Education, Ed.D.

University of Idaho’s online Ed.D. degree program is ideal for self-motivated professionals who want to expand their leadership opportunities. You might be a great candidate if you:

• Want to advance your career as a leader in your field and move into a leadership role in your organization
• Are interested in conducting relevant, actionable research
• Work well independently

The 100% online Ed.D. program takes three years to complete and includes 54 credit hours. Courses are delivered in eight-week terms, one at a time, using a mix of asynchronous coursework and live, synchronous sessions. During weekly virtual meetings, you’ll connect with faculty and your cohort to discuss key concepts and learn how other students apply course learning outcomes to their professional industry.

From the beginning of the program, you’ll develop and lead original dissertation research focused on challenges in your own organizational setting. The dissertation process is fully embedded in the curriculum, allowing you to make steady progress and avoid delaying completion when you reach the end of the program.

Coursework emphasizes organizational evaluation, case study methodology and action research, giving you the skills to create, measure and implement data-informed solutions that make a real impact. This applied approach ensures that your work throughout the program directly benefits your organization and supports your long-term leadership goals.

Student learning outcomes include:

• Leadership skills: Demonstrate collaborative leadership skills for effective administration, management and decision-making.
• Research proficiency: Independently apply scholarly research competencies to design, conduct, analyze, interpret and implement results.
• Policy analysis: Analyze policies for their impact on diverse stakeholders.
• Theory to practice integration: Apply theoretical knowledge and research findings to address real-world challenges and opportunities relevant to your profession.
• Ethical decision-making: Demonstrate ethical awareness and decision-making skills.
• Impactful communication: Articulate complex ideas, research findings and policy recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
• Fostering innovative learning: Develop and implement strategies to cultivate innovative learning cultures within your organization and diverse contexts, leveraging emerging technologies and creative instructional methods to adapt to evolving challenges in your field.

Graduates of University of Idaho’s online Doctor of Education degree program are prepared to lead in a variety of professional settings. Many use the degree to advance within their current field, moving into high-level administrative or leadership roles. Others may move into areas like non-profit leadership, government or consulting, applying their research and leadership skills to contexts where they can make an impact.

At U of I, we offer competitive tuition for this high-quality, flexible doctoral program. The cost for the 54-credit online Ed.D. degree is $850 per credit hour.

While no internal scholarships are currently available for the Ed.D. program, students may qualify for financial aid. Review U of I's financial assistance programs and options.

As part of the online Ed.D. degree curriculum, you’ll complete a problem of practice professional dissertation tailored to your individual industry and goals. You and your dissertation committee will collaboratively design the required dissertation project to align with your career path and long-term aspirations. Whether you’re advancing in your current role or exploring a new leadership direction, the dissertation experience is structured to provide meaningful, hands-on learning in your field of expertise.

During the dissertation, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in real time by collecting measurable outcomes and demonstrating leadership in action. This is your opportunity to directly impact your organization or community while building a body of work and broadening your professional goals. The dissertation experience reinforces the program’s applied research focus and provides tangible evidence of your growth as a scholar-practitioner and leader.

Begin your application to U of I’s online Doctor of Education degree program by reviewing the following admissions requirements:

• Education Level: Master’s degree or 5+ years of industry experience
• Graduate GPA: 3.0 (applicants with a lower GPA may be considered under specific circumstances) or 5+ years of industry experience
• GRE: No
• TOEFL/IELTS (for international applicants): 79/6.5
• Letters of Recommendation: Two (One letter of recommendation is required from someone in your current industry that you plan to work with on the required dissertation)