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This handbook is intended for students admitted into the Ed.D. program 2024 onwards.
Webster University Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in
Transformative Learning in the Global Community
Handbook
*This version was last updated and published on August 5, 2026.
Table of Contents
Webster University is well known for its mission to ensure excellent academic experiences that transform students for global citizenship. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program provides unique opportunities for Webster University to be an innovative leader in the global educational arena.
The Doctor of Education is designed to be a 3-year program, with 40 credit hours (excluding pre and co-requisites) in total. The actual graduation timeline depends on the availability of the students and scheduling with Dissertation Chairs and Committee Members. Doctoral students will have content building during the first two years through 15 credits of coursework per year, then those who passed the comprehensive exam will take Dissertation hours during the third year. Students with an Ed.S. degree in hand will be waived 15 credits of first year coursework.
Degree Title: Ed.D. in Transformative Learning in the Global Community
This emphasis is intended for educators who want to further develop their knowledge base about transformative education. Doctoral students will engage in intellectual discourse with our faculty, educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and passionate individuals all over the world. Our School of Education hosts an academic convention in the Spring semester and the topics have been related to social justice and equity in the past. Doctoral students have been invited to present and participate at our conference. This has been an invaluable learning experience for professional networking and academic collaboration.
This program is designed to prepare a student to enter a teaching, leadership, or researcher role in the field of education. In order to meet the requirements of the program, a student must complete a total of 40 credit hours. Currently there is not a master's program in Transformative Learning in the Global Community at Webster University. Students may enter this emphasis with a closely related master's degree which is interdisciplinary per se or related to social justice and equity issues.
The Ed.D. student will:
Investigate and critically analyze the issues, theory, practice, and policies in education systems (global, community, organizational, individual) and global environments as related to ethics, policy, politics, and social justice.
Apply research to develop knowledge and capacity for studying and supporting transformative learning for individuals, organizations, and communities. This vigorous study should contribute new information to the knowledge base of others in the field.
Reflect on the roles educators take as leaders of change through collaboration with colleagues, students, and families.
Demonstrate the ability to facilitate and model collaborative inquiry and dialogue for constructivist and transformative learning.
Doctoral students are expected to maintain a minimum B letter grade average to remain in good academic standing. The doctoral student has a responsibility to demonstrate the ability to complete graduate-level coursework, including a demonstrated expertise to write clearly and succinctly. If the student receives letter grades of C, ZF, WF, or NC, then the conditions outlined in the university’s Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal Policy in the Graduate Catalog will prevail. Any required courses with a C- warrants a re-take.
Students who enter the program must complete all degree requirements within seven years after completion of their initial course. Students who apply but do not enroll within one year must submit a new application to both the university and the program.
Students are required to be continuously enrolled in the program. If a student does not register for any credit in a particular term or semester, they need an approval from the Ed.D. Director in writing. Only special circumstances with a strong rationale will be approved. Students who do not register for any credit in a term or semester will be prohibited from continuing in the program if an official approval form from the Ed.D. Director is not in place.
If the absence is approved, the five-year program limit will be suspended for that year and will resume at the end of the leave of absence, whether or not the student enrolls in courses. Extensions are based on academic considerations and are limited. The student may be required to repeat preliminary examinations or take additional course work, or both. In the event that the program is not admitting students in the year that the student intends to return, the student will need to wait for an additional year to resume their academic work in the program.
Once a student passes the final Dissertation Defense or completes the Doctoral Digital Portfolio, they will be formally recommended to receive their doctoral degree. The student must complete all degree requirements and submit a Petition to Graduate by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. See: Petition to Graduate. EdD students do not apply via the regular graduate student petition to graduate link. Please use our program-specific form.
The Ed.D. uses two grading scales:
Letter grades for the core courses (EDOC 7120, EDOC 7130, EDOC 7140, EDOC 7150, EDOC 7001, EDOC 7002, EDOC 7003, and EDOC 7004). Letter grades are based on the grading criteria in the Graduate Catalog.
Credit or no credit for EDOC 7901, 7902, and 7903.
The Dissertation Chair and Professors would use CR or NC (Credit or No Credit) in grading EDOC 8000/8003 and 8010 dissertation hours, starting from Fall 1, 2024, per Office of Academic Affairs' updated policy.
Doctoral students at Webster University will work through four distinct steps of doctoral study leading to degree conferral:
Prospective students must complete and submit the Application for Admission online through Graduate Admissions. The applicant is expected to have identified and have expert knowledge in their areas of interest. The admission packet will be reviewed, and if considered appropriate, a written interview will be requested by the Director of EdD. The interview responses are evaluated by the Doctoral Admissions Committee.
The student will complete the program’s required coursework, as listed in the program schedule. Coursework takes approximately two years to complete. For more information regarding the required coursework, see “Required Coursework and Program Schedule”.
