Students are required to complete a dissertation proposal, conduct a study, and report findings as part of the Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction program of study. In this cohort model of the program, students will begin working on their dissertation in the early stages of the program of study. To promote dissertation progress, students will participate in seminars on scholarly writing and begin to develop their own dissertation proposal during the first year of the program. Throughout this process, students will work closely with faculty advisors, dissertation committee chairs, and dissertation committee members.

Dissertation topics and research designs vary widely depending on student interest and professional experience and background. Most dissertations are applied in nature – students explore a problem related to a real-world situation or context. Many students conduct their research in their professional setting – investigating issues found in their own organizations, using their experiences as a backdrop to their dissertation.