Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in South Carolina
There are three schools in South Carolina that currently offer online Doctor of Education degree programs: Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan University, and the University of South Carolina. Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are public institutions, while Southern Wesleyan University is a private, nonprofit institution. Clemson University’s EdD program is predominantly online with an in-person orientation and annual summer summits, Southern Wesleyan University’s EdD program is fully online, and the University of South Carolina’s EdD program is also fully online. Students can pursue a number of different degree specializations through these programs, including Education Systems Improvement Science, Curriculum and Assessment, Educational Technology, Curriculum Studies, STEM Education, and more.
Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan University, and the University of South Carolina are all institutionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Their education departments are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about the online EdD programs offered by these schools, continue reading below.
Schools in South Carolina with Online EdD Programs
Clemson University has an online EdD in Education Systems Improvement Science that is designed for professionals who have earned an Education Specialist (EdS) or equivalent degree, and who are PK-12 certified practitioners. This program prepares students to address complex and systemic educational challenges in diverse and rural settings through improvement science and innovative change strategies. Students of this program take courses that cover models for whole school reform, the history of and contemporary issues within rural education, diversity and equity in school communities, poverty in schools, applied improvement science investigations in schools, and systemic educational reform. Students also take nine credits of cognate courses in an area of their choosing, as well as an advanced doctoral seminar.
Students’ culminating experience is the dissertation in practice, through which they investigate a contextual and systemic challenge facing educators, as well as opportunities to implement improvement science principles to change and evaluate learning outcomes. Throughout their work on their dissertation, students receive support from faculty advisors. This program follows a cohort model that blends synchronous and asynchronous online courses. While the majority of this program is online, there is an in-person summer orientation and annual summer summits during which students complete their comprehensive qualifying exam, dissertation proposal defense, and dissertation defense.
Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC offers an online Doctor of Education program through its School of Education. The program features concentrations in Curriculum and Assessment and The Exceptional Learner. Regardless of their concentration, students take core courses that cover curriculum assessment methods and ethics, research and analysis in education, data-driven instruction, program evaluation and improvement, and leadership and values in diverse organizations. Coursework for the Curriculum and Assessment concentration includes courses on the foundations of curriculum design and implementation, curriculum and assessment for the diverse learner, and methods of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
For students of The Exceptional Learner concentration, required coursework covers topics such as the nature and needs of the exceptional learner, teaching methods for exceptional learners, and assessment for exceptional learner education programs and performance. While the majority of coursework can be completed online, students are required to attend three weeklong residencies on campus, held during each summer of the program. These in-person sessions include lectures and other activities intended to help students with the development of their capstone dissertation project, as well as foster closer relationships with their classmates and program faculty.
The University of South Carolina in Columbia has an online Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Innovation program with four different concentrations: Education Systems Improvement, Curriculum Studies, Learning Design and Technologies, and STEM Education. Offered by their College of Education, this program is fully online with no campus-based requirements and can be completed in as few as 36 months. Each concentration requires a total of 60 credit hours, with a curriculum comprised of a Curriculum and Instruction Core, research courses, concentration coursework, cognate courses, and 12 semester hours associated with dissertation preparation and writing. Specific coursework varies by concentration. For instance, the STEM Education track covers topics such as Principles of STEM Integration, Integration of Technology and Instruction, Advanced Readings in Science/Mathematics Education, Principles of Engineering for Teachers, Applications of Project-Based Learning, and Research in STEM Education. Courses are offered in an eight-week format, and the program has multiple start dates throughout the year.
Additional Online EdD Programs for Residents of South Carolina
Students looking to pursue their EdD online in a specialization not currently offered by Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan University, or the University of South Carolina, such as K-12 Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Special Education, or Organizational Leadership, may want to consider programs offered by out-of-state schools. Over 200 institutions around the country offer online Doctor of Education programs that accept students from South Carolina. While many of these program can be completed entirely online, others may require students to attend a limited number of on-campus residencies. To learn more about the different EdD concentrations and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership
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Marymount University
Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation
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Auburn University at Montgomery
Online Doctorate in Education in Instructional Systems and Learning Sciences with Concentrations in Counselor Education and Supervision, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Instructional Technology, Instructional Leadership, and Special Education
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Arkansas State University
Online Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with Concentrations in P-12 Education, and Higher Education Administration
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St. Thomas University
Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with Concentrations in Administration, Sports Administration, and Digital Instruction and Distance Learning
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University of Louisiana Monroe
Online Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
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Online EdD Programs in South Carolina
Below is a comprehensive list of online EdD programs offered by schools in South Carolina. For more information about the degree programs discussed on this page, click the corresponding link to visit the school’s website.
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