The student will take a Written Comprehensive Examination. Upon successful completion of the examination, the student may continue to work on their prospectus or DDP proposal, but the Ed.D. student cannot engage in research until they have completed and obtained the approval of the IRB. For more information regarding the Comprehensive Exam, see the “Comprehensive Exam” section.
The student will write and defend a Dissertation based on their content expertise or complete the requirements of a Doctoral Digital Portfolio (DDP). The Dissertation or DDP will be a publishable manuscript that displays the student’s mastery of research in their subject area. The Dissertation Chair and DDP Professors will guide the student to produce a doctoral-level Dissertation or DDP. Please note that the BCBA-D dissertations must meet the BACB's stated dissertation requirements. BCBA-D students are mentored by certified BCBA supervisors.
The above four steps are described in detail in the following sections.
Prospective students must apply and meet the admission criteria in order to be considered for the program. Admission criteria for the program is listed in the Graduate Catalog. Prospective students must complete and submit the Application for Admission online through Graduate Admissions. The deadline to submit all admission materials is July 1st. After admission to the Ed.D. program, students will begin coursework in the Fall term. Inquiries may be addressed by email to Dr. Lee at yleejohnson31@webster.edu
After all materials have been submitted, the full admission packet will be reviewed. The applicant must be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of educational research methods and design. The Ed.D. Admissions Committee may require the applicant to provide other materials to speak to the applicant’s readiness to begin the Ed.D. program.
Required admission packet:
All undergraduate and graduate transcripts with evidence of a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate coursework
Current (within the last five years) General GRE test scores including Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing
Three (3) letters of recommendation
Application fee of $125 (waived for Alumni, current Webster University faculty, staff, and students)
A written interview may be requested
The admission packet will be reviewed, and if considered appropriate, a written interview will be requested by the Director of EdD. After admission to the Ed.D. program, students will begin coursework in the Fall term.
Requirements for students entering the program with a closely related master's degree:
Year 1
EDOC 7120 Global Histories and Politics in Education (3) Fall 1
EDOC 7130 Transformative Lens in Educational Technologies (3) Fall 2
EDOC 7140 Transformative Leadership in Education: Equity and Ethics (3) Spring 1
EDOC 7150 Social Justice and Transformative Learning in Global Education (3) Spring 2
EDOC 7901 Doctoral Apprenticeship (3) Summer
Year 2
EDOC 7001 Doctoral Writing Seminar (3) Fall 1
EDOC 7002 Quantitative Research Methods (3) Fall 2
EDOC 7003 Qualitative Research Methods (3) Spring 1
EDOC 7004 Prospectus and Dissertation Writing or EDOC 7005 Research Design for DDP (3) Spring 2
EDOC 7902 Comprehensive Exam and Project Proposal (3) Summer
The Comprehensive Exam is a written exam at the end of the second year. Once a student has successfully passed the exam, they will become a doctoral candidate and form a Dissertation Committee. Once the Dissertation Committee has been identified and approved by the Ed.D. Director, the student may prepare for the Prospectus Defense/DDP proposal in the same term. If the Dissertation Committee is available, the student may complete the Prospectus Defense. If not, the student will take part in the Prospectus Defense in the subsequent term. Students who passed the Prospectus Defense may begin taking Dissertation credits (EDOC 8000) in Year 3. Students in DDP route will take EDOC 7005 instead of 7004. They will take the comprehensive exam and submit a DDP proposal in summer.
Year 3 Dissertation Research Route (10 hours, maximum)
EDOC 8000 Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing/EDOC 8003 BCBA-D (5 credit hours) (Fall Semester)
EDOC 8000 Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing/EDOC 8003 BCBA-D (5 credit hours) (Spring Semester)
EDOC 8010 Project Completion - Students who do not complete Dissertation writing within 10 hours of EDOC 8000/8003 will take EDOC 8010 Doctoral Project Completion (1 credit hour) until completion. This course keeps students active in the university system and grants access to library resources.
EDOC 8020 ProQuest Publication of Dissertation (a 0-credit course taken after passing the oral defense to ensure students submit their Dissertation to ProQuest for publishing)
Year 3 Doctoral Digital Portfolio Route (10 hours)
EDOC 8001 Doctoral Digital Portfolio I (5) Fall Semester
This course is part of a two-course sequence, EDOC 8001 and 8002, which offers scholar-practitioners guidance for completing the Doctoral Digital Portfolio (DDP). DDP is a culmination of knowledge on educational theories, research, and applications in the field. The semester-long course offers lectures, seminar discussions, and learning exchange forums. During the semester-long course, doctoral candidates begin their research, data collection (if applicable), and analysis of their DDP projects. Doctoral candidates may choose to complete an individual DDP or group DDP. All DDP topics and methods need to be approved by the instructor. This course is a credit (CR) or no credit (NC) course. Students must have passed the comprehensive exam before taking this course. Pre-requisite: EDOC 7005.
