Leadership Ed.D. (Online)

a group of doctorate students in regalia.

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Higher Education Track

P-12 Education Track

Health Education Track

Overview

Become a scholarly practitioner equipped to drive meaningful change in Higher Education, P-12 Education, or Health Education with the online Ed.D. in Leadership program from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Offered in a dynamic virtual format accessible from anywhere, this nationally-recognized program emphasizes social justice, data analytics, and sustainability—preparing you to address systemic issues and lead diverse communities. Guided by expert faculty mentors, you will develop advanced leadership skills and gain credentials for impactful careers such as Dean, Superintendent, Director of Health Education Programs, and more within educational and health organizations. With closely supported advising, you will join a community dedicated to fostering equity and innovation across all levels of education and health.

Career Competencies

With FDU’s Ed.D. in Leadership program, you will develop advanced leadership competencies and evidence-based strategies for addressing challenges in education and healthcare organizations.

Through online coursework and faculty mentorship, you’ll build expertise in:

Strategic leadership for diverse professional settings
Applying data analytics for informed decision-making
Developing globally minded solutions for systemic issues
Creating partnerships between employers and educators
Enrollment management and retention initiatives
Driving educational innovation and transformation
Fostering inclusive cultures in your institution or organization

The Ed.D. in Leadership is delivered fully online so you can study anywhere, anytime—with flexible scheduling to balance your professional and personal responsibilities. Courses are taught in 8-week sessions by expert practitioners, and you’ll complete a dissertation and 45 credits over 27–45 months. Each course is designed for working professionals seeking the qualifications and supportive community necessary to excel in higher education, P-12 schools, and health education settings.

Courses and Requirements

The Ed.D. in Leadership online program combines data analytics with social justice and sustainable development training to prepare students for diverse leadership roles. While navigating a curriculum founded on innovative academic solutions, students will become scholarly practitioners proficient in effective and current administrative practices, database management, statistical analysis, and more.

All students in the Ed.D. in Leadership program will take courses in three blocks of 15 credits each: Research, Leadership, and Track-Specific Content. The Research and Leadership blocks are common to all three tracks of the program.

Milestones

Milestone tasks of the Ed.D. in Leadership degree program include the dissertation pre-proposal, qualifying portfolio, dissertation proposal and defense, dissertation final defense.

Dissertation Pre-Proposal

This is a useful step in defining the dissertation research study. The pre-proposal provides a brief overview of the intended research project, including the general topic area, potential data to be collected, and methodological approach.

Qualifying Portfolio

The Qualifying Portfolio (QP) demonstrates the student’s development as a scholar-practitioner within the Ed.D. program as they progress through coursework, further exhibiting their knowledge of scholarly literature relevant to a carefully considered problem of practice, and their preparedness to undertake empirical study of that problem of practice. The QP is a developmental milestone for students to reflect on their own learning, articulate their path for completion of the Ed.D. program, and to receive feedback from the program faculty to support their continued success in the program.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal and defense constitute the firm agreement between student and faculty, where students outline their program of research. The dissertation proposal will be a major focus of the work in EDUC 8668 Dissertation Preparation. The student is expected to successfully defend their proposal orally to their committee before conducting data collection and analysis.

Dissertation

The dissertation represents the culmination of a student’s work as a scholarly practitioner on a problem of practice. Students may opt to complete either a five-chapter or three-paper format to demonstrate engagement with the existing scholarly literature, analysis of data collected in original research, and conclusions and implications grounded in the literature and research.

Admission Requirements

The Ed.D. in Leadership program admits students for both Fall and Spring Semesters. We have a rolling admissions process with priority deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by the priority deadline to ensure a smoother onboarding process, access to advising well in advance of their start date, and greater availability of courses for their first semester. However, applications will be reviewed until the final deadline.

Fall Priority Deadline: June 30
Fall Final Deadline: August 1
Spring Priority Deadline: October 31
Spring Final Deadline: December 15

Application Materials

A complete application includes:

Graduate application form
Master’s degree in a related field.
Official graduate and undergraduate transcripts.
Professional experience in a related field (P12, higher education, health care). Five years’ experience is preferred.
A 1000-1500 word essay on your research interests as follows:
- This program will prepare you to become a scholarly practitioner in your field. Your dissertation research will be on a problem of practice, as defined by the Carnegie Project for the Educational Doctorate (CPED, 2023): “A problem of practice is a persistent, contextualized, and specific issue embedded in the work of a professional practitioner, the addressing of which has the potential to result in improved understanding, experience, and outcomes.” We will be using this essay to better understand the research you would like to do in this program and your preparedness for doctoral-level writing. (Further prompts are specified in the online application.)
Names and contact information for two references. These recommenders should speak to your professional practice and to your academic preparedness.
A resumé that states your educational background, work experience, and professional goals.
An interview with the Ed.D. Program Admissions Committee.

Transfer Credits

Transfer up to six (6) course credits upon matriculation. Course transfer credit requests are evaluated based on course equivalency, the date the course was completed, and the grade received.

How to Get Started on Your Ed.D. in Leadership Degree

Ready to take the next step towards your degree? Apply now or use the form to request more information. You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. Apply Now.

Proud CPED Consortium Member

Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is a national consortium of nearly 150 universities working to enhance and develop the Ed.D. degree with leading-edge data, resources, and practical applications graduates need to create meaningful change in the education field.