Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Programs in Educational Leadership and Education Administration

Being an effective leader in educational settings requires more than just managing resources and delegating tasks. In order to oversee and drive the development of quality instructional programs, education administrators need a wide range of expertise, from superb communication skills to an advanced understanding of pedagogy, educational institutions and systems, and the laws and policies that govern these systems. Leaders in education administration also play an instrumental role at the program, institutional, and district levels to advocate for the needs of students and teachers. For students interested in stepping into these demanding and impactful roles, there are currently 213 online Doctor of Education (EdD) programs with a concentration in Education Administration and Leadership.
Online EdD programs in Education Administration prepare students to assume leadership positions at a variety of academic and education-related institutions, including pK-12 schools, school districts, colleges and universities, post-baccalaureate training programs, education non-profits, and government organizations. This specialization focuses on skills and topics such as organizational leadership, educational program evaluation, and promoting diversity in academic settings. These programs also include courses and projects that cover advanced education-related research and how to use research findings to improve education outcomes.
This page includes all online EdD programs that offer training in leadership or administration, regardless of their specialization. Some programs listed on this page are broad administration programs, while others offer a more specialized curricular focus. Online EdD programs in Organizational Leadership are also listed below, unless those programs primarily focus on leadership in non-educational settings.
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership
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Marymount University
Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation
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Spalding University
Online Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Leadership
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Arizona State University
Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Leadership & Innovation with Pathways in PreKindergarten-Grade 12 Change Leadership; Higher Education Change Leadership; and Systems, Professional and Reimagined Change Leadership
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American International College
Online EdD in Educational Leadership and Administration with Specializations in Educational Leadership (K-12), Higher Education, Organizational Leadership and Development, and Teaching and Learning
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Arkansas State University
Online Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with Concentrations in P-12 Education, and Higher Education Administration
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Curriculum for Online EdD Programs in Educational Leadership and Administration
EdD programs in Education Leadership typically require the completion of 40-70 course credits over the course of three to five years of study. Programs are generally comprised of a set of core courses followed by specialization courses, electives, and dissertation-related classes. Core courses for EdD programs cover the foundations of teaching and learning, including concepts in learning theory, educational program development, educational assessment, and principles of communication and community-building. Examples of these courses may include:
- Foundational Concepts in Teaching and Learning: A discussion of the various definitions and types of learning. Visual, auditory, read-write, and kinesthetic learning styles and the role each plays in a student’s academic development. The ways in which a student’s environment affects his or her learning, and how to create a supportive community around student learning and progress.
- Education Systems and Policies: An overview of the American education system at the K-12, post-secondary, and graduate levels, and the standards of educational attainment at these levels. The economic and political factors at the community, state, and national levels that affect students’ access to quality education.
- Structural Inequality in Education Systems: An exploration of the common challenges that K-12 students face in their education system, including a discussion of these challenges’ history and origins. How socioeconomic, racial, political, and other structural issues affect students’ education outcomes and access to the resources and support they need to progress.
- Strategies for Education Reform: A discussion of how teachers, school administrators, and other leaders in education can improve educational outcomes at the individual, group, and systemic levels. How to identify the causes of problems in educational accessibility and quality and address them. This course may consist of a combination of lectures and case analyses where students are presented with a specific school dilemma and are asked to diagnose the problem and identify opportunities for improvements.
Following their completion of the foundational classes in their program, students progress to the coursework that focuses on education administration and leadership. Specific course titles and content may vary somewhat from program to program, but examples of typical educational leadership concentration classes include:
- Organizational Leadership in Educational Settings: The methods of educating individuals and groups within a larger organized system, and the research and theories underpinning these methods. Teaching as a form of leadership, and how to engage different groups (ex. young students, adult students, working professionals, etc.) in learning initiatives, establish educational benchmarks, and meet these benchmarks.
- Education Program Evaluation and Improvement: How to create and modify educational programs for students of all age groups by evaluating learning needs, developing curricula and educational materials, seeking and obtaining funding, addressing staffing needs, and assessing learning outcomes.
- Creating and Managing a Culture of Learning: How to create and manage a community that is invested in learning through data-driven improvement processes, student advocacy, identification of learning outcome goals, and the development of programs and processes that aim to support across different academic and professional contexts.
- Education Leadership Practicum: Students complete an internship experience that allows them to apply the concepts they have learned in classes to real work with students or professionals while under the supervision of a mentor. Students must select an internship site that allows them to work in organizational and/or educational leadership.
In addition to concentration coursework, some EdD programs give students the option of taking education-related elective courses that are outside of their specific academic focus, but which are relevant to their desired profession post-graduation. These classes may be from a different EdD concentration at the same program, or be education-related courses from an entirely different department. Examples of these courses may include:
- Diversity and Multiculturalism: The importance of diversity and multiculturalism in educational settings, and how to promote an environment that welcomes multiple cultures and perspectives through diversity education, anti-discrimination programs, and other initiatives.
- Collaboration and Communication: The methods and principles of effective communication for both instructors and students. Team and group dynamics and the necessary skills for effective collaboration and communication in a variety of settings.
In the final terms of their program, most EdD students are required to complete a dissertation, which is a capstone research project that investigates a problem in the educational system and seeks to find potential causes and solutions to this problem. Students receive academic credits for their work on their dissertation, often in structured courses and through their own individual work under the supervision of a research mentor.
For more information about the dissertation component of EdD programs, please refer to our Dissertations and Research Requirements for EdD Programs page. To learn more about online EdD programs, we also have pages dedicated to the Structure of Online EdD Programs and Admission Requirements for Online EdD Programs, for students who want more information.
