Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Delaware

There is currently only one school in Delaware where students can pursue a Doctor of Education online. Wilmington University (WilmU) in New Castle has two EdD programs that can be completed through entirely online study, with no campus visits required. The school offers an online EdD in Educational Leadership (K-12) that features pathways in Teacher Leadership, Building Leadership, and District Leadership. WilmU also offers an EdD in Organizational Leadership, Learning, and Innovation with three different concentration options: Strategic Leadership, Workplace Learning and Talent Development; students also have the ability to design a unique plan of study based on their professional objectives.

Wilmington University is regionally accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Its College of Education is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about the school’s online EdD programs, continue reading below.

Schools in Delaware with Online EdD Programs

As mentioned above, Wilmington University offers two different fully online Doctor of Education programs through the school’s College of Education. The first is an EdD in Educational Leadership (K-12) featuring concentrations in Teacher Leadership, Building Leadership, and District Leadership. Courses use primarily asynchronous instruction, supplemented with a one-hour synchronous Course Roundtable meeting each week.

Curriculum for this program consists of 49-53 course credits, and focuses on practical application, problem-solving skills, and leading change in diverse education settings. Students complete core courses in Action Research, Leadership and Governance, Labor Negotiations and Law, Curriculum Theory and Practice, Managing Finance, Leading and Managing Human Resources, Security and Safety, Leadership for a Responsive School Environment, Education for Equity and Social Justice, and School Leadership: Theory and Practice. In addition to their core courses, students also take Laboratory of Practice seminars in their chosen concentration area of Teacher Leaders, Building Leaders, and District Leaders. In addition to their coursework, students are required to fulfill 240 clinical hours (4 credits) of field experience in a classroom, building, or district environment, depending on their chosen track.

The culminating experience for the EdD in Educational Leadership (K-12) is a Dissertation in Practice, wherein students identify and investigate a problem of practice relevant to their work setting and career goals. The Dissertation is embedded within the program’s curriculum, with students working on their research question, study design and methodology, and chapter drafting in the first two years of their enrollment, followed by a public presentation and final evaluation in their third year.

Wilmington University also has a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Learning, and Innovation (OLI) that can be completed entirely online in just three years. This cohort-based program is designed for leaders in all types of industries, who want to be better equipped to both manage operational excellence and inspire continuous innovation and change in their organizations. There are two predefined concentration options to choose from: Strategic Leadership or Workplace Learning and Talent Development. Students can also work with faculty to design their own concentration, developing a personalized learning pathway that best fits their academic and career goals. The degree requires a total of 54 credits (or 14 courses). There is also a mentor-guided field experience project, consisting of 120 internship hours.

Curriculum in the program is divided into a number of different components. First, students complete 15 credits of Core Courses, exploring topics such as Personal Mastery and Communities of Practice; Organizational Learning Theory, Culture, and Practice; Teams, Teaming, and Knowledge Management; Talent Development and Workplace Learning; and Technology and Organizational Learning. Next, there is a Research Core comprised of 12 credits in Disciplined Inquiry and Writing, Assessment and Evaluation Methods, and Problem Centered Research in Organizational Learning. The remaining curriculum consists primarily of 15 credits in students chosen specialization.

The Strategic Leadership Concentration, for instance, includes courses in Leading Organizational Improvement and Innovation, Leadership Communication, The Strategic Role of Employee Engagement and Workplace Satisfaction, Business Acumen and Strategic Leadership, and Ethics, Organizational Citizenship, and Social Responsibility. Students pursuing the Workplace Learning and Talent Development Concentration can expect to take courses in Universal Design for Learning, Facilitating Adult Learning, Workforce Trends and Leading Talent Development, Addressing Diversity in Workplace Learning, and Motivating Employee Engagement in Workplace Learning and Professional Development.

For those interested in pursuing their EdD in a specialization not offered by Wilmington University, such as Early Childhood Education, Higher Education, or Curriculum and Instruction, many out-of-state schools offer online programs that accept students from Delaware. Some of these can be completed entirely online, while others include one or more on-campus residency sessions or in-person instructional components. To learn more about the different specialization options and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Delaware

The following table includes links to both of Wilmington University’s online EdD programs. For more information about either of the degrees discussed on this page, such as their admission requirements or current tuition costs, click below to visit the school’s website.