The annual deadline for applications for the education doctoral program is Feb. 28. New doctoral students begin courses in the summer semester (July). Only completed applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed and considered during the admission period. Prospective students who submit incomplete applications will be contacted by the Graduate School. Completed applications submitted after the deadline may be deferred and reviewed for conditional admissions.

Learn more about How to Apply.

All prospective students are to contact the Graduate School and complete an online application for admission to graduate studies.

online and obtain the Graduate School website information. For a checklist of application materials please refer to Doctor of Education Admissions Checklist (PDF).

Students may seek Graduate Special Students (Non-Degree Seeking) status:

• A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university and who wishes to enroll in graduate courses but does not intend to pursue a graduate degree at Winona State, may register as a graduate special student. Prospective graduate special students must complete a Graduate Special application form to be admitted to the university. Admission as a graduate special student does not constitute admission to a graduate degree program.
• A graduate special student who later wishes to enter a graduate degree program at Winona State must meet all requirements for admission to graduate study and complete an Application for Admission to Graduate Study and an application for the particular program in which they wish to major. A maximum of 12 semester graduate credits earned as a graduate special student may be accepted into a degree program upon recommendation of the major department.

Yes, however, education leveling courses may be necessary for remediation. Consultation with the doctoral faculty for enrollment into education leveling courses is encouraged prior to applying for admission. Leveling courses may be completed as a master's or Graduate Special student prior to being admitted into the doctoral program. 

Education Leveling courses are courses that applicants without the appropriate background or with insufficient background in the education discipline are asked to take. The courses help prospective students acquire the necessary background knowledge to succeed in the doctoral program. 

Yes, transfer students are welcome to apply to the doctoral program. Each application will be evaluated on an individual basis for coursework equivalents that may be applied to the education doctorate. However, coursework more than seven years old is generally considered expired. A customized plan of study will be developed for each transfer student. 

The GRE is not required for this program. 

The Applicant’s Professional Statement (Writing Sample): Applicants are required to submit a professional statement which addresses the components listed below. Each applicant statement is limited to three (3) double-spaced pages using 12 pt. font.

1. Description of how attaining the education doctorate assists the applicant in achieving professional goals and career aspirations.
2. Identification of a current problem of practice in education that the applicant is interested in exploring.
3. Summary of the importance of this problem within the context of your professional practice and in the research literature.
4. Description of how the problem of practice aligns with your chosen area of specialization.
5. Summary of your research experience, professional presentations and publications.

It is best to get recommendations from academic professionals who are familiar with you as an education practitioner or as a graduate student. Recommenders should be able to comment on your academic preparation and the dispositions needed to successfully complete a doctoral degree in Education. Professionals with an advanced degree and affiliated with higher education or academia (such as a university, community college, school or a research laboratory) are typically the best sources for these scholarly recommendations. Letters from supervisors are also encouraged that speak to your professional contributions in the education community. 

Yes. Letters of recommendation should be typed, on institutional letterhead and signed. The name of the person being recommended, and the recommender should be clearly identifiable in the letter. Contact information for the recommender should be included in the letter or on the letterhead. 

The EdD is designed as an applied, accelerated program. Time to degree is approximately two years. Time to degree completion may vary among doctoral students primarily due to individual situations and academic persistence. However, all students are expected to advance through the program in a timely fashion.

Time Limitation (Graduate School)

All degree requirements including credits to be earned, transfer credits, final examinations, thesis, required research papers, and all other program requirements must be completed within the seven (7) years prior to the awarding of the degree, except for the Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, wherein the limitation is eight (8) years and the Doctor of Education is seven (7) years.