Doctorate in Education (EdD) Programs (Online & Accelerated)

Our Online and Accelerated Executive EdD programs offer pathways to advanced leadership in a variety of career contexts. Whether you aim to change special education for pre-K-12 students, want to teach in a college, or want to pursue leadership roles in education-related charities or government organizations, we have a doctorate degree option for you. 
 
Leadership in Higher Education
This accelerated doctoral program focuses on meeting the needs of the 21st-century higher education student by driving improvements in curriculum, teaching and learning options, student affairs and more. This program focuses on administrative leadership and includes coursework in student retention, financial management, policy, governance and related issues.

Leadership in Special Education
The leadership in special education track is designed for experienced special education professionals who want to develop programs for individual students, direct special education offerings at the school or district level, or impact special education policy through research and advocacy. This option also allows you to pursue an optional Special Education Supervisor Certification.

Leadership in PK-12 Schools and School Districts
Create transformative change in public or private schools and the communities they serve with this online EdD option. This program equips you for administrative, executive, financial or academic leadership. We also offer the opportunity to pursue your Superintendent Letter of Eligibility as part of this program.

Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Develop advanced teaching skills for campus-based and virtual post-secondary classrooms with this doctoral degree option. This concentration addresses curriculum, program development and policy advocacy skills. 

A.B.D. Completion Option
If you have completed coursework for an EdD program elsewhere, we also offer a doctoral degree completion program which lets you take advantage of our dissertation support and accelerated schedule. You can work with our admissions team to develop a personalized degree plan and graduate in 18 months. 

Earning your doctorate in education online with GMercyU offers a number of advantages.

First and foremost, there is the flexibility: Online courses can be scheduled around your current work, and the lack of full-time residency requirements means you don’t have to relocate. 

Next, our online doctorate program offers an accelerated schedule that enables you to complete your EdD in less time than you would think. At GMercyU, our online EdD program takes as few as two years and eight months to complete, while our ABD (All But Dissertation) Completion Program takes as few as 18 months.

Another benefit of our online doctoral programs is that they connect you to a broader network of professional classmates than you might find in a campus-based program. Thanks to the interactive learning environment, you can form meaningful relationships with your classmates.

Unlike traditional doctoral programs that have you complete your dissertation on your own with no structure or guidance, our program offers a unique, built-in dissertation structure. We provide courses that have you working directly on the dissertation  throughout the program, with the support you need to complete it on time, alongside your coursework. 

GMercyU's program is helmed by Raymond Bandlow, PhD, who received this prestigious award for innovation in higher education from the American Association of University Administrators. Earning your doctorate in education online with GMercyU gives you the opportunity to connect with Dr. Bandlow and other experienced faculty instructors. In addition to supporting and engaging you during your classwork, these seasoned educators can help you hone your research skills, challenge you to think differently and — most important of all — support you as you develop and write your dissertation.

According to findings by the Council of Graduate Schools’ PhD Completion Project, only 55% of doctoral students complete their programs within 10 years of starting. GMercyU’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership is a leader in EdD programs with a graduation rate of 76% vs. the 11% national average in three to four years.

For you, this means GMercyU’s approach to accelerated online doctoral education offers you a better chance of completing your EdD in a reasonable amount of time — so you can advance your career and do more for students sooner. 

A doctorate in education (EdD) is a terminal degree designed to empower administrative and executive leaders in education. EdD programs also equip higher education teachers to deliver more effective instruction. The EdD aims to produce educators, administrators, and leaders who are equipped to drive transformational change. In your EdD program, you will gain skills to:

• Direct teaching, assessment and curriculum development
• Recruit, coach and retain faculty and staff
• Evaluate education policy and advocate for change
• Conduct and apply education research
• Lead community relations and outreach

The EdD is distinct from a PhD in education. The EdD is focused on practical administrative effectiveness at an advanced level. It incorporates, but does not prioritize, scholarly research skills. A PhD in education inverts these priorities, putting academic research and scholarly inquiry first. Teaching and leadership skills come second. In addition, PhD programs can take five or more years to complete, while EdD programs often feature an accelerated format. At GMercyU, for example, you can complete our EdD program in less than three years of online study.

Both doctorate degree in education options include a dissertation — a research-based piece of scholarship in which the student makes a unique contribution to the field of education. 

In our accelerated doctoral programs, you are matched with a dissertation advisor from day one, and regularly meet to discuss your progress to ensure you finish on time and avoid the dreaded “A.B.D.” — All But Dissertation — status. 

What career paths can you pursue when you earn your EdD online? Your options will vary depending on your previous experience and certifications. Here are some possibilities, including national salary data and brief job descriptions.