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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Mississippi

Updated: January 3, 2024

The state of Mississippi is home to four schools that offer Doctor of Education (EdD) degrees online. Belhaven University, The University of Mississippi, The University of Southern Mississippi, and William Carey University all have EdD programs students can pursue through online study, making minimal or no visits to campus. These universities offer five online programs in total, with specializations in areas such as K-12 Educational Leadership, P-12 Educational Administration, and Higher Education Administration.

All four schools listed on this page are nonprofit universities, regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Some of the departments and programs below are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP).

Schools in Mississippi with Online EdD Programs

Located in Jackson, Belhaven University offers a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership online through its School of Education that is designed for educators interested in administrative positions in K-12 or higher education settings. The program requires a total of 60 credit hours, split into four distinct phases. During the first phase, students complete 33 credit hours of professional advanced education courses and earn an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree. (Those who already possess an EdS from another university can apply up to 30 credit hours toward completion of the EdD.)

In phase two, students transition into their doctoral studies, beginning pre-dissertation work and taking introductory courses to the EdD program. Phase three involves research and methods courses, comprised of classes in Research Design, Research Statistics, and the choice between either Advanced Quantitative Statistical Designs or Advanced Qualitative Research Methods. Finally, in phase four, students complete their dissertation, receiving help with research and chapter writing before ultimately defending their work at the end of the program. Two on-campus residencies are required during the program, taking place during phases two and four. Each lasts two to three days, and coincides with a particular stage of dissertation development.

The University of Mississippi in Oxford offers an online EdD with an Emphasis in Higher Education through its School of Education. This program was designed to train students to engage in research that enhances higher education equity and institutional accountability. It is comprised of 48 course credits, with a set curriculum that covers foundational and advanced topics in education and society, recent developments and evolutions in education practice, program planning and assessment for institutions of higher education, leadership and organizational theory, and multi-disciplinary leadership perspectives. Students also take courses in models of inquiry for their dissertation literature review, as well as courses on statistics, qualitative research, advanced applied research, and special topics in educational research. Students devote 15 course credits to their work on their dissertation in practice, through which they apply the content expertise and assessment, evaluation, and leadership principles they have learned in the program to a research endeavor that benefits the field of higher education.

The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg has two online EdD programs for students to choose from, both offered by their School of Education. They are each comprised of 54 credits, and include a capstone project instead of a traditional dissertation. The first program is a Doctor of Education in P-12 Educational Administration designed to be completed in three years. Students take 30 credit hours of core courses, selecting from topics such as Contextual Dimensions of the Principalship, Public School Finance, Administrative Approaches to Technology, School Law, Education Facilities Development and Management, and P-12 Education Policy. The remaining curriculum consists of research courses in Educational Research, Statistics, Survey Design, and Program Evaluation, as well as 12 credits associated with the capstone project.

The second online EdD offering at Southern Miss is a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration. This program spans nine academic semesters and can be completed on either a full- or part-time schedule. Required core curriculum includes courses in Social Justice, History of Higher Education, Two-Year College, Finance, Legal Issues in Higher Education, Leadership Theory, and Organizational Theory. In addition to this, students must complete 21 hours of research courses and 12 hours of electives. Both of the EdD programs at The University of Southern Mississippi are fully online with no on-campus requirements. Courses utilize synchronous instruction, meaning students log on at specific times to attend live lectures and participate in real-time class discussions.

Finally, William Carey University, located in Hattiesburg, offers an online Doctor of Education in P-12 Educational Leadership through its School of Education that requires an Educational Specialist degree for admission, and has cohorts starting each summer. A total of 63 post-master’s credit hours are needed to earn the EdD: 30 hours transferred from the EdS and an additional 33 hours of doctoral coursework and research. Students take an Advanced Leadership Core, consisting of courses in Data Analysis for Instructional and Performance Improvement Using Technology Tools, Professional Educational Development for Adult Learners, Developing the Culture of Learning, Developing Advocacy for the School and Community, and Using Conflict Resolution and Mediation. There are also two required research courses (Descriptive Statistics and Survey Design, and Advanced Applied Research) and 12 credit hours dedicated to independent research in educational administration. This EdD program can be completed entirely online and includes no campus residency requirements. Towards the end of their studies, students meet on Skype twice per term to receive help with their research and dissertation.

Featured Online EdD Programs
University of West Alabama Online Ed.D. Rural Education with Concentrations in Higher Education Administration, and Organizational Change and Leadership	Visit Site
Grand Canyon University Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with Emphases in K-12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and Organizational Development	Visit Site
University of Dayton Online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership for Organizations	Visit Site
Fairleigh Dickinson University Online Ed.D. in Higher Education	Visit Site

Online EdD Programs in Mississippi

Below is a list of all the Doctor of Education programs offered online by schools in Mississippi. To learn more about any of the degrees discussed on this page, click the corresponding link below to visit the school’s website.