Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership

doctorate in educational leadership outcomes

St. Bonaventure’s online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership will help you develop a solid foundation in applied educational leadership and theory. Engage in ethical practice in educational leadership. Apply knowledge and skills to real-world applications through the lens of Franciscan values of compassion, wisdom, and integrity in educational leadership activities.

Education Doctorates: Ed.D. vs Ph.D.

Generally speaking, an Ed.D. degree is practitioner-based. It is designed for professionals who want to apply their knowledge to practice. A Ph.D. degree, however, is more focused on research. Both tracks earn you the title of Doctor.

Ed.D.	Ph.D.
Practitioner-based	Research Intensive
Faculty/scholar	Prepares students for faculty/researcher roles
Complete in 2-3 years	Complete in 5+ years
Around 60 credits	Around 90 credits

Connect Research with Practice

Focused  — Learn theory, research and practice around pragmatic problems of importance.
Individualized Learning — Option for highly individualized course of study through electives or directed study, allowing you to create your own dissertation emphasis.
Problem-Based Dissertation — Our problem-based dissertation focuses on the application of research to make better and more wise decisions in educational environments.
Expert Faculty — Full-time expert faculty provide impactful 1:1 communication.
Franciscan Values — Supported by Franciscan values of compassion, wisdom, and integrity and rooted in the belief of helping others.

To speak with an enrollment advisor about how these skills can shape your career, contact us.

Job Titles of Graduates Include:

University Faculty Member
Learning & Develop Manager
K-12 School Leader
Educational Consultant/Professional Developer
Educational Researcher
Educational Policymaker
Corporate Trainer

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Curriculum Highlights

For a full Doctorate of Educational Leadership curriculum, please fill out the form and download a program guide.

DEL 800 — Introduction to Leadership Theories and Practices

In this course, candidates will study various educational leaders in the context of their organizational environments, in order to understand the internal and external processes that promote and inhibit educational change. The focus is the essential role that educational leaders play in identifying and guiding change, and different ways they can promote feedback loops and other processes to increase the flow of information so that better decisions can be made. A range of contemporary leadership theories and related practices will be explored.

DEL 810 — Introduction to Applied Research in Educational Leadership

This course provides a review of designing and conducting applied educational research, including potential ethical issues. Students will examine qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research in the field of educational leadership, including action research and research for evaluation purposes. This course will introduce students to critical aspects of research, including research questions, sampling, data collection, reliability, validity, trustworthiness, data analysis, and ethical implications of research.

DEL 830 — Analyzing Diversity Policy & Practices in Education

This course is designed to provide the candidate with an understanding of the current research on the reciprocal relationship between diversity among stakeholders and the educational organization. Using a range of theories and approaches, including critical theories, students will analyze the strategies, techniques and programs that are currently used by educational organizations in order to create and sustain institutions reflective of contemporary diversity. Specific attention will be paid to the relationship between diversity-oriented policies and practices, the people impacted by these policies, and organizational and community growth.

DEL 855 — Complexity, Communication, and Collaboration

This program signature course will have candidates explore educational organizations as complex adaptive systems, and the role of educational leaders in promoting growth-oriented processes while increasing the flow of information throughout the system. Specific topics will include varied contemporary models for educator collaboration, distributed leadership, feedback loops, and information sharing. Additional focus will be placed on ways educational leaders can navigate increasingly complex times to promote co-evolutionary environments where people and systems can grow in tandem. Systems thinking, the concept of nested systems, networks, and complexity theory will be highlighted.

DEL 890 — Problem-Based Dissertation Proposal

This course is the foundation of the Problem-Based Dissertation (PBD). Students will determine their focus, review relevant literature, and develop appropriate research methodology and tools. The student will obtain IRB approval, if required, and prepare and defend the foundation of the manuscript for the Problem-Based Dissertation (PBD).

DEL 898 — Problem-Based Dissertation 1

This course is the culmination of the Ed. D. program. Students will complete data collection and analysis, develop a final product, and defend their final product to a faculty panel.

DEL 899 — Problem-Based Dissertation 2

This course is the culmination of the Ed. D. program. Students will complete data collection and analysis, develop a final product, and defend their final product to a faculty panel.

DEL 900 — Continuing Problem-Based Dissertation Advisement

This course is the continuation of the culmination of the Ed. D. program. Students will complete data collection and analysis, develop a final product, and defend their final product to a faculty panel. Registration in this course is required if a candidate needs time beyond DEL 898 and DEL 899 to complete the Problem Based Dissertation (PBD).

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Three Types of Dissertations

Our online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is designed to allow you to address problems of practice that matter most to you. You'll have the opportunity to create meaningful change through one of three dissertation pathways tailored to your interests:

Practice

Praxis

Planning