Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Iowa
There are currently two schools in Iowa that have online Doctor of Education degree programs. Allen College Unity Point Health offers an online EdD in Health Professions Education through its School of Health Sciences, while the University of Northern Iowa has an online EdD with Intensive Study Areas in Educational Leadership, Postsecondary Education, Curriculum & Instruction, and Director of Special Education.
Both Allen College and the University of Northern Iowa are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. To learn more about these schools’ Doctor of Education programs, continue reading below.
Schools in Iowa with Online EdD Programs
Allen College Unity Point Health offers an online EdD in Health Professions Education that prepares students to manage organizational change, spearhead education programs and initiatives, and use evidence-based strategies to lead improvements in the health care industry, as well as patient health outcomes. This program is comprised of 60 course credits, which students can complete entirely online. While the program does have an in-person orientation, students who cannot attend can complete the orientation online. Furthermore, while some classes also include residencies that are held on campus, students have the option to attend these virtually as well. The program admits students in the fall and spring semesters and reviews applications on a rolling basis, so students can apply at any time.
The curriculum for this program is divided into four course categories: Professional Education Core, Curriculum and Instruction Courses, Research and Evaluation Courses, and Electives. In the Professional Education Core, students take courses such as Organizational Development and Change in Education; Leading a Health Sciences Learning Organization; Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues and Trends in Health Professions Education; and Today’s Health Sciences Student: Trends, Issues and Challenges. The Curriculum and Instruction courses include Curriculum Theory and Design, Integrating Evolving Technology in Health Professions Education, and Assessment and Evaluation in Health Sciences Education, to name a few. Electives that students can take cover topics in diversity in education, online education evaluation, health policy controversies, and student empowerment. In addition, part of students’ training is a required Practicum in Health Professions Education, which students complete at a site that is approved by the program.
Students of Allen College Unity Point Health’s online EdD in Health Professions Education are required to complete a professional-oriented dissertation. In preparation for their dissertation, students take a course in Evidence Based Practice in Health Professions, two Methods of Inquiry courses that cover both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and a Practice Focused Dissertation Seminar. Students also receive support from a faculty committee during their work on their dissertation, as well as the opportunity to take several Doctoral Project Seminars as electives to receive further guidance in honing their dissertation research question and methodologies. In these seminars, students work on self-selected projects and receive support and feedback from instructors and peers.
The University of Northern Iowa has an online Doctor of Education with four Intensive Study Areas (ISA) that students can choose from in Allied Health, Recreation and Community Services; Educational Leadership; Postsecondary Education; and Curriculum and Instruction. While this program is offered primarily online, students are required to attend a summer residency on-campus during the first two years of their enrollment. This program’s online courses are mainly asynchronous, though many classes have weekly synchronous sessions via Zoom to optimize interaction between faculty and students. The curriculum for this program consists of core courses in areas such as Foundations of Inquiry; Evidence-Based Practices, Assessment, Accountability, and Program Evaluation; Critical Analysis of Social and Cultural Contexts in Education; Educational Leadership and Systems Change; and Integrating Theory with Practice. In addition, they complete Research Methods courses the cover qualitative and quantitative research design for education practitioners, as well as an Advanced Methods course that builds their research skills further.
Once they have completed their core coursework, students progress to their ISA courses. Students of the Allied Health, Recreation and Community Services ISA take courses in Critical Theories and Practices, and a Research and Evaluation Seminar before choosing from courses in areas such as Organizational and Community Transformation, Social Justice and Inclusion, Educational Leadership and Systems Change, Higher Education Law, and Organizational Processes and Communication. The Curriculum and Instruction ISA features required courses in Curriculum Theory and Development, Curriculum Implementation and Evaluation, Designing Instructional Systems, and Understanding Instructional Design; students also complete a Seminar and a Practicum in Curriculum and Instruction. The Educational Leadership ISA has three separate tracks: the Superintendency track, the Special Education Director track, and the Principalship track. Students of the Superintendency track take courses in Human Resource Administration; Leading Teaching, Learning and Assessment; and Power, Politics and Ethics in School District Leadership. The Special Education Director track features classes in Special Education Law and Policy and Administration of Special Education, while the Principalship track includes courses in School Governance, Law and Intersystems Relations; Leading Instruction in Schools; and Evaluator Approval for Improved Student Learning. Finally, the Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs ISA requires courses on Doctoral Higher Education Law, College Effects on Students, Administration and Finance in Higher Education, and Social Justice and Inclusion. For their final graduation requirement, students of the University of Northern Iowa’s online EdD program must complete a dissertation that studies a problem of practice in their work setting, and which is relevant to their chosen ISA. Students receive guidance and support from faculty advisors throughout their work on their dissertation.
Residents of Iowa who are interested in pursuing their EdD online in a different specialization than Health Professions Education, Recreation and Community Services, Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, and Post Secondary Education, such as Higher Education Leadership or Community College Leadership, may want to explore programs offered at schools based outside of Iowa. There are many colleges and universities nationwide that offer fully and/or primarily online EdD programs, and which accept applications from students living in Iowa. To learn more about specialization options for online EdD programs, and to browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.
Online EdD Programs in Iowa
Below is a link to Allen College Unity Point Health’s website, where readers can find more information about the school’s online EdD in Health Professions Education, including details on admissions requirements, tuition, and required and elective courses.
Allen College
(Waterloo)Programs:
University of Northern Iowa
(Cedar Falls)
Programs: