Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Alabama

There are currently three schools in Alabama that offer a Doctor of Education program online: Auburn University at Montgomery, Samford University, and The University of West Alabama (UWA). Auburn University at Montgomery has an online EdD in Instructional Systems and Learning Sciences that features three concentration options. Samford University offers an EdS to EdD in Educational Leadership program that has completely online coursework, but which requires two campus visits. UWA has an EdD program that focuses specifically on Rural Education, and gives students the choice between six tracks in Counseling, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Technology, Library Media, Organizational Change and Leadership, and Teacher Leader. The UWA program can be completed through entirely online study, with no required campus visits.

Auburn University at Montgomery, Samford University, and The University of West Alabama are all regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). These universities are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about their online EdD programs, continue reading below.

Schools in Alabama with Online EdD Programs

Auburn University at Montgomery has an online EdD in Instructional Systems and Learning Sciences that has concentrations in Instructional Technology, Instructional Leadership, Early Childhood. This program consists of 61 course credits that students can complete in about three and a half years. Students take foundational courses in program assessment and evaluation, managing diverse workplaces, and the science of learning, along with core research courses that cover qualitative and quantitative research methods. Upon completing the core courses, students delve into their concentration coursework. Students who select the Instructional Technology concentration take courses in areas such as instructional design, adult learning theory, action research in institutional technology, advanced educational statistics, interactive media design, information technology law and ethics, and information resource management. The Instructional Leadership concentration features courses in instructional improvement, special programs development, adult learning and mentorship, shared leadership, ethics in instructional leadership, and leading culture and change in learning. Finally, students of the Early Childhood concentration take courses in instructional measurement and evaluation, urban and rural educators, advocacy for student success, and educational research.

In addition to students’ concentration coursework, they can choose from electives that cover quantitative and qualitative research in language arts, math, social studies, and science, as well as current issues and research topics in these academic subject areas. While the Instructional Technology and Early Childhood concentrations require an advanced practicum, the Instructional Leadership concentration includes a hands-on Problem Analysis Project that students complete for course credit. In addition, students are required to complete a dissertation through which they investigate a problem of practice in their workplace or within their professional spheres of influence, using the research methods, theories, and education leadership strategies they learned in their content coursework.

Based in Birmingham, Samford University offers an EdS to EdD program with a focus in Educational Leadership. This 36-credit program prepares students for advanced education leadership roles requiring expertise in education policy issues and infrastructure, organizational administration, research-informed practice, and value-based change leadership. As an EdS to EdD program, this doctorate degree requires students to hold an EdS from an accredited institution in order to qualify for admission. Samford University offers an EdS program in Instructional Leadership and the option to apply to their EdD program after students complete their EdS.

Samford University’s EdD in Educational Leadership features a set sequence of 12 courses, including Educational Policy Development and Analysis, Leadership Planning, Organizational Dynamics, The Emerging School Superintendency, Foundations of Qualitative Inquiry, Ethical Issues in Education, Research Design, and Foundations of Quantitative Statistics. After completing their main coursework, students progress to their dissertation, for which they assemble a committee and identify a research question that is pertinent to their work setting and professional goals. Students are required to visit campus to defend both their dissertation proposal and their final dissertation results.

Located in Livingston, The University of West Alabama (UWA) offers its EdD in Rural Education online through the school’s Julia Tutwiler College of Education. The program consists of 60-66 course credits, and has six tracks for students to choose from. The curriculum, developed in collaboration with partner schools and experienced superintendents, is broken down into three sections: 21 credit hours of Professional Courses, 27 credit hours of track-specific coursework, and 12 credits related to students’ applied dissertation. All students complete the Professional Courses section of the program, which contains an orientation to doctoral studies, as well as courses in Leadership for Organizational Change, Challenges in Rural Education, Family Engagement and Partnership Development in Rural Education, Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Research, and an Applied Dissertation Seminar.

After the core Professional courses, students progress to courses devoted to their specific track. The Counseling track equips educators with methods and skills to work with and advocate for diverse students in rural settings. The Higher Education Administration track covers higher education finance and administration for rural schools, organizational administration, and critical issues in higher education. The Instructional Technology track includes classes in innovative technologies for distance learning, principles of instructional technology, elements of instructional design, and contemporary issues and trends in educational technology. Students of the Library Media track learn about collaborative instructional design and research, analysis and use of instructional media, course design and assessment, and the history and concepts of library media and research.

The Organizational Change and Leadership track focuses on organizational finance and management in rural environments, critical education administration issues, place-based education and service learning, and ethical leadership. Finally, the Teacher Leader track features courses in leading classroom interventions, diagnosing education challenges, creating learning methods and technologies, and leading teaching and learning in rural settings. All tracks also include courses that prepare students to improve rural education through benchmark-setting and strategic planning, navigating education politics, advancing education research, and fostering a strong learning culture and climate.

Courses run for eight weeks and are delivered in a flexible online format. Students are not required to visit the UWA campus at any point during their studies. Additionally, many instructors in the program use open educational resources (OER) which can be accessed digitally from anywhere, saving students the cost of purchasing traditional textbooks.

For their culminating experience, students must complete a dissertation identifying a problem currently facing rural education and proposing a potential solution. The program provides supportive, Applied Dissertation courses that students complete as they work towards their dissertation milestones, including courses that provide guidance on their dissertation prospectus, proposal, and study design.

In addition to the programs offered by Auburn University at Montgomery, Samford University, and The University of West Alabama, students in Alabama may want to explore online EdD programs offered by schools in other states, including the neighboring states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Students can also find additional programs categorized by specialization on our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Alabama

Below are links to Auburn University at Montgomery, Samford University, and The University of West Alabama’s websites, where students can find more information about the online EdD programs described on this page.

Auburn University at Montgomery

(Montgomery)

Accreditation: SACSCOC, CAEP

Department: College of Education
Programs:

• Online Doctorate in Education in Instructional Systems and Learning Sciences with Concentrations in Instructional Technology, Early Childhood, and Instructional Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)

Samford University

(Birmingham)

Accreditation: SACSCOC, CAEP

Department: Orlean Beeson School of Education
Programs:

• Online Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (EdS to EdD)

The University of West Alabama

(Livingston)

Accreditation: SACSCOC, CAEP

Department: Julia Tutwiler College of Education
Programs:

• Online Ed.D in Rural Education (with Tracks in Counseling, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Technology, Library Media, Organizational Change and Leadership, and Teacher Leader) (Masters to Doctorate)