online phd in higher education administration

College of Professional Studies

Northeastern University’s online Doctor of Education program provides experienced adult learners, working professionals, and scholar-practitioners from diverse backgrounds and perspectives with the practical knowledge and experience they need to transform the learning landscape. Students gain innovative approaches to create authentic change in their communities. The program was selected as the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate's Program of the Year for 2022-2023.

The Doctor of Education program is designed to be completed in three to four years of study—following a fast-paced quarter system in lieu of a traditional semester format. Students choose from five concentrations to create a curriculum that matches personal and professional interests. The program's dissertation in practice process will begin at the onset of your coursework as you identify your problem of practice and develop an action plan—incorporating cycles of data collection and analysis, collaboration, change work, and reflection—culminating in the dissemination of your action research findings. Our students come from diverse disciplines and professions, seeking more than just a degree. You'll gain a practical education that translates to your everyday working environment.

While all EdD courses can be completed online (except for hybrid courses in Seattle and Charlotte), annual in-person two-day residencies are held on campus. Residencies focus on networking and tools for career success and allow you to connect with faculty and fellow scholars to share knowledge and experience. You'll attend residencies* in your first and second years of the program at one of our campuses in Boston, Charlotte, or Seattle.

The Northeastern Doctor of Education degree is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and was selected as Program of the Year by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate Program for 2022-2023.

*Please note: International students enrolling in the online EdD program will be provided with an option to complete the residency through online participation in interactive sessions with fellow scholars offered during the residency period.

More Details

Unique features.

• You will choose one of five concentrations—higher education administration, innovative teaching and learning, transformative school leadership, workplace learning, and integrative studies—to focus your studies and further customize your curriculum.
• You'll begin dissertation in practice work at the onset of your program. You'll select a compelling educational/organizational challenge and will be assigned a faculty advisor to support your research throughout the program.
• All coursework is online—providing flexibility for working professionals. Your residencies will be fulfilled in person*, at one of our campuses in Boston, Charlotte, or Seattle.
• You'll learn alongside faculty practitioners—engaging with respected leaders who contribute to the field as authors, journal editors, school board members, bloggers, and podcasters.

*In-person participation in the residency is also available for international students.

Concentrations

• Higher Education Administration: The higher education administration concentration provides an opportunity for experienced higher education professionals to expand their previous understanding of practices within all sectors of postsecondary education—and also advance their professional practice by developing and deepening their understanding of the roles of colleges and universities in our society. Sectors examined include community colleges, four-year colleges, for-profit institutions, and research universities.
• Innovative Teaching and Learning: The innovative teaching and learning concentration focuses on transforming education through innovation, justice, and policy, by providing engaging opportunities for current and aspiring teaching and learning specialists working in various education spaces. The concentration focuses on teaching and learning both inside and outside the bounds of P-20 schools and focuses on developing and leading innovative curricula as well as professional development.
• Transformative School Leadership: The transformative school leadership concentration provides innovative opportunities for experienced education professionals who are current and aspiring leaders of early childhood centers, public or private schools, or school districts. The concentration prepares students to lead and transform educational spaces and be equipped to shape the needs of education in K-12, higher education, organizational contexts, and beyond.
• Workplace Learning: The workplace learning concentration helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of, recognize, and influence real-life social inequalities faced by marginalized populations in the workplace. Courses allow students to advance their professional practice by developing and deepening their knowledge of workplace learning, organizational dynamics, learning strategy, and ethics.
• Integrative Studies: The integrative studies concentration provides an opportunity for students to design a program of study that fits their own professional goals and includes the required foundation and research courses, concentration courses from any EdD concentration, and electives from the Doctor of Education or Doctor of Law and Policy programs.

Program Objectives

Northeastern's Doctor of Education program is designed for experienced professionals interested in deepening their understanding of education, organizational development, and leadership. Throughout the program, students examine various approaches to critical, practice-based issues, learn research methods, and conduct a doctoral research study that investigates a compelling educational or organizational challenge.

