Leadership Ed.D. (Online)

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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.

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.

Common Courses for all Ed.D. in Leadership Students

All Ed.D. in Leadership students will complete the same five (5) Common Research Required Sequence courses (15 credits) and the same five (5) Common Leadership Required Sequence courses (15 credits). The remaining five (5) program Content Sequence courses will be determined by the track in which the student is enrolled.

Common Research Required Sequence (15 credits)
Course Number	Title	Credits
EDUC 8663	Research Methods and Design (Prerequisite: 18-24 credits complete)	3
EDUC 8668	Dissertation Preparation (Prerequisites: EDUC 8662 or EDUC 8669, and EDUC 8663)	3
EDUC 8664	Dissertation Seminar (Prerequisites: EDUC 8688 and 42 credits complete)	3
EDUC 8662 or EDUC 8669	Introduction to Quantitative Inquiry or Introduction to Qualitative Inquiry	3
EDUC 8667	Data Analytics in Educational Leadership	3

Common Leadership Required Sequence (15 credits)
Course Number	Title	Credits
EDUC 8650	Organization and Administration in Educational Organizations	3
EDUC 8653	Sustainable Organizational Development	3
EDUC 8655	Building an Inclusive Educational Culture	3
EDUC 8660	Field-Based Internship I	3
EDUC 8690	Data Analytics in Educational Leadership	3

*The remaining 15 credits in each respective program are content-specific courses.

Milestones

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

Milestone Task	Point of Progress
Dissertation Pre-Proposal	12-24 credits completed.
Qualifying Portfolio (QP)	18-24 credits complete by the end of the semester in which the QP is submitted, including all required courses other than EDUC 8664 and EDUC 8668.
Dissertation Proposal and Defense	EDUC 8668 Dissertation Preparation
Dissertation Final Defense	Data collection, analysis, and writing completed.

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.

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.