Mississippi State University Ed.D in Educational Policy and Organizational Design

[newdegree]

So I was looking into bridge programs for students who complete an Ed.S. and are looking to get an Ed.D., and stumbled upon the Ed.D. in Educational Policy & Organizational Design at Mississippi State University. The program allows students to transfer in an Ed.S.  (30 credits) and complete 31 credits. It has a capstone requirement and also requires a comprehensive exam, which you would take in your first term of the capstone, according to admissions. This could be a good opportunity for someone who already has an Ed. S. Tuition is $606 per credit hour, which is not bad but not the best, but considering that you only need to take 31 more credits, it comes out to $18,786, which is pretty cheap for those holding an Ed.S. Degree, as you save both time and money. 

https://www.online.msstate.edu/epod

Program Structure

Who should pursue this degree?

P-12 educators and other professional staff who wish to advance their career through the pursuit of a doctorate degree and have earned an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) or equivalent in P-12 or related fields. Students holding a master's degree may be admitted, but will be required to complete 30 credit hours of electives approved by their advisor.

This 61-hour program (31 hours beyond the Ed.S. degree or equivalent) builds on a specialist degree (or equivalent) and will require a capstone or applied research project as the culminating of the degree rather than a traditional dissertation.

Major Required Courses Shared hours from Ed.S. degree (Applicants should seek guidance from the EDED academic advisor regarding the selection of courses meeting this requirement) 30 credit hours


I may give this a run sometime later next year 2026. I plan to speed-run an Ed.S. at South College in one term and then apply for this program. The remaining 31 credits should take a year and a half, as you have to move through them with your cohort. 

Another option I was looking at for obtaining an Ed.S. degree was Fort Hays State University, but it would take at least a year to complete, and it's a public institution rather than a private for-profit.

[wow]

To get us back on track -- thanks, newdegree, for sharing this information. I'll be interested to hear back about both your EdS and EdD experiences if you decide to go this route.

[Jonathan Whatley]

I’ve split Docu’s subthread into the new thread Comparing Online Doctorates, Business-Related, Priorities Speed and Reputation.

[newdegree]

To get us back on track -- thanks, newdegree, for sharing this information. I'll be interested to hear back about both your EdS and EdD experiences if you decide to go this route.

I am going to go down this route and send my application to South College to get into the Education Specialist program. I am speed running a master's in human resource management at Capella University next month. So, once I finish that, I can start with the Ed.S program at South College on a 1 term speed run.

[wow]

Oh, interesting! I am looking to get another master's or two (after I complete my MBA) before I move on to an Ed.S. or doctorate, but am leaning toward Walden because they have a few more options (including early childhood with an education concentration). I was also under the impression from comments on this board that Capella throttles their CBE programs so that they cannot be completed within one term. But perhaps that's an incorrect assessment if you'll be finishing in one month.

Wait ... did *I* just get us off topic again?