Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Washington, DC

Updated: January 2, 2025

There are currently two schools in Washington, DC that offer online Doctor of Education degree programs. American University offers an online EdD in Education Policy and Leadership, while The George Washington University has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration. Both programs have a strong focus on education policy, scholarly inquiry, and these disciplines’ utility in helping educators enact systemic educational improvements and further social justice.

American University and The George Washington University are regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (MSCHE). American University’s School of Education is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)*, while The George Washington University’s The Graduate School of Education and Human Development is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP).

To learn more about these universities’ Doctor of Education programs, continue reading below.

Schools in the District of Columbia with Online EdD Programs

American University offers an online EdD in Education Policy and Leadership that prepares students to use the principles of systemic change, racial and social justice, leadership, and research and policy to improve PK-12 education programs and systems. The program was built upon the philosophy that education should not only help individual students reach their potential, but also work to bring about positive social progress and social justice. Comprised of 40 post-masters course credits, this program can be completed in eight semesters which equates to roughly three years of part-time study (a total of 64 post-baccalaureate credits are required to earn the degree, and students can typically waive up to 24 credits from their previous master’s coursework).

The courses for the online EdD in Education Policy are divided into 10 required core courses, three research methodology courses, electives, and three on-site residencies. The first two semesters of the program, students take content courses through which they examine and discuss essential topics in education policy, leadership, and social justice. Examples of classes that students take include Collaborative Inquiry Through Systems Thinking; Antiracism, Equity, and Inclusion in Education; Learning Sciences to Advance Equity; Education Policy Analysis; and Strategic Resource Management in Education. To prepare them for their dissertation, students take the research methodology courses: Designing the Problem of Practice, and Applied Methods I and II.

For electives, students can choose from topics in education law, education policy and leadership, organizational change, and economic inquiry in education contexts, among other subjects. Students’ dissertations focus on identifying and investigating a problem of practice in PK-12 education, and finding resolutions to education challenges through systemic change, anti-racism and diversity, research-informed leadership strategies, and policy. Students also attend three 4-day residencies on-campus in their first, fourth, and sixth semesters of enrollment in the program, during which they meet with program faculty and peers, engage in dissertation-focused activities, and participate in networking events.

The George Washington University has an online EdD in Educational Leadership and Administration that is designed to empower students to combine scholarly inquiry, knowledge of education policy and politics, and organizational theory and leadership to improve educational outcomes in K-12 settings, as well as higher education contexts. This program follows a cohort model that incorporates weekly synchronous sessions and asynchronous course modules, discussions, research projects, and self-directed assignments. Faculty provide remote mentorship and guidance throughout the program, and particularly during students’ work on their dissertation, which is the culminating experience in the program.

The curriculum for this program is comprised of 48 credits, and examples of classes include Introduction to Educational Statistics, Organizational Theory and Leadership in Education, Education Policy for School Leaders, Advanced Instructional Leadership for School Improvement, Fundamentals of Educational Planning, and Education Policy for School Leaders. Students also select an advanced research methods course in consultation with their faculty advisor before embarking on their dissertation work. For their dissertation, students must choose a problem of practice that is relevant to K-12 education or their specific professional interests in education leadership. Through their dissertation work, students have the opportunity to improve educational, organizational, and/or community outcomes and address existing or potential inequities in their work setting.

Residents of Washington, DC who are interested in pursuing their EdD online in a specialization that is different from Education Policy and Leadership or Education Leadership and Administration, such as Curriculum & Instruction, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or Organizational Leadership, may want to consider programs offered by schools based outside of Washington, DC. There are numerous colleges and universities nationwide that offer fully or mostly online EdD programs, and which accept applications from students living in the District of Columbia. To learn more about specialization options for online EdD programs, and to browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Washington, DC

Below is a link to American University’s and The George Washington University’s websites. Click on the link below to learn more about the online EdD programs in Education Policy and Education Leadership and Administration, including information on admissions requirements, tuition, and curriculum structure.

Accreditation: MSCHE, NCATE
Department: School of Education
Programs:
Accreditation: MSCHE, CAEP
Department: The Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Programs:

*The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP) is now recognized as the sole accrediting body for education preparation programs in the United States. NCATE accredited programs will become CAEP accredited when their accreditation is up for renewal.