Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology

Kennesaw State University offers a 100% online, cohort-based Ed.D. in Instructional Technology designed to develop strategic leaders and culminate in dissertation research. As the only institution in Georgia recognized as an ISTE Certification Provider, this program provides two specialized tracks to prepare you for the dual instructional and technical demands of modern leadership.
 

Certification Track

Best for: Educators not yet certified in Instructional Technology
 
This track prepares you to lead technology integration in the classroom and serves as a school-level Technology Coach. 

• Georgia Certification: Prepare for your initial S-7 certification and upgrade your teaching certificate to T-7 (requires passing the GACE Instructional Technology assessment).  
• ISTE Certification: At KSU, you will build a portfolio based on ISTE Standards for Educators, qualifying you for national ISTE Certification.  

• Requirements: Must have access to a classroom for field experiences and capstone projects. 

   

Advanced Track
 

Best for: Current or aspiring technology leaders (Directors, CTOs, CIOs). 

This track focuses on high-level strategic planning and district-wide leadership.  

• Georgia Certification: Upgrade your existing S-6 certification to an S-7 and your T-6 to a T-7. 
• Professional Alignment: Aligned with ISTE Technology Director Standards and the CoSN Framework of Essential Skills for K-12 CTOs. 
• Core Skills: Master strategic planning, policy development, and large-scale technology management.  

Graduate Admissions Requirements

Graduate admissions criteria varies based on enrollment type. Please visit the Graduate Admissions Requirements site for more details.

Program Admission Requirements

The following are program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• An earned master’s degree in education or a closely related field.  

• A professional teaching certificate OR a departmentally approved equivalent (for non-Georgia or non-certified individuals). The School of Instructional Technology and Innovation recognizes and appreciates that many charter, independent schools, IE2, and 21st century learning environments do not require educators to hold traditional state teaching certification. In such instances, the Department will make a case-by-case determination as to whether the educator’s qualifications are sufficiently equivalent to a traditional teaching certificate and/or whether the educator has the background necessary to ensure successful completion of the program.

• At least three years of professional teaching or administrative experience (or a combination thereof), or a related role serving B-12 education (To facilitate candidates’ field experiences, current full-time employment as a professional educator is preferred.). 

• A competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score and Graduate GPA. The GPA and GRE will be utilized with other admission criteria to determine program eligibility. Although no minimum scores are required, candidates are encouraged to prepare and score well since admission to the program is competitive. Please note: The Analytical/Writing score one receives as part of the GRE exam is used competitively in the admission review process. GRE scores must be from within the last five years. It is strongly encouraged for applicants to do well on this portion of the exam. 

• Applicants for the initial certification track must obtain and submit a Mentor form indicating support from a qualified mentor who meets the GaPSC Mentor Requirements. Mentor requirements can be found on the ITEC Mento Form on the Graduate Admissions website for this program.

• A Professional Resume documenting education, teaching experience, volunteer and service accomplishments, and record of leadership activities. Your resume MUST reflect, at least, three years of teaching and/or administrative experience.

• A Professional Reflections Statement. Write a 1-3 single-spaced professional reflections statement which addresses the following questions: Why are you interested in the field of instructional technology? Why are you interested in pursuing a doctoral degree? What are your career plans after completing your Ed.D. degree? What areas of research are you interested in exploring and/or conducting? Which faculty members would you be most interested in working with in regards to your research and/or career goals?

• Applicants may be requested to have an interview as part of the selection process.

Admission Criteria for Unique Cases

Currently there are no exceptions to the admission requirements.

Transfer Credit

Students who complete their Ed.S. in Instructional Technology at Kennesaw State University may apply up to 15 hours of their Ed.S. to the Ed.D. in Instructional Technology. Students who have completed their Ed.S. at other institutions within the last 5 years may have their transcripts analyzed to receive up to 25% of transfer credit applied toward the Ed.D. in Instructional Technology at KSU. 

The Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology program leads to Professional Licensure.

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state. The Professional License Disclosure link opens in a new tab. 's Professional License Disclosure

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Georgia Professional Standards Commission