Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Ohio

Ohio is home is three schools that offer Doctor of Education degrees online: Franklin University, University of Dayton, and University of Findlay. In total, these universities have three different EdD programs students can pursue online, with little or no on-campus requirements. A number of specializations are available, ranging from PK-12 Educational Leadership and Higher Education Leadership, to Organizational Leadership and Translating Research into Systems of Instruction, Supervision, and Leadership.

All of the schools listed on this page are non-profit universities, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Programs and departments below may also be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).*

Schools in Ohio with Online EdD Programs

Located in Columbus, Franklin University offers an online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership through its International Institute for Innovative Instruction. Students can choose from one of three focus areas: Organizational Leadership, PK-12 Educational Leadership, or Higher Education Leadership. The program takes roughly three years to complete, with a total of 58 semester hours. However, students can transfer up to 24 credits from previous doctoral work, and applicants with a current superintendent (or equivalent) license may qualify for up to 15 hours of credit towards the EdD in PK-12 Educational Leadership.

All students complete a Research Core, consisting of courses in areas such as statistics, writing, and advanced research methods and design, as well as a Leadership Core, with courses in Change Management and Organizational Development, Innovative Learning Environment Design, Strategic Assessment and Decision Making, Organizational Principles, and Leadership of Organizational Resources. The remaining curriculum is comprised of focus area courses, electives, and dissertation work. Franklin’s Organizational Leadership EdD program is fully online with no campus visit requirements, and admits students three times a year, in January, April, and August.

The University of Dayton’s School of Education and Health Sciences (SEHS) has an online Doctor of Education program with a concentration in Leadership for Organizations. The 60-credit program is designed to be completed in three years, with start dates in September, January, and May. Students take courses in a wide range of areas related to organizational leadership, collaboration, social justice, and applied practice, including Qualitative and Quantitative Research, Learning Assessment, Organizational Theory, Ethics in Educational Leadership, Law and Public Policy, Finance, and Communication and Community Engagement in Leadership.

The program utilizes synchronous instruction, with students attending weekly, live-streamed classes in HD video, and accessing coursework or connecting with classmates and faculty through a mobile-friendly virtual classroom and various social tools. There are two required in-person immersions on the university campus in Dayton, which take place at the end of year one and year three, respectively. These allow for students to meet their peers and professors face to face, as well as receive help with their dissertation, which they formally present during the second immersion.

Finally, the University of Findlay has a Doctor of Education program students can pursue online with an emphasis on translating research into systems of instruction, supervision, and leadership. Offered through their College of Education, the degree is comprised of 60 credits, and designed to be completed in as little as three years. Required courses cover topics such as policy analysis, strategic planning, perspectives on diversity, innovation and information literacy, research design, and proposal development.

Students must also complete 15 elective credits from either the Superintendent or Teaching course strands. The Superintendent strand includes courses such as School and Community Relations, Collective Bargaining/District Finance, and Buildings, Grounds, and Facilities Management, while the Teaching strand includes courses in Collaborative Grant Writing, Evidence-Informed Decision Making, Mentoring and Coaching Teachers, and Performance Management Practices for Effective Leadership. Findlay’s EdD program is delivered entirely online with the exception of a three-day Summer Institute that takes place on campus during year one.

Online EdD Programs in Ohio

The following is a list of all the online EdD programs offered by schools in Ohio. For more information about any of the degrees described on this page, click the corresponding link below to visit the program’s website.

* 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.