Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Michigan

Michigan is home to three schools that offer Doctor of Education programs online. Andrews University, Central Michigan University, and Cornerstone University all have EdD programs that students can pursue through predominantly online study, with limited required campus visits for summer residencies. A total of five programs are available from these institutions, in specializations ranging from K-12 or Higher Education Leadership to Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, and Organizational Leadership and Development.

All of the schools listed on this page are non-profit institutions that have been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, all three universities have pursued programmatic accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP).

Schools in Michigan with Online EdD Programs

Located in Berrien Springs, Andrews University offers three different EdD programs students can pursue online through its School of Education. The first is a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, which focuses on advanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. A minimum of 61 credits are needed to earn the EdD, with students generally taking around six years to complete all of their degree requirements. Also available online from Andrews is a Doctor of Education in K-12 Educational Leadership. This program is designed to help students prepare for or further their careers as principals, superintendents, or other elementary and secondary school administrators. This program entails a minimum of 90 credits, which typically takes around five years to finish. However, students who already hold a Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership from Andrews only need to complete 60 doctoral credits to earn their EdD, if they gain admission into the EdD program. Finally, the School of Education offers a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration online. This program is designed for experienced educators and administrators looking to work in senior management at the collegiate level or in post-secondary policy making. Most students can complete this 60-credit program in five years.

All three EdD programs at Andrews University utilize primarily online coursework, with only one required campus session in the summer of the first year of study. Students are also encouraged to come to campus at the end of their program to attend graduation.

At Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, students can pursue a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership online, in one of two concentrations: K-12 Leadership and Higher Education Leadership. The cohort-based program requires a total of 63-66 credit hours. (Students who hold an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree from an approved institution may be able to transfer up to 24 credits toward their doctorate.) Coursework in Central Michigan’s Educational Leadership EdD is delivered online, with both synchronous and asynchronous components. While the program can be completed almost entirely online, there are two required in-person meetings that take place during the summer. The curriculum is comprised of a 12-hour academic core, with courses in Ethical Leadership, Organizational Theory in Educational Institutions, Organizational Culture and Change in Educational Institutions, and a Doctoral Seminar. Students also take 12 credit hours of research courses, which cover Educational Research Design, Qualitative Research in Educational Leadership, and Quantitative Analysis in Educational Leadership as foundational research training; after these three courses, students choose between an Advanced Qualitative Analysis in Educational Leadership and an Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Educational Leadership. The remaining curriculum is made up of 12 hours of coursework in one’s concentration area, as well as nine credit hours in a cognate discipline, 3-6 credit hours of field-based experience, and 15 hours associated with dissertation work.

Finally, all students in the EdD program must participate in a three-to-six-credit doctoral internship, with each credit equaling 45 contact hours. This field-based experience can be completed either online or in a hybrid format, and is intended to help students strengthen their leadership competencies by engaging in real or simulated activities related to educational leadership under the supervision of a practicing administrator.

Central Michigan University also offers an online Doctor of Education in Educational Technology. This program is comprised of 54 credit hours for students who hold a qualifying master’s degree in education technology, education leadership, or a related field. Students complete nine credit hours of Research courses in Educational Technology Research, Qualitative Research in Educational Technology, and Quantitative Research in Educational Technology, followed by 12 credit hours of Academic Core that cover Learning Tools in Education Technology, Differentiated Instruction in Online Learning, Blended and Online Learning, and Evolving Internet Learning. Students also complete 15 credit hours of cognate courses in areas such as Data Driven Decision Making, Higher Order Learning and New Literacies, Mobile Learning, Grant Writing, and Motivation in Online and Blended Learning. The final graduation requirement for this program is a Dissertation, through which students investigate a problem of practice or a pressing practical question in the field of education technology and education leadership.

Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids offers an online EdD in Organizational Leadership and Development that prepares students to enact positive organizational change across education, health services, for-profit, non-profit, and government settings. The 60-credit curriculum focuses on equipping students with leadership skills and principles, data-driven decision making tactics, a strong understanding of effective program development and evaluation, and more. While all of the courses are online, this program requires students to attend three campus residencies, one each year of their enrollment. Students take courses such as Organizational Behavior, Theory, and Leadership; Research Methods, Program Evaluation, and Modes of Inquiry; Leadership, Human Resources Management, and Diversity; Organizational Governance and Strategy; Organizational Culture and Change Management; and Quantitative Research Design and Data Analysis. The culminating experience in the program is an Organizational Leadership and Development Project, through which students address a real-world organizational or leadership challenge in partnership with a cooperating industry sponsor. Students also receive guidance from a faculty research mentor during their work on their final project.

Individuals who wish to earn an EdD in a different specialization than the ones outlined above, such as Adult Learning and Leadership, Health Professions Education, or Community College Leadership, may benefit from researching programs based out of state. Many colleges and universities across the nation offer online EdD programs that accept students from Michigan. Some of these programs can be completed 100% online, while others require one or more on-campus residencies or in-person learning activities. To learn more about EdD specialization options and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Michigan

The following is a list of Doctor of Education programs available online from schools in Michigan. To learn more about any of the EdDs described above, click on the corresponding link below to visit the program’s website.