The EdD Program's admission cycle is now closed. Online applications for our Summer 2026 admission cycle open in April 2025.   

Admission Requirements

Master's Degree

Hold a master’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution.

G.P.A. Requirement

The prospective student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point-average on a 4 point scale (or equivalent measures of performance if a graduate of an institution with no grading system) OR at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) calculated from the total cumulative credits.  

Note: Students may have earned credits used towards a bachelor’s degree from multiple institutions. The 3.0 grade point average (GPA) requirement only requires that the cumulative GPA be reviewed from the degree granting institution. If a student’s cumulative GPA from the degree granting institution is lower than a 3.0 and the student has credits earned from multiple institutions, the student’s GPA may automatically be recalculated to include additional transcripts. If this recalculation results in a 3.0, the student has met the minimum GPA requirement. If this recalculation does not result in a 3.0, programs can petition the Graduate School for the student to be admitted using Alternate Standards.

Experience

Have significant professional experience in a relevant field.

Superintendent/Program Administrator Certification

For admission to the superintendent credential, candidates must possess either: (a) a principal credential, (b) a program administrator credential (for those interested in pursuing the Supt Cert), (c) ESA (Educational Staff Associate) or (d) teaching certificate.

P-12 candidates must be approved by employer for support of Community Grounded Praxis in year 2. For other candidates, potential Community Grounded Praxis setting(s) must be identified. You will be advised by faculty on site selection criteria prior to and after admission.

English Proficiency

English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Each prospective graduate student indicates on the graduate application whether or not the student is a native speaker of English. https://grad.uw.edu/policies/3-2-graduate-school-english-language-proficiency-requirements/. 

Program Prerequisites

Introduction to Graduate Research (*this is a per individual basis). Basic statistics and graduate research knowledge will be assumed by the program and faculty. 

Review the 'How to Apply' section to learn about specific admission steps and requirements.

Important Notes:

Transfer & Substitution Credits: 

  1. With the approval of the graduate program and the Graduate School, a Ph.D. or a master’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited institution may substitute for up to 30 of the required 90 credits.
  2. With the approval of the graduate program, any number of credits applied to a UW master’s degree in the same program may be counted towards doctoral degree requirements.
  3. A maximum of 10 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW practice doctorate degree requirements, when acceptable to the graduate program and the Graduate School.
  4. No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.
  5. No more than 30 credits derived from any combination of GNM, transfer, and substituted credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.
  6. No GNM, transfer, or substituted credits may be applied towards the capstone requirement.
  7. When a Ph.D. and practice doctorate are earned concurrently, departments may petition the Graduate School to count 30 specified credits toward the total minimum credit count of each degree, for a total minimum of 150 credits. Core credits for either degree, as (defined as part of the core curriculum by the graduate program) may not be included in these 30 credits applied to both degrees, and this option may not be used on top of previously waived credits for either degree. It is the responsibility of each unit to assure that the credits applied toward its degree are relevant to that degree. The student must meet Graduate School minimum requirements (18 credits 500 level and above, 18 numerically graded 400/500 level credits) for each degree.

More information may be found in Policy 1.1.5.1 on the UW Graduate School website. Contact Ashley Walker with questions, aew7@uw.edu.