Doctor of Education Program Union Institute & University

A Low-Residency Ed.D. Program for Working Adults with an Emphasis on Social Justice

The Ed.D. program at Union Institute & University (UI&U) is a full-time, hybrid program designed for working professionals who wish to pursue leadership roles in education. The three-year program is delivered in a format that combines distance learning with in-depth interaction with faculty and peers and on-site professional development sessions. The program embeds the National Board's nine new Advanced Leadership Propositions and its Core Propositions.

The program provides a wide range of learning experiences, from face-to-face seminars and panel discussions to research projects and internships. Students enrolled in the Ed.D. program may choose to specialize in educational leadership-Pre-K -12 or higher education. The Ed.D. program at Union Institute & University can be completed in three years.

Union Institute &University is a private, not-for-profit university with six locations throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1964, UI&U places a special emphasis on social justice and ethics.

The Ed.D. Specialization in Educational Leadership - Pre-K-12

The Educational Leadership - Pre-K-12 specialization is aimed at education professionals who plan to pursue leadership or administrative roles. This specialization provides training and practical experience that prepares students to be effective leaders.

Students specializing in educational leadership complete core Ed.D. coursework, including an introduction to social justice and seminars on ethical leadership and research methods. In addition to these core courses, students in this specialization participate in a variety of seminars, on-site practicums, and internships. Additionally, all students in the program will complete original, thoroughly researched dissertations.

The Ed.D. Specialization in Higher Education

The higher education specialization is designed for professionals working in post-secondary institutions, as well as those currently working in training or professional development roles in the corporate world.

This specialization prepares students to be effective leaders and to play important roles in creating and implementing education programs. The specialization places an emphasis on the variety of social and cultural issues that shape higher education.

Students in this specialization participate in a variety of learning activities, including professional development sessions, research projects, seminars, internships, and dissertations.

Residency Requirements

Students may begin the Ed.D. program in either July or January. If beginning in July, you will participate in an eight-day face-to-face residency in Cincinnati, Ohio. If beginning in January, you will participate in a three-day weekend face-to-face residency where you will meet in Cincinnati, Ohio, followed by two weekends where you meet virtually. All students will then be required to attend an annual eight-day face-to-face residency in Cincinnati, Ohio in July and a two weekend virtual residency each January throughout their program. In addition, all students will attend six virtual professional development practica, one per semester for your first three years in the program.

Residency Attendance Policy

Students are required to be in attendance throughout the duration of the academic residencies and professional development practica whether they are face-to-face or virtual.

Challenging Internship Opportunities

During the second year of the Ed.D. program, students are required to complete a 300-hour internship in an educational setting of their choice. The internship requirement is designed to present challenging new experiences to students already working in educational settings.

During the internship, students keep detailed logs of their internship hours; students are also required to maintain reflective journals that examine their internship experiences in academic contexts.

Distinguished, Socially-Conscious Faculty

The Ed.D. faculty includes, as one member among many, Dr. Constance Beutel, who has over three decades of experience in developing and implementing education programs for corporations and educational institutions. Dr. Beutel spent five years on active duty and three years on reserve duty in the US Air Force; she holds a Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal. Dr. Beutel is also passionate about environmental causes and is currently the chair of the Community Sustainability Commission in Benicia, California.

Dr. Michael Raffanti holds a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, a master's degree in education from the Evergreen State College, and an Ed.D. from Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Raffanti helped develop a law academy at an urban high school in San Francisco; he also worked in the education department of an AIDS service organization where he directed HIV prevention programs for teens and communities of color.

Admissions Requirements

Students applying to the Ed.D. program at Union Institute & University must hold master's degrees from a regionally accredited institution. While it is expected that most applicants will have master's degrees in education, individuals with master's degrees in related fields, such as business, science, mathematics, psychology, leadership and sociology, will also be considered. To ensure that applicants' prior graduate-learning appropriately prepares them to embark on this doctoral program, they will be expected to have earned a master's degree and to have had professional experience in the field of education. Standardized tests are not required.

Each application to the program will include the following:

* Completed application form, signed and dated by the applicant

* Application fee ($50.00, non-refundable)

* Official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary educational institutions

* An application portfolio to include:

1. Cover letter requesting consideration for admission

2. Current resume

3. An intellectual essay sharing an account of your thinking over the last 10 years regarding issues in education, especially those issues that touch one's career and also ways that point to the need for social justice in education from Pre-K through post-secondary levels. The essay should be five pages, and should include at least three key readings (books and journal articles) that helped develop your thinking. Applicants must use the APA Style Manual (6th edition) for formatting citations and references. We would consider this essay to be an example of your best academic writing and thinking. We are looking for the following attributes in your reflective essay:

a. A proficient introduction that states the education issues you will be discussing

b. A well-researched essay with at least three readings from professional and scholarly sources

c. Consistent connections between evidence, subtopics, thesis/topic, and counterarguments

d. Good analysis

e. Solid transition between paragraphs

f. Substantial development of subtopics

g. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation

h. Proper APA format

4. Three letters of reference, written by individuals able to attest to your knowledge and experience in the field of education.

5. The application portfolio is expected to provide baseline data for assessment following matriculation.

Financial Aid

Students may apply for a variety of federal, state, and local financial aid programs. Students in good academic standing may be eligible for scholarships. UI&U participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Yellow Ribbon Program.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Higher Education Doctor of Education (Ed D)
• Educational Leadership Doctor of Education (Ed D)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 36
• Doctoral Degrees 6
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? Yes
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Required for some, Required for some and electronic portfolio
• Doctoral Degrees Required, Required and electronic portfolio
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• AppliedNot Reported
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• Enrolled21
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Not Reported
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesEarned bachelor's from regionally accredited institution, letters of recommendation, application essay
• Doctoral's DegreesEarned master's from regionally accredited institution, letters of recommendation, application essay
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesNot Reported

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitNot Reported
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableFederal Work-Study, Scholarship and/or loans

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students87
• Female Percentage74%
• Male Percentage26%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students87
• Part-time Percentage39%
• Full-time Percentage61%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino2%
• Black / African American48%
• White / Caucasian26%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native2%
• Asian0%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races2%
• Unknown20%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty23
• Full-time Percentage35%
• Part-time Percentage65%
• Female Percentage57%
• Male Percentage43%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchAdult education, higher education, social responsibility in education, educational technology
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported