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Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Nebraska

Updated: November 19, 2024

The state of Nebraska is home to six schools that offer Doctor of Education programs online. Bryan College of Health Sciences, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Creighton University, Nebraska Methodist College, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln all have EdD degrees students can pursue either entirely online or through predominantly online study with minimal campus visits. A total of eight online programs are available through these institutions, in specializations such as Educational Leadership, Higher Education, P-12 School Leadership, Nursing Education, and Healthcare Education.

All of the schools listed on this page have obtained regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Creighton University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). To learn more about online EdD options from schools in Nebraska, continue reading below.

Schools in Nebraska with Online EdD Programs

Bryan College of Health Sciences, based in Lincoln, offers an online EdD with an Emphasis in Nursing Education that is designed for registered nurses and other licensed health professionals who hold a master’s degree in their field of health care from an accredited institution. This program features a curriculum that enables nurses and other clinical professionals to lead education-based solutions in healthcare settings, enact organizational improvements, teach in health care higher education, develop nursing and health care curricula, and craft policies and practices that support patient care and the efficacy of healthcare teams. Students take courses such as Educational Administration, Health Systems Policy, Leadership, The Professoriate, Teaching and Learning Theories, Legal Issues in Healthcare Education, and Writing for Grants and Publication. They also take several dissertation-focused courses such as Dissertation Literature Review and two Doctoral Practice Seminars. In addition, students are required to complete an Education Practicum, where they work with a nursing or health care educator or administrator and engage in education program development and administration. Students’ culminating experience in the program is their dissertation, which is their opportunity to examine a challenge or problem of practice in nursing and/or health care education.

Located in Omaha, Clarkson College has an online Doctor in Healthcare Education and Leadership program, designed for experienced healthcare professionals who want to develop and manage educational processes in both academic and practice settings. This EdD requires a total of 44 semester hours, and can be completed in either eight semesters of full-time study or 14 semesters on a part-time schedule. This program’s curriculum takes a broad-based, interdisciplinary approach, focusing in particular on outcomes assessment, learning theories, curriculum and program development, transformational leadership, and applied research. Students take core courses in areas such as Organizational Systems and Behavior, Healthcare and Education Policy and Law, Interprofessional Education, Leadership, Healthcare Economics and Financial Management, Trends and Issues in Health Care Education, Curriculum and Program Development and Assessment, Strategic Leadership, Learning Theories and Adult Education Methods, and Managing Organizational Conflict. In addition, students take courses in qualitative, quantitative, and applied research in preparation for their dissertation work. This program’s Leadership course requires students to complete a service experience, where they will have the chance to apply their lessons in the field while demonstrating the Clarkson College Values of Learning, Caring, Commitment, Integrity, and Excellence.

At College of Saint Mary in Omaha, students can pursue a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership through entirely online study, without any in-person requirements. The cohort-based program explores a range of topics related to leadership, instruction, learning, curriculum, assessment, and more, helping prepare students to teach or lead at any level of education, as well as in business or corporate settings. A total of 87 credits are required to earn the doctorate, but up to 36 of those credits can be transferred from a related master’s or EdS degree. Most full-time students can complete their EdD in around three years. There is also a part-time track available, for those who want to continue working full-time while pursuing their degree. Coursework in the program covers areas such as Leadership in Educational Organizations; Adult Learning Theory; Advanced Statistics; Quantitative Research Methods; Qualitative Research; Technology Leadership; Ethics in Educational Leadership; and Curriculum, Assessment, and Quality Improvement. Courses are delivered through the Canvas Learning Management System using primarily asynchronous instruction. However, students can also expect to occasionally participate in live virtual meetings, utilizing Cisco WebEx to communicate with classmates and faculty face-to-face.

