Ed.D. – Curriculum & Instruction
Make a Significant Difference
Are you a practitioner-based leader interested in improving current educational programs? Imagine using your influence to shape the future of education and investing in brighter possibilities for you too. Regent’s Doctor of Education – Curriculum & Instruction helps you deliver research-supported programs while teaching you how curriculum and instruction can be structured and applied to educational reform.
INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL
Capitalize on a higher salary with your doctoral degree.
IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE APPROACHES
Enhance student engagement by integrating technology into the curriculum.
EXPAND YOUR CAREER PATH
Take your career to the next level with influential leadership opportunities.
Presented from a Christian worldview, this in-demand degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.
To learn more about this program, please complete the Request Information form on this page.
On completing the Ed.D. – Curriculum & Instruction degree, you will be able to:
- Identify best practices through exploring the theories and research behind curriculum and instruction programs.
- Develop evaluation skills valuable in assessing curriculum design and instruction practices.
- Create original research and prepare for publication in refereed conferences, journals, and books.
Career Opportunities
- University Faculty
- Curriculum & Instruction Specialist
- School District Administrator
Investigates current best practices for merging an inclusionary classroom of students with disabilities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers, while also presenting strategies to better understand diversity and link the two to educational theory.
Examines strategic planning and the role of program evaluation in the planning/implementation/evaluation cycle to include the curriculum planning process. Topics include various theoretical and philosophical perspectives, alternative evaluation designs and related methodologies including collaborative action research and issues related to design, measurement and utilization. The goal is to help educators become active collaborators in the evaluation process and to give them the tools to judge the value of an evaluation. Whether the task is designing an internal evaluation of a local program, contracting for an external evaluation at the district level, or critically reviewing an evaluation report as a basis for making an administrative decision, this course offers important leadership preparation. Each student will prepare an evaluability assessment related to a self-selected educational program in his/her area of concentration. Prerequisite: a graduate level research course. Cross-listed with EDCO 501.
Provides some of the major conjecture and theories used to meet the learning and development needs of adults, and an overview of learning theories, their design and applications for the adult learner in various settings. Investigates topics to include self-directed learning, constructivism, autonomous learning, creative environments conductive to adult learning, designing and implementing training programs, and instructional design techniques.
Centers on effective strategies for planning curricula and assessment procedures to a diverse group of learners – from 18 to adult age categories. Particular emphasis will be placed on: building an effective bibliography and syllabus; finding additional resources outside traditional boundaries of education (i.e., advanced technology application); examining a variety of assessment procedures that would be effective with diverse learners; choosing texts and materials, grading procedures and policies, etc. This course is open to all university doctoral students who are seeking a career in college or university teaching.
- Adult Education
- Advanced Educational Leadership
- Christian Education Leadership
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Technology & Online Learning
- Exceptional Education Executive Leadership
- Higher Education
- Higher Education Leadership & Management
- K-12 School Leadership
- Special Education
2020-21 Semester Check-In Deadlines:
All new students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session A | Friday, August 14 | Monday, August 24 |
| Session M | Friday, September 11 | Monday, September 21 |
| Session B | Friday, October 16 | Monday, October 26 |
| Session C | Tuesday, January 5 | Monday, January 11 |
| Session T | Friday, January 29 | Monday, February 8 |
| Session D | Friday, March 5 | Monday, March 15 |
| Session E | Friday, April 30 | Monday, May 10 |
| Session F | Friday, June 11 | Monday, June 21 |
Application Process – Doctoral Programs (Ed.D.)
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
Step 1: Application & Application Fee
Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.
Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.
Fee Waiver: Attend a graduate School of Education on-campus or online information session to learn how to streamline your application process, discover financial aid resources and waive your $50 application fee.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts
We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcripts from U.S.-based schools, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, in order to review your application for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to our Admissions Office by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SOE Doctoral Application Pieces.
Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.
International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.
*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institutions, which indicate successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. We will notify you if your previous institutions will not release transcripts directly to us.
Step 3: Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire
Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete, but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. The admissions questionnaire can be found here. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.
Step 4: Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.
Step 5: Admissions Interview
If an interview is necessary, the admissions office will contact you to schedule an appointment. The interview can be conducted on campus or over the phone and typically takes about an hour.
Important Information
Background Check: Students in endorsement programs are required to complete a background check because the program includes direct contact with students in field experiences. Regent University School of Education has entered into an agreement with Certified Background/Castle Branch (CB), a private vendor that conducts background checks for many universities and educational institutions. After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided instructions to set up an online profile with Certified Background and request your background check. Learn more.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree/Program | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Switcher | $250 | 6 | $1,500 |
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $550 | 6 | $3,300 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $775 | 3 | $2,325 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $775 | 3 | $2,325 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree/Program | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Switcher | $250 | 9 | $2,250 |
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $550 | 9 | $4,950 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $775 | 9 | $6,975 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $800 |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $650 |
Part-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Switcher | $250 | 6 | $1,500 |
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $550 | 6 | $3,300 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $775 | 3 | $2,325 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $775 | 3 | $2,325 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Switcher | $250 | 9 | $2,250 |
| Master of Education (M.Ed.) | $550 | 9 | $4,950 |
| Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) | $775 | 9 | $6,975 |
| Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $775 | 6 | $4,650 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $750 |
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $600 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.
Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.
Advanced Standing
Students possessing an Ed.S. or equivalent may be admitted to the Ed.D. program with advanced standing after a review of their post-master’s transcript(s). Offered in a cohort model. Students may begin the program in the spring, summer or fall semesters. Courses are delivered online with some required face-to-face components. School division cohorts are also offered in varying formats.
Faculty
Dr. Finn is the concentration chair for Curriculum & Instruction and is committed to your success.
Dr. Don Finn has been a faculty member since 2006 and served as the School of Education Dean from July 2015-2018. Specializing in Adult Education, he has been an educator for over 25 years and possesses a current Virginia Postgraduate Professional teaching license in secondary education.
Dr. Finn earned his B.S. in Secondary Education, Social Sciences concentration and his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Adult Education concentration from Radford University. He taught 7th through 12th grade social studies and in the adult night high school program in Montgomery County, Virginia. In 1999, he accepted a position to provide statewide leadership through the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While at the VCU School of Education, he served as a collateral faculty member, a grant and project coordinator and instructor. He earned his Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Learning from VCU in 2005.
His service has included leadership at the state and national levels as president of the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE) and various appointed roles, and as an elected executive board member for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). His COABE service includes: Secretary, Region 2 representative (2013-2015), national conference chairman (2012, 2015, 2018), conference program chairman (2016 & 2017), and President-Elect (2017-2019). He has been a textbook consultant, an article reviewer for select journals, and a consultant to adult education programs in Virginia and other states.
Finn has served on various Regent University committees including chairing the university Curriculum and Instruction Review Committee (CIRC), faculty senator, chairman of the School of Education Doctoral program and the Masters of Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) program. He was named the School of Education Outstanding Faculty Member in 2010, VAACE Outstanding Adult Education Leader in 2013 and received the 2014 VAACE President’s Award for outstanding service.
Finn has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters about effective instructional practices for adult learners, university professors and other diverse learners.