What is the general profile of the CANDEL
applicant?
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.
How often do classes meet? Where do classes
meet?
Classes meet on the UC Davis campus all-day Friday and
Saturday every three weeks. Our Summer Learning
Institute for first-year and second-year students
is held offsite, usually at a conference or retreat center, and
lasts a week to ensure a quality cohesive experience.
Yes, you do. We review prospective students’ materials
holistically, and the GRE is one of the measures we
use. Prepare and do your best. We carefully review each
applicants’ scores and their leadership experiences
together.
The GRE General Test measures reasoning, critical thinking and
analytical writing skills (you will want to take the “General
Test,” not a “Subject Test”). The GRE website offers practice tests;
tests are now computerized and offered at testing centers
near you. Please review the website for more information about
the GRE.
When you take your test, you will need to indicate the
Institutional Code and Department Code for your scores to be sent
directly to the program. GRE – Institutional Code No:
4834 Department Code: 3001
What is the Summer Learning Institute? Is this
mandatory?
The Summer Learning Institute is an extraordinary intensive
experience for first- and second-year students, and yes,
it is mandatory. For first-year students, the
session includes a welcome orientation and the launch of
your first course. Students will also be given an introduction to
university services and other logistics important to
beginning your Ed.D.
The Summer Learning Institute is held offsite. This allows the
new cohort to get to know each other in a neutral and relaxed
environment. The positive feedback we receive each year points to
the success of the event, and students are excited to return for
the second year. There is an additional cost for the
Summer Learning Institute of approximately $375-400.
What is a “cohort-based” program, and what are its
advantages?
Every August, 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.
How many units do I take per quarter?
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.
I would like to teach at a four-year university. Is
CANDEL the right choice for me?
Our goal is to cultivate leaders who want to work within their
P-12/community college districts or higher education
administrations to implement and develop real change. Yes, you
can teach at the university level with an Ed.D.—however, if this
is your primary goal, then we suggest seeking out a program that
is more suited to your professional needs. Please review the UC Davis Ph.D. Program in
Education.
How beneficial is having all the educational settings
work together?
The results have been very successful—we think it’s a great
match! 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.
