EdD in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy

Yes. All applicants must have a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. We do not require that applicants have a master's degree in a specific field; we take a holistic approach to application review.

We ask that candidates have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from both their master's and baccalaureate programs; however, we review all applications holistically for individuals who show potential for success in our program. If you are concerned about your GPA, you are welcome to include a brief "GPA Statement of Explanation" with your application.

Please refer to our Application Deadlines webpage.

Please see our Application Deadline webpage for current information.

This program has a Fall start with a required workshop/orientation in August. each year.

We begin reviewing applications at the start of each calendar year. Once an application is complete, it typically takes four to five weeks to receive an admissions decision. If an application is received after the deadline, it will be reviewed on a space-available basis. If the program is full, the applicant will be considered for the following year.

Yes. Qualified applicants who have completed applications will be invited to participate in a phone interview with one of our faculty members.

The first two years of the program are dedicated to completing coursework. Following coursework, all students are required to complete their dissertation in order to graduate. On average, students complete the program in 3 to 4 years, but students have up to 8 years to complete their entire program.

Please visit our Financial Aid page for current information on program costs, financial aid, scholarships, and grants. Our financial aid award packages can consist of Colleagues grants, federal direct loans, and departmental scholarship.

To be eligible for the most amount of aid, we encourage all applicants to submit their FAFSA applications.

Students are required to participate in 2 trips, one domestic and one global. 

Please contact our Recruitment and Admissions Team at gsep-recruitment@pepperdine.edu for the most up-to-date information.

This is a 60/40 blended program: 60% of your coursework will be face-to-face and 40% will be online through synchronous and asynchronous interactions. Students meet face-to-face in four-day intense sessions five times over the academic year. Online sessions meet in between the face-to-face sessions.

The PhD is research focused oriented and the EdD is oriented toward educational practice and the application of theory and research.

Graduates of this program are prepared to become leaders in the field of education. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, positions at school sites, district offices, county offices, higher education, and educational businesses in the public and private sectors.

You are welcome to attend one of our formal in-person or online information sessions. To see the upcoming schedule and to RSVP, please visit our information meetings page.

If you are unable to attend an information session, you are welcome to contact the Admissions and Recruitment Team at gsep-recruitment@pepperdine.edu to schedule a personal consultation.

Applicants who attended schools outside the United States are required to submit certified transcripts in English. Submitted transcripts must include a cumulative grade point average (GPA on a 4.0 scale, A = 4.0) that has been evaluated by a NACES member credential service (www.naces.org) such as the World Education Services, Inc. (www.wes.org) or the International Education Research Foundation (www.ierf.org)

If you have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, submit a current transcript. Upon degree completion, you are required to provide official transcripts in a sealed envelope prior to enrollment.

Mailing Address:
Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology Admissions
6100 Center Drive 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a minimum passing score of 550 on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). The computer-based TOEFL test requires a minimum passing score of 80. Information concerning the availability of this test in foreign countries can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA or online at www.toefl.org. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam. You can find out more at www.ielts.org