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The Ed.D. program has been designed for candidates who have demonstrated the potential for doctoral study and leadership, as substantiated during the admission process, and obtained a master's degree in education or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Ed.D. Program Requirements

Please submit the following program admission documents to the Director of Graduate Admissions.

  1. A Graduate Application for Admission
  2. A $50 non-refundable application fee
  3. A Master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
    • Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale
    • Official transcripts (e-transcripts preferred) sent to [email protected] or Graduate Admissions Office
  4. Current resume or vita
  5. Two current letters of recommendation on Concordia University Irvine online forms - one completed by the applicant's supervisor and one from someone who can attest to your potential for doctoral study and leadership
  6. A Statement of Intent. This should be a double-spaced paper, three to five pages in length detailing the applicant's: a) educational goals b) short- and long-term professional goals c) professional activities d) research interests to be pursued in the program e) professional experience f) reasons for choosing the Concordia University Irvine doctoral program
  7. Interview with the program Director

All program admission documents must be submitted before an application file is considered complete.

Start Term Start Date Application Deadline
Summer 2026 May 11, 2026  May 4, 2026
Fall 2026 October 26, 2026 October 1, 2026
Spring 2027 March 8, 2027 February 22, 2027

After You Submit Your Application

  • Each Ed.D. application is reviewed holistically by a doctoral faculty committee. Selected candidates are invited to participate in an in person interview as part of the admissions process.
  • During the interview, candidates meet with the Senior Director of the Ed.D. program and, in some cases, additional program faculty. This conversation is designed to explore each candidate’s leadership journey and professional goals, their readiness for doctoral level study, and their comfort engaging in a learning community grounded in Christian values while welcoming diverse perspectives and experiences. Candidates are also invited to reflect on their strengths related to doctoral work, areas in which they seek growth or further learning, and their developing interests in research and scholarly inquiry.
  • Applicants are typically notified of their admission decision within one week of the interview.

Students with International Transcripts

ALL non-US equivalent transcripts must arrive with a certified English evaluation and translation, and evidence of degree posted. The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent to that according to the grading system used by the country that a student is applying from.

Please note that Concordia University Irvine does not have a translation or evaluation service, and students are responsible to get an official translation and evaluation done by a NACES-approved evaluation agency verifying the equivalent of a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor's degree or higher – Concordia University Irvine prefers international transcripts to be evaluated through IERF.

Please ask for a Detail Report (also known as a course-by-course report)
Mail it to:
Concordia University Irvine - Spectrum Campus
ATTN: Graduate Admissions/School of Education
16355 Laguna Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92618

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