Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in West Virginia

There is currently only one school in West Virginia that currently offers Doctor of Education degrees online. At Marshall University in Huntington, students can pursue an EdD in Leadership Studies with an Area of Emphasis in Education Leadership through primarily online study, visiting campus only once to defend their dissertation. Marshall University also offers an online Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Marshall is a nonprofit institution, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its College of Education and Professional Development is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about their online EdD program, continue reading below.

Schools in West Virginia with Online EdD Programs

As mentioned above, Marshall University offers an online Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies with an Area of Emphasis in Education Leadership through its College of Education and Professional Development and online learning division, MU Online. The program focuses on the many aspects of effective management, from logistical challenges to moral and ethical issues, preparing students for leadership positions in not only schools or universities, but also nonprofits, the government, NGOs, social service agencies, and a wide range of other organizations. A minimum of 45 credit hours are required to earn the degree, which is designed to be completed in roughly three years. Coursework is delivered entirely online through the Blackboard learning management system. However, students are expected to present their final dissertation in person at Marshall’s South Charleston campus location. The program admits on a rolling basis and allows students to start during any term (fall, spring, or summer).

Curriculum in Marshall’s Leadership Studies EdD is divided into three sections: Content Courses (18 credit hours), Research Courses (18 credit hours), and Dissertation Research (nine credit hours). The Content Courses cover important principles and practices in leadership and administration, and include classes in Principles of Leadership, Ethical Theories, Leadership in Crisis Situations, Organizational Analysis, Policy Studies, and Current Issues. The Research Courses prepare students for their capstone dissertation work. This portion of the curriculum includes classes such as Introduction to Qualitative Methods, Statistical Methods, Survey Research, Research Design, and Advanced Research in Leadership Studies I and II. During their third year in the program, students begin independent research and development of their dissertation prospectus.

Marshall University’s online Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is comprised of 57 course credits, divided between 21 credit hours of Core Courses, nine credit hours of Area of Emphasis Courses, and 27 credit hours of Research and Support Courses. This program is suited for students who want to gain advanced training in the theory and practice of curriculum development, program planning and evaluation, education policy as it relates to curriculum and instruction, and advanced theories and models of effective teaching, which are topics that are covered in the Core Courses. To further hone their program of study and training in curriculum and instruction leadership, students choose three Area of Emphasis courses (pending approval from their faculty committee and advisors). The Research and Support Courses that students take provide advanced training in Research Design, Statistical Methods, Qualitative Research in Education, Survey Research in Education, Writing for Publication, and either Computer Analysis in Research or Advanced Qualitative Research. Finally, students devote nine credit hours to independent Dissertation Research.

Those interested in pursuing their EdD in a different specialization, such as Early Childhood Education, Higher Education Administration, or Curriculum and Instruction, may want to consider online options offered by schools in other states. Many colleges and universities around the country have online EdD programs that accept out-of-state students from West Virginia. To learn more about the various specialization options and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in West Virginia

The following is a link to Marshall University’s online Doctor of Education program. For more information about the EdD track described on this page, including current admission requirements and tuition costs, click the link below to visit the program’s website.