2022-2023 Doctor of Education Program of the Year

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate selected Northeastern's EdD program as the 2022-2023 Program of the Year, noting the “redesigned Dissertation in Practice Curriculum and the adoption of action research as its guiding methodology …” The committee praised “the program’s efforts to move beyond the typical five-chapter dissertation and engage scholarly practitioners in the acquisition of skills to realize meaningful change in their local contexts, emphasizing social justice.”

Testimonials

– sara ewell, phd, assistant dean, graduate school of education, – frawn morgan, current student, doctor of education, – aaron b., program graduate, looking for something different.

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Online application
• Academic transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate degree documentation
• Describe the problem of practice
• Explain why you want to investigate it
• Provide a strong rationale for the significance of the problem
• Minimum work experience: Three years in a related field
• Professional resumé: Must summarize work and education history, include an outline of your educational/academic skills with examples such as research and teaching experience, affiliations, publications, certifications, presentations, and other professional skills.
• Faculty recommendation: Must be from a faculty member in your previous graduate program who can attest to your readiness for doctoral work. If you are no longer acquainted with a faculty member, please choose a professional who can speak of your academic capabilities to engage in doctoral-level research and writing. Recommendations should be presented as a letter attached to the general recommendation form.
• Two professional recommendations: Must be from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities, a supervisor, mentor, or colleague. It is preferred that one letter of recommendation come from your current employer and/or supervisor. Recommendations should be presented as a letter attached to the general recommendation form.
• Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language.

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Professional Studies admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:

Domestic Application Guidelines

International Application Guidelines *

*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.

For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

View curriculum

The core of the mission of the program is to allow educators to remain in the places they work, focus on a problem of practice, and through experiential learning and site-specific research opportunities in the program, make an immediate impact in their professional environments. The program explicitly integrates research and practice for professionals so they develop the requisite skills for conceiving, designing, conducting, and producing original site-based research in order to effect ethical change related to real-life problems of practice.

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

Joseph McNabb, PhD

Cherese Childers-McKee, PhD

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll gain access to students at 13 campus locations, 300,000+ alumni, and 3,000 employer partners worldwide. Our global university system provides students unique opportunities to think locally and act globally while serving as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

Below is a look at where our Education & Learning alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

Where They Work

• Boston Public Schools
• Chicago Public Schools
• NYC Department of Education
• Lockheed Martin
• Veterans Affairs
• Johns Hopkins
• Columbia University

What They Do

• Media Consultant
• College President
• Chief Information Officer
• Instructional Designer
• Diversity Officer
• Founder-CEO
• VP of Student Services
• Community Services Director

What They're Skilled At

• Experiential Learning
• Team Building
• International Education
• Change Agency
• Entrepreneurship
• Urban Education
• Strategic Management
• Student Engagement

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on  Linkedin .

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Transforming Leaders and Shaping Education

Ou online doctor of education in education administration, get started, program overview.

This program equips graduates with advanced knowledge of educational leadership theories, emphasizing practical application in solving real-world challenges. It focuses on honing decision-making and problem-solving skills for complex educational settings, along with organizational management and leadership competencies, covering areas like human resources and financial management.

Online Master of Construction Business in Construction Management

Why earn your ed.d. degree online from ou.

Craft a personalized doctoral experience to align with your career goals, gain skills and expertise in either Higher Education Leadership or PK-12 Leadership.

Gain access to the esteemed Sooner Alumni Network, fostering unique networking opportunities and valuable career connections.

Study from anywhere with synchronous and asynchronous content, catering to working professionals seeking educational advancement while juggling work, family, and other commitments.

OU’s program, accredited by CAEP, stands as the state’s flagship, ensuring a superior quality doctoral degree.

Admissions Requirements

In this 36-month program, students complete a Problem of Practice Dissertation through their coursework. Please propose a problem of practice that you are considering for your dissertation in the program (600-750 words). Include the following components in your statement:

• Background on the setting (e.g., school district, higher education institution, or non-profit organization)
• Description of the problem of the practice
• Importance of your problem of practice

It is understood that your dissertation topic/interests may change, so you are not locked into this proposal if you are accepted into the program.

