Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction
Make Discoveries That Matter
For Students, Teachers, Schools, and Society
Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, this Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Instruction program focuses on research and reflective practice related to curriculum, teaching and learning, teacher education, and broader educational issues and policies.
Students become part of a vibrant professional community that actively links scholars with practicing professionals and educational organizations, creating a powerful network for innovation and leadership. Throughout the program, students explore pressing education issues relevant to their professional work and career goals.
Specialized Research Focus
Collaborate on a Research Practice Team and address pressing educational issues through hands-on research opportunities from the onset of the program.
Partnership Opportunities
Students become part of a community that links scholars with practicing professionals, policymakers, and educational organizations.
Share Your Voice
The research-active program offers publication and professional conference opportunities.
Degree:
Doctor of Education (EdD) in the Field of Curriculum and Instruction
Department:
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Course Delivery:
-Foggy Bottom Campus
-Virginia Academic Centers
-Hybrid (select research teams)
Program Entry:
Fall
- Our Mission
The mission of our program is to:
- Cultivate a vibrant and diverse community of education scholars.
- Explore research and practice related to pressing issues in education.
- Develop, study and share exciting innovations in curriculum, teaching, and learning.
- Curriculum Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled: A minimum of 48 credits, successful completion of a comprehensive examination, and a doctoral dissertation. This includes the successful completion of an oral defense of the proposal and the completed dissertation.
View full requirements for the Doctor of Education programs >
Required CPED 8325 Curriculum Theory CPED 8330 Foundations of Education Research in Curriculum and Instruction CPED 8331 Seminar in Teaching CPED 8334 Seminar in Learning Doctoral Internship CPED 8354 Doctoral Internship (taken for 6 to 9 credits) Research Methods In consultation with advisor, 9 credit hours of research methods coursework:EDUC 8120 Group Comparison Designs and Analyses * EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods Electives 3 to 6 credits in elective courses selected in consultation with advisor. Comprehensive Examination Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required. Dissertation CPED 8998 Doctoral Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction (taken for 3 credits) CPED 8999 Dissertation Research (taken for a minimum of 12 credits to meet program requirements) An approved dissertation proposal is required. *Prerequisite statistics courses must be taken during the master's degree program or must be completed prior to taking required advanced courses. For students who have not had an introductory statistics course or do not feel confident in their understanding and application of basic statistical techniques (i.e., through one way analysis of variance), EDUC 6116 should be completed prior to enrolling in EDUC 8120.
- Program Outcomes
This program prepares education leaders to apply knowledge of curriculum, teaching, learning, and research to transform practice.
Graduates will:- Be skilled in collaborating with schools, districts, and institutional partners to create innovative education activities;
- Know how to design and conduct research to transform practice;
- Demonstrate and facilitate professional learning in diverse settings.
Only at GW
Education is the foundation for societal transformation. Where better to study and prepare to influence this transformation than in the heart of the nation’s capital at the George Washington University, alongside leading international education institutions and diverse school systems?
Research Practice Teams
Applicants often worry about being “lost at sea” when choosing a dissertation topic or finding the right advisor. Our Research Practice Teams (RPTs) are designed to eliminate that uncertainty. This innovative model aligns faculty expertise with student interests, creating a structured, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous doctoral experience from day one.
- Dissertation Advising, Built In: From the start of the program, you are matched with a faculty-led team that provides consistent guidance, mentorship, and support throughout your doctoral journey.
- Focused, Relevant Research: Our Ed.D. is designed to help you tackle real, local challenges in your own work or an area that you're passionate about. You’ll choose a dissertation topic that connects your interests with with your team’s focus, giving you the freedom to personalize your research while benefiting from built-in support and a clear sense of direction.
- Collaboration and Mentorship: You don’t have to go through the whole dissertation process alone. Teams brainstorm dissertation ideas, review the literature and provide feedback on data collection and analysis.