Also in Omaha, Creighton University offers a Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership online through its Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. Founded upon Jesuit ideals, with a strong emphasis on social justice and organizational change, this EdD is designed for all types of current or aspiring leaders, from school administrators to chief executives and marketing managers. The program consists of 60 credit hours and takes approximately three to four years to complete. Along with a number of courses related to doctoral research and dissertation development, students take core courses in areas such as Leadership Styles and Reflective Practice, Leadership and Applied Ethics, Administrative and Policy Leadership Issues, Organizational Theory and Behavior, Social Justice and Leadership, Systems Thinking in Leadership, Interdisciplinary Leadership, and Change Theory and Practice. In addition, students take six research courses that guide them through the process of designing a research question, constructing a research proposal, implementing qualitative and quantitative research methods, and analyzing research data to arrive at actionable conclusions. Students have the chance to customize their course of study according to their interests by choosing from a wide range of electives. Examples of potential elective topics include Human Resources Leadership and Management; Planning Programs for Adult Learners; Women and Leadership; Catholic Social Teaching and Learning; Introduction to Servant Leadership; Sustainability Leadership: An Interdisciplinary Approach; Financial and Legal Leadership Issues; Military Leadership; and Policies, Politics, and School Board. While the majority of coursework can be completed online, students must attend two on-campus residencies (at the beginning and end of the program) to participate in an orientation and defend their final dissertation.

The Department of Healthcare Management at Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha has a Doctor of Education in Education and Leadership in Healthcare that students can pursue online with only two required three-day on-campus sessions. Designed for working professionals, the degree requires just 24 months of full-time study, or three years on a part-time schedule. Students must complete a total of 44 credits, including Doctoral Core courses in Biostatistics, Research, Healthcare Finance, Healthcare Policy, and Population Based Healthcare. The remaining EdD Curriculum covers more specialized topics, with courses in Organizational Change and Accountability; Leadership in Organizations, Curriculum Planning and Evaluation, Information Technology in Healthcare and Education; Legal and Ethical Issues in Organizations; and Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Methods. Instead of a traditional dissertation, students take part in a capstone practice project, where they apply the program’s theories and concepts to a real-world issue facing healthcare education or leadership.

Nebraska Methodist College also offers an online Doctor of Education in Public Health Policy, which prepares students to apply organizational leadership strategies and instructional methods to improving health policy and public health outcomes. Students in this program complete some of the same core courses as their peers in the Doctor of Education in Education and Leadership in Healthcare; however, they also have public health policy-specific courses such as Civic Health and Public Health Ethics. Students of this program do not complete a dissertation, but rather engage in an intensive capstone project that seeks to address a challenge in public health policy and programming using research methodologies taught in the program.

Finally, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) offers an online EdD in Educational Administration (P-20 Education) with specialization options in Community Colleges, Higher Education, and P-12 System Level School Leadership through its College of Education and Health Sciences’ Department of Educational Administration. This program is intended for educators looking to obtain credentials in primary or secondary school administration, and requires a minimum of 45 semester hours and includes three required one-week summer residencies on campus; during their first residency, students engage in a Superintendent Academy experience, and in their second and third residencies, respectively, they complete their doctoral dissertation proposal defense and final dissertation defense on the Lincoln campus. Topics covered in the curriculum for this program include issues of governance for educational institutions, cross-cultural leadership, educational and organizational leadership, system-level school improvement, and business management of schools.

Note: UNL also has an EdD in Educational Studies with Specializations in Innovative Learning Technologies; and Teaching, Curriculum and Learning that is offered in a hybrid format that requires students to live closer to UNL’s campus in Lincoln.

Prospective students who are interested in EdD specializations that are different from the ones described above, such as Special Education, Organizational Leadership, or Education Policy Leadership, may want to consider an online program based out of state. Many colleges and universities around the country offer online EdD programs that accept students who reside in Nebraska. Some of these programs can be completed entirely online, while others require one or more on-campus residencies or in-person events. To learn more about EdD specialization options and browse available programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Featured Online EdD Programs
Maryville University Online Doctor of Education - Higher Education Leadership	Visit Site
Grand Canyon University Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with Emphases in K-12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and Organizational Development	Visit Site
Fairleigh Dickinson University Online Ed.D. in Higher Education	Visit Site
University of West Alabama Online Ed.D. Rural Education with Concentrations in Higher Education Administration, and Organizational Change and Leadership	Visit Site

Online EdD Programs in Nebraska

The following is a comprehensive list of schools in Nebraska that offer Doctor of Education programs online. For further information about any of the EdDs discussed on this page, such as current admission requirements or tuition rates, click the corresponding link below to visit the program’s website.