Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Connecticut

There are four schools in Connecticut where students can pursue a Doctor of Education online. Sacred Heart University offers an online EdD in Educational Leadership and an online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership that both feature completely online coursework, but which require students to attend a 3-day residency on campus each summer to meet fellow students and learn from national experts. Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) collaborated to develop an online Doctor of Education in Nursing Education that utilizes online instruction, and which also requires three in-person campus residencies. Finally, the University of Bridgeport offers an online EdD in Educational Leadership with a specialization in International Education. While the majority of the degree requirements for this program can be completed online, students are required to visit campus twice during their studies for one-week residency sessions.

Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of Bridgeport, and Western Connecticut State University are all nonprofit institutions that are regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Their education programs have also received accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about these online EdD programs, continue reading below.

Schools in Connecticut with Online EdD Programs

Sacred Heart University offers an online EdD in Educational Leadership through its Farrington College of Education & Human Development. This program, which utilizes asynchronous instruction, is designed for educators who want to advance into education leadership and advocacy roles in K-12 settings. This program uses a model that teaches educators to employ social, emotional, and academic leadership (SEAL) in their improvement of education programs, systems, and services. Students typically complete the required 60 credits over the course of 3.5-4 years, with 6 credits waived for licensed administrators. They take courses such as Grant Writing; Social Justice for Educational Leaders; Moral & Ethical Leadership in Education; Foundations of Social & Emotional Learning (SEL); Pedagogy and Practice; Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms, Practices, and Resilience; and Strategies for SEL Leadership. After taking the required content courses, students proceed to their dissertation in practice, where they research an issue in K-12 education that has a direct impact on their practice as education leaders. During their dissertation work, students receive guidance from a faculty committee and also complete four Dissertation Seminars. Sacred Heart’s EdD program welcomes a new cohort of 15-20 students nationwide each fall.

Sacred Heart University also offers an online EdD in Higher Education Leadership, which is designed for experienced professionals in the higher education space who want to step into leadership roles, such as administration. This 54-credit program consists of courses in Reading and Responding to Educational Research, Social Justice for Educational Leaders, Moral and Ethical Leadership in Education, Access and Equity in Higher Education, Grant Writing, Public Policy in Higher Education, and Finance in Higher Education. Students also take courses in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in preparation for their dissertation, which is their culminating experience within the program. During their work on their dissertation, students receive mentorship, support, and feedback from their dissertation chair and committee. Students are required to attend a 3-day summer residency each year, during which they network with students from their cohort and also meet their faculty in-person for advising.

Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University jointly offer an online EdD in Nursing Education that is specifically designed for registered RNs and APRNs who hold an MSN degree, and who want to lead in nursing education settings and improve nursing pedagogy. Students of this program complete 51 credit hours, consisting of courses such as Ethical/Legal, Political, and Social Issues Affecting Higher Education; Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Evaluation in Nursing; Nursing Faculty Role in Higher Education; Leadership Theories and Concepts; and Classroom, Clinical Teaching, and Evaluation in Nursing Education. Students also take courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods specifically as they relate to nursing education research. Once they have completed all of their required courses, students take a comprehensive examination that assesses their readiness to progress to their dissertation. If they pass the examination, students can proceed to their dissertation, through which they investigate a research question pertaining to nursing pedagogy and/or nursing leadership. Students receive support from a dissertation committee during their work. While the program is delivered online, students must attend three campus residencies: one three-day orientation at the beginning of the program, and three-day residencies during the summer following their first and second years of the program.

The University of Bridgeport has an online doctoral program in Education Leadership which includes a specialization in International Education. Offered by their School of Education, the EdD combines study of administration, organizational psychology, law, program evaluation, and research methodologies with a close examination of cross-cultural and global issues in education. Students can complete the degree in as little as three years, taking a total of 62 credits. There is also a 42-credit option for students who have completed a post master’s Sixth-Year certificate program or an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Educational Leadership. Courses are delivered almost entirely online, except for two summer residencies on the University of Bridgeport campus. Each residency session is one week in length and provides students with the opportunity to work with their classmates face to face, as well as receive in-depth mentoring and support from program faculty.

Curriculum in the Education Leadership EdD program is divided into four distinct strands. The 29-credit Educational Leadership Strand includes courses in Curricula Theory, Constitutional Law, Grant Writing, Policy, Organization Management, Introduction to Educational Leadership, Program Evaluation, Evaluation of School Effectiveness, and Postsecondary Teaching. The nine-credit Research and Analysis strand is comprised of three courses covering qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. Students then complete 12 credits for the International Education Specialization, taking courses in International Education Concepts and Theories, Ethical Issues in International Education, Comparative Education, and Culture, Society, and Education in International Contexts. Finally, there is a 12-credit Dissertation Preparation Strand, which includes courses associated with dissertation development, as well as the program’s comprehensive exam.

Students looking to pursue their EdD in a different specialization, such as Higher Education, Organizational Leadership, or Curriculum and Instruction, may want to consider enrolling in an online program from a school based out of state. Many colleges and universities around the country offer online EdD programs that accept students from Connecticut. Some of these are fully online, while others require students to visit campus at certain points for residencies or other in-person instructional activities. To learn more about EdD concentration options and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Connecticut

The following section includes links to the EdD programs offered by Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of Bridgeport, and Western Connecticut State University. For more information about the EdD programs discussed on this page, including current admission requirements and tuition costs, click below to visit each school’s website.

Sacred Heart University

(Fairfield)

Accreditation: NECHE, CAEP

Department: Farrington College of Education & Human Development
Programs:

• Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) (Masters to Doctorate)

  Interview with David Title, Ed.D. - Sacred Heart University

• Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership (Masters to Doctorate)

Southern Connecticut State University

(New Haven)

Accreditation: NECHE, CAEP

Department: Department of Nursing
Programs:

• Online Doctor of Education in Nursing Education (Ed.D.) (Masters to Doctorate (MSN Required))

University of Bridgeport

(Bridgeport)

Accreditation: NECHE, CAEP

Department: School of Education
Programs:

• Online Doctoral Program in Education Leadership (Ed.D.) - Specialization in International Education (Masters to Doctorate)

Western Connecticut State University

(Danbury)

Accreditation: NECHE, CAEP

Department: School of Professional Studies - Department of Nursing
Programs:

• Online Ed.D. in Nursing Education (Masters to Doctorate (MSN Required))