Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs in Washington

Currently, there is one school in the state of Washington that offers a Doctor of Education program online. City University of Seattle has an EdD in Leadership students can pursue entirely online in a number of different specializations, with the option to attend three in-person residency sessions during their studies. CityU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). To learn more about its online EdD program, continue reading below.

Schools in Washington with Online EdD Programs

As mentioned above, City University of Seattle’s School of Applied Leadership offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership online with three concentrations to choose from: Organizational Leadership, Higher Educational Leadership, or Specialized Study. In the Organizational Leadership track, students explore advanced topics related to management strategy, systems thinking, and collaborative decision making, gaining leadership skills they can apply to challenges in almost any organization. The Higher Education concentration, on the other hand, prepares students specifically for leadership roles in college and university settings, focusing on student development, academic support, academic leadership, and administration. Those who choose the Specialized Study option can design their own degree concentration based around a more specific field of interest. Some popular focus areas include Inspired Teacher Leadership, Strategic Innovation and Decision Making, Adult Education and Online Learning, Nonprofit Leadership, Global Leadership, or Entrepreneurship.

CityU’s online EdD in Leadership requires a total of 90 quarter credits; however, students may be able to transfer up to 12 credits from a previous graduate program toward their doctorate. Curriculum is comprised of Leadership Core Courses, a Research Core, concentration coursework, and several courses related to dissertation development. All students complete the six-course Leadership Core, which includes classes in Leadership Theories and Analysis, Cultural Competence in a Diverse Society, Leading Organizational Change, Socially and Environmentally Responsible Leadership, Ethical Organizational Leadership, Strategic Thinking, and Developing Leaders of the Future. The required Research Core includes five courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods and advanced research design. Finally, students take courses in their chosen concentration area, studying specific topics related to their area of focus. The Organizational Leadership concentration, for example, offers courses in Collaborative Coaching, Leading in a Global Environment, Organizational Design and Culture, and Managing Complexity in Organizations, while the Higher Education concentration includes courses in Legal Issues in Higher Education, Academic Governance and Resource Allocation, Student Populations and Experiences, and The Future of Higher Education.

While the EdD program can be completed entirely online, students are encouraged to attend three optional in-person residencies, either on campus in Seattle during the summer or in San Diego in the winter. All three focus on different phases of students’ dissertation. During the first residency, students work on the development of the Problem Statement, Purpose Statement, and Research Question sections of their Dissertation Prospectus. The second residency focuses on skills needed for composing literature reviews and methods sections of an applied dissertation in leadership. Finally, in the third residency, students prepare their findings and conclusions, as well as plan their dissertation defense and strategies for dissemination. For those who cannot attend these residencies in person, an online option is available.

Students interested in degree specializations not available at City University of Seattle, such as Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education, or K-12 Administration, may want to consider pursuing their EdD online from a school in another state. Many out-of-state schools offer online EdD programs that accept students from Washington. To learn more about the different EdD concentrations, as well as browse available online programs, check out our Online EdD Program Specializations page.

Online EdD Programs in Washington

Below is a link to City University of Seattle’s online Doctor of Education in Leadership program. To learn more about the EdD and its specialization options, click below to visit the school’s website.