As the education of students from increasingly diverse backgrounds expands within the United States, it is critical that we have leaders who are trained to work within these dynamic environments. Future leaders need to be equipped to work in unique and ever-changing instructional systems while working with students with unique learning needs. It is for this reason that the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Instructional Systems and Learning Sciences at AUM was established.

The Ed.D. program offers concentrations in Early Childhood or Instructional Technology and has a framework grounded in the learning sciences focused on the multiple aspects of learning in different environments including instructional design and technology; statistical design in educational research; cognitive aspects of the student; aspects of the content to be mastered; instructional environment and materials; instruction in social, organizational, and cultural dynamics of learning and cognition; the preparation and activities of the instructor, learning strategies, and educational psychology.

AUM’s Ed.D. program builds upon our current Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) programs. Graduates will possess the skills needed to transform early learning and digital learning environments through their understanding of the systems of learning, action research, and social and cultural dynamics in the learning environment.

The Ed.D. fully online program is composed of 61-hours. All students will complete 34 hours in a core of courses designed to ensure that all graduates meet established outcomes associated with the learning sciences components. The remaining 27 hours are completed within either the Early Childhood or Instructional Technology concentrations. The program should take 6-9 semesters depending on prior graduate coursework and/or degrees completed.