EDOC 8002 Doctoral Digital Portfolio II (5) Spring Semester
This course is the sequel of EDOC 8001, which offers scholar-practitioners guidance for completing the Doctoral Digital Portfolio (DDP). DDP is a culmination of knowledge on educational theories, research, and applications in the field. The semester-long course offers lectures, seminar discussions, and learning exchange forums. During the semester-long course, doctoral candidates continue on their research, data collection (if applicable), analysis of their DDP projects, and completion of the DDPs. Doctoral candidates may choose to complete an individual DDP or group DDP. All changes in DDP topics and/or methods need to be approved by the instructor. This course is a credit (CR) or no credit (NC) course. Pre-requisite: EDOC 8001.
Students who cannot finish DDP will continue to take EDOC 8010 until completion.
Requirements for students entering the program with an Ed.S. degree:
Year 1
EDOC 7001 Doctoral Writing Seminar (Fall 1)
EDOC 7002 Quantitative Research Methods (Fall 2)
EDOC 7003 Qualitative Research Methods (Spring 1)
EDOC 7004 Prospectus and Dissertation Writing (Spring 2)
Comprehensive Examinations End of Second Year (Summer)
EDOC 7902 Comprehensive Exam and Prospectus Defense (Summer)
Year 2 Dissertation Research Route (10 hours, maximum)
EDOC 8000 Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing/EDOC 8003 BCBA-D (5 credit hours) (Fall 1 & 2)
EDOC 8000 Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing/EDOC 8003 BCBA-D (5 credit hours) (Spring 1 & 2)
EDOC 8010 Project Completion - Students who do not complete Dissertation writing within 10 hours of EDOC 8000 will take EDOC 8010 Doctoral Project Completion (1 credit hour) until completion. This course keeps students active in the university system and grants access to library resources.
EDOC 8020 ProQuest Publication of Dissertation (a 0-credit course taken after passing the oral defense to ensure students submit their Dissertation to ProQuest for publishing)
Year 2 Doctoral Digital Portfolio Route (10 hours)
EDOC 8001 Doctoral Digital Portfolio I (5) Fall Semester
This course is part of a two-course sequence, EDOC 8001 and 8002, which offers scholar-practitioners guidance for completing the Doctoral Digital Portfolio (DDP). DDP is a culmination of knowledge on educational theories, research, and applications in the field. The semester-long course offers lectures, seminar discussions, and learning exchange forums. During the semester-long course, doctoral candidates begin their research, data collection (if applicable), and analysis of their DDP projects. Doctoral candidates may choose to complete an individual DDP or group DDP. All DDP topics and methods need to be approved by the instructor. This course is a credit (CR) or no credit (NC) course. Students must have passed the comprehensive exam before taking this course. Pre-requisite: EDOC 7005.
EDOC 8002 Doctoral Digital Portfolio II (5) Spring Semester
This course is the sequel of EDOC 8001, which offers scholar-practitioners guidance for completing the Doctoral Digital Portfolio (DDP). DDP is a culmination of knowledge on educational theories, research, and applications in the field. The semester-long course offers lectures, seminar discussions, and learning exchange forums. During the semester-long course, doctoral candidates continue on their research, data collection (if applicable), analysis of their DDP projects, and completion of the DDPs. Doctoral candidates may choose to complete an individual DDP or group DDP. All changes in DDP topics and/or methods need to be approved by the instructor. This course is a credit (CR) or no credit (NC) course. Pre-requisite: EDOC 8001.
Students who cannot finish DDP will continue to take EDOC 8010 until completion.
Students must make satisfactory progress through their programs. Any breaks in enrollment should be addressed as described in the Continuous Enrollment policy.
All students must complete EDOC 7903 Residency (0 credit): Two virtual meetings in Year 1 and 2 respectively.
The Written Comprehensive Examination (conducted in EDOC 7902) will take place in the Summer term. The exam is a take-home exam. All students in the same cohort will complete the exam during the same period of time in Summer. Grading will be conducted by doctoral faculty. Students who fail the exam will be given a second chance. Students who fail the second time will be dismissed from the program. Further guidelines are included in the EDOC 7902 syllabus.
Dissertation
Please see this page regarding the Dissertation.
Doctoral Digital Portfolio
Please see this page regarding the DDP.
Several university faculty members sit on the university’s IRB. The Board reviews and approves all human subjects’ research conducted by Webster University faculty, staff, and students. The IRB process must be completed before any contact with human subjects. For more information about IRB process, go to https://www.webster.edu/academic-affairs/institutional-review-board.php.
As part of the final process of the defense, students must submit their Dissertation for publication on ProQuest. See the “ProQuest Instructions for Electronic Submission” section in the “Graduate Thesis & Dissertation General Guidelines” handbook. Students will be required to publish the DDP at a designated site.
For information on Dissertation publishing, please contact:
Heidi Vix
Acquisitions Library/Library Online Resources
Emerson Library
Webster Groves Main Campus (WEBG)
314-968-6951