Students should have earned a conferred master’s degree. No minimum years of experience is required.

Earn an online Ed.D. at the University of Oklahoma. Develop ethical leadership, cultural competence, and reflective practice. Our interdisciplinary faculty ensures practical skills aligned with current trends and employer needs for immediate career application.  

Program of Study - Educational Leadership Concentration Courses

Credits – 3

Prerequisite: graduate standing.

The course is intended to prepare educational leaders who value and are committed to educating all students to become successful adults. Included is a detailed analysis of the role of vision and visionary leadership in educational organizations. Both scholarly literature and best practices concerning visionary leadership in education underlay course activities and discussions.

Strategic planning enables a district or school to shape and guide its overall educational objectives. Through effective strategic planning an educational organization creates a framework for developing, adapting and aligning organizational vision, mission and goals to achieve and sustain its desired educational outcomes. A critical element of the planning process is financial planning, in which the organization’s goals are aligned with organizational resources. Course focuses on the leadership competencies necessary to formulate, execute and monitor the strategic planning for an educational organization based on research-based analytical techniques and models. Includes an examination for school district risk management.

Focuses on instructional leadership and its emphasis on competencies necessary for leadership and management of school districts. The class draws from research, public policy and educational practices related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, strategic planning, and professional growth plans. Will enable school district administrators to plan for the integration of technology in curriculum implementation, instructional strategies, and evaluation/assessment. (Sp)

The purpose of this course is to introduce beginning doctoral students to the concept and process of research. Included are issues related to the role of philosophical frameworks, theory, research conceptualization, scholarly writing, and rudimentary research methods.

Designed to provide advanced graduate students with research skills required of effective executive educational leaders. This course will provide students with the analytical tools necessary to become effective, critical consumers of educational research, and to enable potential educational leaders to oversee and supervise staff in the preparation, development, and dissemination of evaluative research.

Credits – 2-4

Prerequisite: master’s degree, 24 hours of education, permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit twelve hours. Enrollment limited to students who hold the master’s degree.

Introduces graduate students to concepts, methods, and issues in qualitative research as it is used in educational settings. Draws attention to epistemological and ethical concerns in social science and to strategic and logistical issues in the conduct of field research. Both positivist and interpretive approaches to the use of qualitative methods will be explored. Concept and theory building, strategies and techniques, and discussions of different issues of reliability and validity in the use of qualitative data will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor.

Examines the field of intra/interpersonal relationships in the context of educational organizations and their constituent communities; topics include authenticity, organizational communication, leader behavior, group dynamics, and conflict management.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.

This course builds knowledge and competencies on theory based evaluation science through a review of evaluation approaches and theoretical paradigms, evaluation components, terms, and methods; and endemic issues and challenges in conducting evaluation in the social sciences.

Enables students to understand the legal complexities involved in identifying and providing educational services to students with special needs.

Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor

An introduction to analytical techniques applicable to the development of education policy. Includes consideration of decision theory and its application to policy making. Social, political, economic and multicultural factors in the organization and its environment will be explored as contexts within which educational policy is established.

Credits – 2-6

Prerequisite: written permission of the instructor.

May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. Variable as to title and subject profession. An advanced internship for post-master’s level students only. The object of the internship is to cultivate within the student a high degree of proficiency and professional independence. Field supervision is by a practitioner whose credentials are equal to those of the graduate faculty.

Prerequisites: graduate standing and EACS 6023, 6713, and 6970.

The course is intended to help provide advanced graduate students with necessary analytical skills to become effective consumers of research, and to produce an effective doctoral dissertation. The course focuses on skills related to formulation of research problems, developing research proposals, collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Doctoral Credits – 2-6

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; majors only.

This seminar is designed for advanced PhD students/candidates and is a formal venue for developing a sample dissertation prospectus as a starting point to work from and further develop with the student’s dissertation chair and committee.

Credits – 2

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours.

This course is designed to support doctoral students post-prospectus defense, during data collection, analysis, and the writing of their dissertation. As such, the course is run as a seminar in which students develop and progress their individual research projects. Particular attention is spent on data analysis processes and how to move from analysis toward the written dissertation.