Career Paths for Graduates of Online EdD Programs in Education Administration & Leadership
EdD programs in Education Administration and Leadership provide students with a diverse set of skills in organizational leadership and an in-depth knowledge of the educational system and how to optimize learning outcomes for students at different grade levels. Examples of jobs for graduates of these types of programs include but are not limited to:
- College and University Deans: College and university deans oversee the daily operations of a college or university department. For academic departments, a dean’s responsibilities may include supervising the development and implementation of academic programs within that department, overseeing faculty research and instruction, and managing non-curricular programming for students and teachers within the department.
- College and University Directors: College and university directors typically manage non-academic departments at an institution of higher education, such as the Office of Admissions, Career Services Department, the Office of Financial Aid, or the Office of Education Accessibility. Academic directors may fulfill such operational responsibilities as coordinating admissions interviews, managing career education and counseling services, overseeing the review of financial aid applications, or working to ensure school campuses are compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
- Primary or Secondary School Principals: School principals oversee the daily operations of the school(s) under their supervision. They coordinate teacher schedules and curricula, manage the performance and professional development of teachers and other school personnel, manage school budgets in collaboration with other office staff, and seek to uphold district and state educational standards. Principals also work to ensure that school campuses remain safe, accessible, and positive learning environments for all students.
- School District Superintendent: School superintendents are the heads of their school district, which is typically comprised of a school board and other staff that oversee the operations and performance of several schools in a region. School superintendents work with principals, teachers, parents, and education advocates to monitor and maintain the quality of education at their schools. They manage school district budgets, supervise updates to school facilities, and oversee the development of and updates to educational programs.
Online Ed.D. Programs in Educational Leadership and Administration
The following schools are sorted by state for easy reference; however, most online EdD programs accept students from other states as well. For out-of-state programs, students should confirm with an admissions advisor that the program accepts students from their state of residence before applying.
Alabama
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Arizona
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Arkansas
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California
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Change and Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) - Dissertation Completion Pathway with Specializations in Instructional Leadership, Leadership in Higher Education, and Organizational Leadership (All But Dissertation)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) with Specializations in Instructional Leadership, Leadership in Higher Education, and Organizational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational and Organizational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational and Organizational Leadership - Dissertation Completion Pathway (All But Dissertation)
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Online Ed.D. in Organizational Innovation (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings Concentration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership (Bachelors to Doctorate)
Colorado
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Connecticut
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
Interview with David Title, Ed.D. - Sacred Heart University Interview with Kathleen Wallace, Ed.D., and Sara Connolly, Ph.D., - Sacred Heart University -
Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Interview with Kathleen Wallace, Ed.D., and Sara Connolly, Ph.D., - Sacred Heart University
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Delaware
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District of Columbia
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Online Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership (EdD) (Masters to Doctorate (or Bachelor's plus 24 graduate credits))
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration (PreK-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
Florida
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy - Educational Leadership/Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Applied Learning Sciences (Masters to Doctorate)
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Georgia
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Innovation - Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Leadership and Practice (Masters to Doctorate)
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Idaho
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Illinois
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Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations - P-12 Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Strategic Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Ethical Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Indiana
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Online Ed.D in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Technology (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Education - Doctoral Completion Program (All But Dissertation (or EdS to EdD))
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation (Masters to Doctorate)
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Iowa
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Kansas
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Adult Learning and Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Kentucky
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Online Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Louisiana
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Maine
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Online Doctor of Education in Transformative Leadership (Ed.D.) (Masters to Doctorate)
Maryland
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Community College Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Massachusetts
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Online EdD in Educational Leadership - All But Dissertation Track with Concentrations in Higher Education Leadership & Organization Studies, and Transformative School Leadership (K-12) (All But Dissertation)
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Online EdD in Educational Leadership with Concentrations in Higher Education Leadership & Organization Studies, and Transformative School Leadership (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
Interview with Melissa Morriss-Olson, Ph.D. - Bay Path University
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Michigan
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Development (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) (EdS to EdD)
Minnesota
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
Interview with Jessica Daniels, Ph.D. - Bethel University -
Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in K-12 Administration with an Optional Director of Special Education License Track (Masters to Doctorate)
Interview with Tracy Reimer, Ph.D. - Bethel University
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Online Ed.D. in Leadership - Organizational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Executive Doctor of Education in Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Mississippi
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration (P-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Missouri
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Curriculum & Instruction (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Transformative Learning in the Global Community (Masters to Doctorate)
Nebraska
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) - Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Nevada
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New Hampshire
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership and Learning (Masters to Doctorate)
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New Jersey
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Higher Education (Masters to Doctorate)
New York
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Online Executive Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Change (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Development and Change (EDOL) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Dissertation Completion Pathway (All But Dissertation)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online EdD in Leadership and Innovation (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
North Carolina
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Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership (Bachelors to Doctorate)
North Dakota
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Ohio
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership for Organizations (Masters to Doctorate)
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Oklahoma
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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Rural Education (Masters to Doctorate)
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Oregon
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Pennsylvania
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Online Educational Leadership in Educational Leadership - PK-16 Education (Masters to Doctorate)
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South Carolina
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Tennessee
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Online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) with a Concentration in Administrative Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education Leadership & Policy Studies (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctorate of Education in Higher and Adult Education with Concentrations in Adult Education, and Higher Education (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations (Masters to Doctorate (or Bachelor's plus 30 graduate credits))
Texas
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Online Doctorate of Education (EdD) with a Specialization in Educational Leadership (K-16) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education (HIED) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership - Global Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership with a Concentration in Academic Support (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (PreK-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in School Improvement (Masters to Doctorate)
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Virginia
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration and Supervision (PK-12) (Masters to Doctorate)
Washington
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West Virginia
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Wisconsin
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership Completion Program (All But Dissertation (or EdS to EdD))
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Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Career & Technical Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)
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Online Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership (Ed.D.) (Masters to Doctorate)
Wyoming
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