Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the CANDEL Ed.D. program designed for?

Most of our applicants are administrators, educational leaders and student service professionals in educational settings such as P-12, community college, higher education institutions and advocacy organizations. They have visionary leadership abilities and have a strong desire to create changes in educational policy from within their school, district, department, etc.

Will CANDEL prepare me to teach at a four-year university?

Our goal is to cultivate leaders who want to work within their P12–community college districts or higher education administrations to implement and develop real change. While graduates with an Ed.D. may go on to teach at the university level, the degree is primarily designed for experienced practitioners seeking leadership roles and system-level impact.

What is the CANDEL cohort model, and what are its advantages?

Every September, a new group of students begins the program and continues through the whole program together. Each quarter, your group, or “cohort,” will all register for the same courses. 

Overwhelming feedback from our students indicates the cohort structure is one of the strongest features of the program. Students are able to support one another, study and work together on projects and research, visit each other’s sites, and generally find a more enriching experience in this collegial and personal setting.

What are the benefits of learning with leaders from different educational settings?

The feedback we consistently receive from our students is that the program provides a unique opportunity for professionals to interact with each other, learn about the “other side,” and recognize and appreciate the challenges and hurdles within those environments.

Do I need to take the GRE test in order to apply?

No. The GRE is no longer a requirement to apply.

How do I answer the Statement of Purpose and the Personal Statement?

The Graduate Studies Admissions Essays webpage provides guidelines, instructions and prompts for both essays.

Can my application fee be waived?

For the 2026–27 admission cycle, California residents may request a Fee Fellowship to cover the cost of the application fee. Please contact candeledd@ucdavis.edu for information. If you are requesting an Application Fee Fellowship, do not pay the application fee, as we are unable to make reimbursements.

How much does the program cost?

The CANDEL program follows the UC Davis Graduate Fee schedule. Visit our application page for information on fees and the application process.

When and where do classes meet?

CANDEL follows a predictable, cohort-based schedule designed for working professionals.

• Classes meet all day on Friday and Saturday on the UC Davis campus approximately every two to three weeks during the academic year.
• Students should expect approximately six class weekends in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters (running mid-September to early June) for approximately 18 Friday/Saturday class weekends per year.
• The specific calendar, dates, and course sequence vary slightly from year to year and are provided to admitted students before the program begins.

How many units will I take per quarter and what courses will I take?

CANDEL students enroll in 12 units per quarter for the first two years of coursework (72 units). After the completion of coursework, students must enroll in 12 units per quarter of dissertation seminars until they complete their dissertations.

Year One Courses

• EDU 280A: Inquiry & Practice: Qualitative Research for Educational Leaders
• EDU 280B: Inquiry & Practice: Quantitative Research for Educational Leaders
• EDU 280C: Inquiry & Practice: Research Design & Application for Educational Leaders
• EDU 282A: Beginning Issues & Practices: Contemporary Educational Leadership
• EDU 282B: Beginning Issues & Practices: Diversity Issues for Educational Leaders
• EDU 286A: Organizational Structures & Change: Data-Driven Decision-Making for Change
• EDU 292: Special Topics in Education

Year Two Courses

• EDU 281A: Problem-Based Learning Courses: Part 1
• EDU 281B: Problem-Based Learning Courses: Part 2
• EDU 281C: Problem-Based Learning Courses: Part 3:
• EDU 283A: Advanced Issues & Practices: Leadership Across Communities
• EDU 284B: Policy: Formulating & Influencing Policy
• EDU 285A: Educational Finance, Human Resources, & Law; Human & Financial Assets; Allocations & Budgets
• EDU 289A: Special Topics for Educational Leaders
• EDU 288AV: Inquiry & Practice: Academic Writing for Educational Leaders
• EDU 292: Special Topics in Education:
• EDU 298: Group Study

Year Three Courses

• EDU 281D: Problem-Based Learning Courses: Part 4
• EDU 281E: Problem-Based Learning Courses: Part 5
• EDU 287: CANDEL Dissertation Seminars
• EDU 287D: CANDEL Dissertation

For more specific course information, please visit the UC Davis General Catalog.

Still have questions? Email us at candeledd@ucdavis.edu.