Credits – 2-16 hours

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor; may be repeated. Directed research culminating in the completion of the doctoral dissertation. (F, Sp, Su)

Program of Study - Higher Education Concentration Courses

Prerequisite: graduate standing. The course is intended to prepare educational leaders who value and are committed to educating all students to become successful adults. Included is a detailed analysis of the role of vision and visionary leadership in educational organizations. Both scholarly literature and best practices concerning visionary leadership in education underlay course activities and discussions.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Strategic planning enables a district or school to shape and guide its overall educational objectives. Through effective strategic planning an educational organization creates a framework for developing, adapting and aligning organizational vision, mission and goals to achieve and sustain its desired educational outcomes. A critical element of the planning process is financial planning, in which the organization’s goals are aligned with organizational resources. Course focuses on the leadership competencies necessary to formulate, execute and monitor the strategic planning for an educational organization based on research-based analytical techniques and models. Includes an examination for school district risk management.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Organization and administration of adult and higher education from legislative, legal, structural-functional, power, political, bureaucratic and social perspectives. Topics considered include: governance, central office organization, administrative position analysis, faculty organization, faculty participation in policy formation and decision making, academic freedom, goals analysis, budgetary policies and methods, and decision strategies.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. The purpose of this course is to introduce beginning doctoral students to the concept and process of research. Included are issues related to the role of philosophical frameworks, theory, research conceptualization, scholarly writing, and rudimentary research methods.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Designed to provide advanced graduate students with research skills required of effective executive educational leaders. This course will provide students with the analytical tools necessary to become effective, critical consumers of educational research, and to enable potential educational leaders to oversee and supervise staff in the preparation, development, and dissemination of evaluative research.

Prerequisite: master’s degree, 24 hours of education, permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit twelve hours. Enrollment limited to students who hold the master’s degree.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Designed to expose students to a variety of educational theories as well as how research uses and engages theory. In addition, a primary objective of this course is for students to understand prominent theories in educational research and how they may utilize theory to evaluate programs, design studies, and create learning environments that support students and educational institutions.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. This course builds knowledge and competencies on theory-based evaluation science through a review of evaluation approaches and theoretical paradigms, evaluation components, terms, and methods; and endemic issues and challenges in conducting evaluation in the social sciences.

Prerequisite: graduate standing, 5693. Designed to help enhance the competencies of school district administrators in the area of educational technology leadership. Focuses on technology leadership (at the central office level), rather than technology user skills. Intended for district level leaders (such as superintendents) who are not technology specialists (e.g., the course is not intended for district level technology directors or coordinators).

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Enables students to understand the legal complexities involved in identifying and providing educational services to students with special needs.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Introduces graduate students to concepts, methods, and issues in qualitative research as it is used in educational settings. Draws attention to epistemological and ethical concerns in social science and to strategic and logistical issues in the conduct of field research. Both positivist and interpretive approaches to the use of qualitative methods will be explored. Concept and theory building, strategies and techniques, and discussions of different issues of reliability and validity in the use of qualitative data will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Explores twentieth-century ideas and issues in adult and higher education. The majority of the literature and discussion concern the university.

Prerequisite: graduate standing. Explores the educational participation of diverse groups in higher education. The student will gain a further understanding of issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and physical disability and their influence on colleges and universities.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. This course is designed to support doctoral students post-prospectus defense, during data collection, analysis, and the writing of their dissertation. As such, the course is run as a seminar in which students develop and progress their individual research projects. Particular attention is spent on data analysis processes and how to move from analysis toward the written dissertation.

Prerequisites: graduate standing and EACS 6023 , 6713 , and 6970. The course is intended to help provide advanced graduate students with necessary analytical skills to become effective consumers of research, and to produce an effective doctoral dissertation. The course focuses on skills related to formulation of research problems, developing research proposals, collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; majors only. This seminar is designed for advanced PhD students/candidates and is a formal venue for developing a sample dissertation prospectus as a starting point to work from and further develop with the student’s dissertation chair and committee.

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