- Stronger Outcomes, Greater Impact: This team-based approach accelerates progress, strengthens research quality, and fosters a sense of community. Our program emphasizes meaningful learning for students and educators, advancing equity and linking research with practice, ensuring you produce work that is both academically rigorous and immediately applicable in your professional context.
- Team Highlight: Using Data to Support Innovation
Teaching, learning, and assessment today are increasingly shaped by how individual student level data, state level data, and international data are interpreted and used. However, teachers and professionals in education who serve students and communities are often one step removed from first-hand inquiry with data. This team is working to place experienced educators at the center of data analysis and interpretation to develop innovative solutions to problems of fairness and access in curriculum offerings for college and career success.
- Team Highlight: Student Perspectives
Curriculum materials are in the spotlight again as the nation looks toward ways to improve student performance in science. Yet, every educator knows that even the most perfectly crafted lesson can fall flat with students. To improve student learning, we need to go beyond the script and understand how curriculum is perceived by students. This team is working to create new ways to incorporate student perspectives in curriculum design and implementation.
- Applying to a Team
Your statement of purpose included in your admissions application is used to match you to a team. Be sure to tell us what education topics you are most passionate about, and what unique skills and experiences you would bring to a team in your statement.
As an educator with extensive experience in schools, museums, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, pursuing my Doctor of Education at GW is an exciting opportunity for me to further advance my pedagogical expertise and prepare myself for addressing the current educational challenges of our era. As a member of the Informal Learning in the Arts Research Practice Team, I've had the opportunity to conduct research that was presented at top education conferences, including the 2023 American Educational Research Association annual meeting.
WILLIAM ZHOU (Current Student)
Apply Now
GSEHD’s Office of Admissions invites you to apply for a spot in our program. Please review the following admission and financial information.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >
To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfo
gwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.
| Apply Now | Meet with Admissions Coach |
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.
- Prerequisite: Master's Degree
- Resume
- Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Statement of Purpose addressed to a specific Research Practice Team
- 2 Letters of Recommendation, preferably one from a faculty member and the other from a professional supervisor
- Interview with Faculty
*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.
Applications are now being accepted for Fall 2026. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Application Timeline Fall Priority Deadline Nov 1 Round 1 Deadline Dec 1 Round 2 Deadline Jan 15 Round 3 Deadline March 1 Round 4 Deadline May 1 Round 5 Deadline June 15 Round 6 Deadline Aug 1 For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfo
gwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.
Tuition & Financial Aid
We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.
Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.
- Students admitted Fall 2020 to present day: The tuition rate* for the Hybrid EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program is $1,265 per credit hour.
- This program requires a minimum of 48 credits.
- This program requires a minimum of 48 credits.
- Students admitted through Summer 2020: The tuition rate* for the On-Campus EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program is $1,960.
- This program requires a minimum of 66 credits.
- This program requires a minimum of 66 credits.
Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.
*Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >
From classroom experience to research that matters — see how one student is making the most of GW’s EdD in C&I program.
Career Outlook
An Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction opens a broad range of career pathways focused on improving teaching practices, learning experiences, and curriculum design. Experts in curriculum and instruction can be found working in K-12 schools and districts; in museums and informal learning settings; within two- and four-year colleges; and at corporate, non-profit, and consulting firms.
- Curriculum & Instruction Career Pathways
- Curriculum Specialist: Works directly with instructors to develop learning standards, evaluate new materials (textbooks, technology), and ensure instructional quality.
- Director of Curriculum Development: Oversees curriculum design, implementation, and assessment for an entire organization.
- Education Consultant: Works as an independent contractor or for a firm, advising school districts, companies, or universities on curriculum revision, program evaluation, or professional development.
- Clinical Faculty Member: Specialized instructor in higher education who utilizes their extensive real-world professional expertise to focus primarily on teaching, supervising, and mentoring students.
- Learning and Development Specialist: Designs, develops, and evaluates engaging training programs, modules, and courses for business or government organizations.
Associate Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy; Co-Director, GWTeach
Associate Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy