When you applied, you may have submitted copies of your transcripts. If so, the Office of Admission requires you to submit final, official transcripts directly to the Teachers College Office of Admission by the Registrar at the issuing institution.
Orientation
Orientation typically occurs in May and gives students the opportunity to connect with their cohort and professors.
Submit Transfer Credits
You may begin by completing the Transfer Credit Application found on the Office of the Registrar website. From there, UELP and the Transfer Credit Coordinator will review and approve transfer credits.
Begin Phase I
Start Year I
Summer I Courses
ORLA 5010: Leadership in Schools & Communities (3 credits)
ORLA 6552: Research, Theory, & Practice in Education Leadership (3 credits)
**Please note that courses are subject to change.
Check Transfer Credits
You will be able to view the approved transfer credits on your Degree Audit. The Degree Audit can be found on your MyTC Portal > Student Resources tab > Degree Audit section > click Degree Audit.
Fall I Courses
ORLA 6515: School District Organization and Governance (3 credits)
ORLA 6523: Education Policy, Politics, and Leadership in Urban School Systems (3 credits)
Spring I Courses
ORLA 6519: School District Finance & Leadership (3 credits)
ORLA 6525: Using Evidence, Data, & Research Methods in Education Leadership (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit)
Start Year II
Summer II Courses
EDPA 5016: Education & The Law: Equity Issues (3 credits)
ORLA 6527: School District Leadership: Personnel, Conflict, & Labor Relations (3 credits)
ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
Fall II Courses
ORLA 6513: Improving Teaching & Learning in Urban School Districts (3 credits)
ORLD 5070: Adult Learning & Education: Theory & Practice (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit)
ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
Spring II Courses
ORLA 6511: Leadership for Social Justice (3 credits)
ORL 6500: Qualitative Research: Design and Data Collection (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit)
ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
Start Year III
Summer III Courses
ORLA 6024: Proseminar in Public School District Leadership (3 credits)
ORLA 7500: Dissertation Seminar in Education Leadership (3 credits)
Check Program Plan
Confirm Credit Completion
Check to ensure you have completed 90 credits, including transfer credits. If not, talk to your advisor. 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.
Continue to Phase II
Begin Phase II
Register for IND 6000
The College requires continuous enrollment for the Fall and Spring semesters. To maintain continuous enrollment, you may enroll in IND 6000 which is 0 credits.
Enrollment is not required in the Summer semesters and can be taken a maximum of six times.
Finish Portfolio
Plan Cert Exam
Plan a date for your certification exam with your advisor and second reader (if second reader is applicable).
Submit Cert Exam Application
The cert exam application can be found in the Forms section of the ODS website.
Certification Exam
The certification exam is a presentation of your portfolio to your advisor (and sometimes a second reader).
Certification Exam Results
Your advisor will submit the certification exam results form to ODS.
Complete Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is the first three chapters of your dissertation.
Schedule Dissertation Proposal Hearing
Once your first three chapters are complete, schedule your dissertation proposal with your advisor and second reader (and third reader, if applicable).
Dissertation Proposal Hearing
After passing your dissertation proposal hearing, the Dissertation Proposal Hearing Report, manuscript, and IRB approval should be submitted to ODS ods@tc.columbia.edu.
You Are Now Obligated
Once you’ve passed your dissertation proposal, you are now obligated.
Obligation means the student is required to be registered for at least 3 credits or for a dissertation advisement course, such as ORLA 8900, every Fall and Spring semester until they complete graduation requirements. Registration is not required during the Summer semesters.
Obligation begins the semester after students hold their proposal hearing.
Department Recommends Certification
After passing your dissertation proposal hearing, your advisor will request the Department Recommendation for Ed.D. Certification form be submitted to ODS.
Submit Program Plan
The program plan is submitted through the Degree Audit which can be found on the MyTC Portal under the Student Resources section.
Once submitted, notify your advisor to approve. The advisor approves by hovering over the flag icon and clicking “Official.”
You Are Now Certified
In order to be Certified, doctoral students must pass the certification exam, have been recommended for Certification by the program, and have an approved program plan on file with ODS. UELP students also need to have held their dissertation proposal hearing.
Register for Next Semester
Continue registering for at least 3 credits or for a dissertation advisement course, such as ORLA 8900, every Fall and Spring semester until completing graduation requirements.
Check Degree Audit
Check your Degree Audit to make sure everything looks correct.
Intention to Defend
The Intention to Defend form may be submitted to ODS.
Request Defense Date
ODS sends this form once the fourth reader has been assigned.
Oral Defense Guide
Read over the Oral Defense Guide found on the ODS website.
Oral Defense Report Form
The Oral Defense Report Form is sent by the Committee Chairperson (usually the third reader).
Manuscript Approval
Read over the Teachers College Doctoral Manual of Style.
Deposit Dissertation
Upload the dissertation to the ProQuest Portal and email ODS the signed Manuscript Approval Form and the Survey of Earned Doctorates.
Ed.D. Degree Application
Submit the application to the Ed.D. degree to ODS.