Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum & Teaching
The Department of Curriculum and Teaching, established in 1938, was the first department in the U.S. devoted to the scholarly study of problems of curriculum and teaching across all subjects and all levels of schooling, from early childhood through the education of teachers and supervisors. Broad questions about the nature, purpose, and design of curriculum and about the theory and practice of teaching remain at the core of our doctoral program.
The Department of Curriculum and Teaching offers a Doctor of Education (75-credit) degree.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 terms.
Doctor of Education
- Points/Credits: 75
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | December 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Three (3) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Academic Writing Sample | |
| At least two (2) letters of recommendation should be academic | |
| Evidence of at least three (3) years of teaching experience is expected |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact CTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Our program requires 75 points of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate, 30 points of which may be transferred from previous graduate work at other institutions, should they meet requirements of the Teachers College degree. Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Ed.D. degree required credit load for this program will change from 90 to 75 credits. Up to 30 credits from prior graduate studies may be transferred, subject to advisor approval. Prospective new students who apply for spring, summer or fall 2024 terms and are successfully admitted will follow the new reduced Ed.D. credit requirements.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2025-2026)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 terms.
The Department of Curriculum and Teaching offers a single Doctor of Education program. The program requires 75 points of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate, 30 points of which may be transferred from previous graduate work at other institutions, should they meet requirements of the Teachers College degree program.
Enrollment Requirements for First-Year Ed.D. Students
Every first-year Ed.D. student in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching is required to enroll in C&T 6100 and C&T 6101 in the Fall, and C&T 6102 in the Spring semesters of his or her first year. C&T 6100 and 6101 meet for a double class session once per week in the fall and 6102 meets for single class session once per week in the spring. A student may enroll for more than this minimum, but 6100, 6101, and 6102 must be part of their first-year course of study. These three courses are designed to make beginning doctoral students aware of important problems and issues in curriculum and teaching, to introduce students to methods of formulating questions and to modes of inquiry appropriate to doctoral-level research, and to build a cohesive student cohort.
These are rigorous courses, with respect to both the quantity and sophistication of the material for which students are held responsible. The courses require a commitment of time and effort commensurate with the norms of scholarship at the doctoral level.
It is our belief that the demands placed on the students by these courses will benefit students and that those who complete the courses and pass the Literature Inquiry Paper will be well prepared to continue their doctoral studies successfully through the dissertation phase. Students accepted into the Ed.D. program will receive a list of course texts with their acceptance letters so they can begin their reading early.