD program. In the EdD Curriculum and Pedagogy, the DIP is designed to enhance professional learning and to deepen understanding of enacting the principles of curriculum and pedagogy, with regards to students’ own practice or understanding. EdD students engage in critically assessing the broad implications of understanding and applying educational knowledge to particular educational contexts, and they engage in and reflect on the production, legitimation, and mobilization of knowledge.
Students who complete this Dissertation in Practice will:
- Engage in significant learning, which goes beyond simply incorporating new information into previously existing schemata (e.g., challenges students’ beliefs and assumptions to such an extent that they commit to arguments not previously considered);
- Share in learning that can make a productive and positive impact on practice (i.e., driven by an authentic Problem of Practice and used by practicing professionals) through various forms of systematic review; and
- Manage a variety of forms of information and diverse venues of communication (e.g., publications and other forums for communication).
Program Distinctiveness
There are many reasons why Western Education’s Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Pedagogy is distinctive among doctoral programs in Canada. Here are our top reasons!
- Practice-focused for the good of society – At the highest level, our program focuses on areas of study that make positive change in education and society.
- Work improvement and career advancement– Graduates will be qualified for a variety of formal and informal professional roles in various public or private contexts.
- Best in value– Current fees make this program among the least expensive fully online EdD programs in Canada, especially among Tier I Canadian universities.
- Personalized learning opportunities – Enjoy highly-tailored learning, researching, and problematizing that focuses on identifying a curriculum and pedagogy concern affecting your professional practice.
- Fully online coursework, yet highly collaborative program– Our online delivery offers highly engaging distance learning opportunities, including regular synchronous meetings. Collaboration and networking are key to the success of students in our program, and our cohort model guarantees plenty of opportunities for interaction with peers. We use technology in thoughtful ways to improve student learning, while developing your technology skills as well!
- Engaged faculty– Learn from a diverse range of faculty members with considerable research and practice experience in curriculum and pedagogy.
- Comprehensive student support– Expert resources are available to support students with their academic writing and other learning needs, all at a distance.
- High levels of student retention– Since 2013, our EdD programs have 90% student retention rate.
- Opportunities through consortium membership with the Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate, a knowledge forum on the EdD designed to increase rigorous as well as program applicability for working professionals. We are one of two Canadian members of CPED and can guarantee a distinctive degree that is deeply influenced by evidence-based design principles.
