Alert: The Plaza Building will remain closed through Jan. 1, 2025.

Learn More

Doctor of Education in Leadership for Educational Equity, Justice, Equity, and Diverse Identities (JEDI)

School of Education & Human Development

Overview

Degree: EdD

Classroom Type: Fully Online

This EdD concentration focuses on education for justice, equity and diverse identities (e.g., Latine, Black, AANAPI, LGBTQIA+, and dis/ability) and allows students to pursue research of interest that is adjacent to or within one of the above areas. The concentration area is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and resources to see opportunities in the range of complex challenges facing the education system and ground their approach in transdisciplinary and critical frameworks to advocate for educational equity and transformative, liberatory education.

Application​ deadlines


December 16, 2024

Program Details

Interest Categories: Education & Counseling

Campus: CU Denver Online

The curriculum in CU Denver’s EdD concentration in Justice, Equity, and Diverse Identities centers on social justice and promotes ideas of educational equity, transformative education, and justice for marginalized learners, families, and communities. Students delve into the idea of educators as intellectual activists, facilitating liberation. The concentration area promotes an activist approach where students are equipped with a critical lens to rectify systemic issues. Graduates of this program serve as leaders across educational systems, P-20, government, community agencies, and other not-for-profit organizations.

Students of this EdD concentration will:

  • Study and apply critical race theory to current, historical, and sociopolitical realities of marginalized identities and communities while also exploring a variety of other critical theories that align or complement individual interests and potential research areas
  • Work closely with faculty members as they progress through coursework and consider research avenues which explore questions of equity, ethics, and social justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice.
  • Focus on leadership skills so you can construct and apply knowledge to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
  • Develop and demonstrate collaboration and communication skills to build a professional knowledge base that integrates both practical and research knowledge, linking theory with systemic and systematic inquiry work to center diverse communities and to build partnerships.
  • Apply a critical theoretical lens to the generation, transformation, and use of professional knowledge and practice, culminating the program with a Doctoral Research Project, a scholarly endeavor that impacts a complex problem of practice using decolonized methodologies to uncover experiences of students and families.

The program prepares educational leaders who:

  • value educational excellence and social justice,
  • seek to lead change against educational inequities in underserved schools and communities,
  • value complexities and unique opportunities of diverse communities.

Choose CU Denver's School of Education & Human Development

The program strives to provide an education that prepares students for excellence in their career as a leader. Graduates will be keenly aware of the value, complexities, and unique opportunities of urban and diverse communities. Our school is recognized for preparing leaders of distinction who value educational excellence and social justice. Additionally, SEHD is counted among U.S. News & World Report's “Best Graduate Schools,” making us one of the top education schools in the country.

Courses

The 54-credit program coursework is completed in approximately three years followed by the time required to complete the Doctoral Research Project.

Cohort-based program: A new cohort starts every summer.

Fully online courses and seminars each semester; mix of eight and 16-week courses.

The curriculum includes the following elements:

  • 12 hours in EdD core courses within equity, leadership and learning core areas (four 3-credit courses)
  • Nine hours in the research core (three 3-credit courses)
  • 12 hours in concentration area courses (four 3-credit courses)
  • Six hours of elective courses (two 3-credit courses)
  • 15 hours of seminars and the completion of a doctoral research project

The program strives to expose students to context-specific best practices, interdisciplinary connections, and applied research. This is all set within an environment that stresses the application of theory to practice. The EdD program has been designed to enable students to complete program requirements in three to four years.

Sample Courses

  • EDFN 7410 - Power and Privilege: The Social Construction of Difference 3 credits
  • CLDE 7310 - Critical Race Theory 3 credits
  • CLDE 7320 - (Re)Claiming Dominant Narratives: History, Education, and Activism 3 credits

Recommended Completion Time:3 or 5 years

Required Credits for Completion:54

Admission Requirements


Application Dates

Application Opens: July 1, 2024
Application Deadline: December 16, 2024

The EdD in Leadership for Educational Equity, Justice, Equity, and Diverse Identities concentration, is a four-year, fully online cohort program designed for working professional, and has the following application requirements:

  • Master’s degree from a regularly accredited institution.
  • Attend an information session during the fall semester(strongly recommended)
  • Written Statement of Purpose that includes the following information:
    • A brief summary of your educational and leadership experiences, including your values related to leadership and equity. Specifically, discuss your interest in and commitment to expanding your knowledge and expertise with critical frameworks to advocate for educational equity and transformative, liberatory education.
    • Share your purpose in pursuing the EdD and your intentions for applying the skills and knowledge gained from the EdD degree, and future career goals. Identify three areas of study that interest you at this point, such as but not limited to:
      • Dis/Ability Studies and Inclusive School Programming
      • LGBTQ Studies
      • Latine Learners, Organizations, and Communities
      • Undocumented, Immigrant, and/or Refugee Communities
      • Culturally and Racially Diverse Communities
      • Not-for-Profit Community Agencies
      • Urban, P-20 and Teacher Education
      • Bilingual/Dual Language Education Policy and Practices
      • Workforce Development in Education
      • Diversifying Teacher Workforce
      • Informal and Community-based Mentorships
    • If you have plans or ideas around your topic for research within the program, please describe them. Also share any CU Denver faculty that you have met with, read, or would ideally like to work with and why.
    • A brief summary of your current professional role and responsibilities and if/how you use research and data to inform planning and decision making
  • Resume/CV
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can best speak to your leadership, professional accomplishments, academic skills, and career goals.
  • Two Academic/Research-based Writing Samples Please include two samples of your academic and/or professional writing that showcases your ability to conduct research. If you do not currently have an academic writing sample, you may write a short research report (5 pages max.) on a topic of interest that you may want to pursue for your studies. Use APA7 formatting to cite your references and format your work. You may also choose to include editorials, policy reports, or briefs that you have created for your professional work as well.
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  • After the initial review of application materials, faculty will contact applicants to schedule individual interviews that will be conducted virtually.

CMS Login