Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership for Organizations | OnlineDoctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership for Organizations | OnlineDoctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership for Organizations | Online
Advance your career with an online Ed.D. program designed for working professionals.Advance your career with an online Ed.D. program designed for working professionals.Advance your career with an online Ed.D. program designed for working professionals.
- Streamlined Application — No GRE required. Choose from three annual start dates.
- Flexible Schedule — The same rigorous curriculum and faculty as our on-campus program. Keep working while you study with live online classes and self-paced coursework.
- Career Advancement — Prepare to lead with on-campus immersions, personalized career coaching, and full access to our alumni network. Earn your Ed.D. online in as few as 36 months.
The online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership for Organizations from University of Dayton’s School of Education and Health Sciences (SEHS) prepares you to influence change in organizations and the greater community through service-based leadership.
The program’s emphasis on research, collaboration, social justice and applied practice will prepare you to lead mission-driven organizations to success and positive change in emerging contexts. With the service-based leadership expertise you gain in the program, you’ll graduate ready to manage and enact change in 21st-century school and education systems, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and more.
The online Ed.D. program consists of 60 credits and can be completed in 36 months.
The final deadline for the May 2025 cohort is March 3, 2025.
Ed.D. Curriculum
Designed to enable you to gain real-world skills and apply them to your current role, the 60-credit online Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations curriculum includes a dissertation-in-practice and two in-person immersions. With the support of faculty, you will work on your dissertation from day one of the program, allowing you to tailor your experience as you master course material.
Two Immersions
both in person in Dayton, Ohio
Dissertation-in-Practice
with support from
expert faculty
Four Areas of Study
including Leadership
and Communities
Following the University of Dayton’s Marianist tradition of service through leadership, the curriculum will prepare you to lead purposeful organizational change through four curricular components:
Promotion of social justice and diversity
Learning through inquiry, research and application
Using critical reflection in daily decision-making
Building community in organizations
Coursework in the program incorporates the following four areas of study: Research, Assessment and Program Evaluation, Foundations and Contexts, Leadership and Communities, and Dissertation-in-Practice.
On-Campus ImmersionsOn-Campus ImmersionsOn-Campus Immersions
You will meet with classmates and professors during two immersions while in the program. The immersions will take place in person on campus in Dayton, Ohio. One immersion will take place at the end of year one and the other will take place at the end of year three.
These experiences offer you the opportunity to further collaborate with knowledgeable professionals, work on your dissertation and build on the connections you have made online.You will meet with classmates and professors during two immersions while in the program. The immersions will take place in person on campus in Dayton, Ohio. One immersion will take place at the end of year one and the other will take place at the end of year three.
These experiences offer you the opportunity to further collaborate with knowledgeable professionals, work on your dissertation and build on the connections you have made online.You will meet with classmates and professors during two immersions while in the program. The immersions will take place in person on campus in Dayton, Ohio. One immersion will take place at the end of year one and the other will take place at the end of year three.
These experiences offer you the opportunity to further collaborate with knowledgeable professionals, work on your dissertation and build on the connections you have made online.
The Ed.D. Dissertation
Starting in the first term, you will create a dissertation-in-practice, and you will continue to work on it throughout your time in the program. In the dissertation, you will conduct in-depth, independent research in an area that interests you and aligns with your career goals.
This will be an original action research study that balances attention to empirical research and direct application of new knowledge and findings. You may choose a dissertation topic pertaining to your current organization and begin implementing what you learn right away in addition to planning long-term organizational goals.
Expert Dayton SEHS faculty will offer continuous support throughout the dissertation process, and collaboration with classmates in research affinity groups will help you refine your ideas. At the second immersion, you will present a culminating dissertation and receive feedback from professors and peers.
Admission
The University of Dayton online Ed.D. admission committee seeks passionate individuals who are interested in improving organizations and society in their careers. Successful applicants possess a deep interest in learning systems, are skilled communicators and desire to further the missions of their organizations through equity and social justice.
All applicants to the Ed.D. program must hold a master’s degree.
The program offers three start dates per year, in September, January and May. Learn more about our application requirements on the Admission and Financial Aid Overview page.
Take the next step in your career and influence change in your organization.Take the next step in your career and influence change in your organization.Take the next step in your career and influence change in your organization.
Earn your Ed.D. in University of Dayton’s online programEarn your Ed.D. in University of Dayton’s online programEarn your Ed.D. in University of Dayton’s online program
Earn Your Ed.D. Online
As an early adopter of online education, the University of Dayton provides online students with advanced learning technology and an interface that
re-creates the classroom learning experience.
As an online Ed.D. student, you will:
Attend weekly, live-streaming classes featuring HD video and small breakout rooms.
Access coursework through a mobile-friendly and interactive online classroom.
Connect with faculty and classmates using social tools in the virtual campus.
Be able to share screens, collaboratively edit documents and conduct polls and surveys.
Ed.D. Jobs
Graduates of the online Ed.D. program will be prepared to pursue leadership positions related to K–12 education, nonprofits, medical centers and health organizations, government agencies, and private companies.
Ed.D. graduates may pursue careers as:
- City and local government officials
- Public policy leaders
- Postsecondary education administrators
- Health services executives
- Nonprofit and charitable organizers
The program will prepare you with the ability to do the following in various organizational roles:
- Provide leadership in organizations and the communities they serve.
- Develop educational programs in organizations.
- Collaboratively design and implement policy.
- Assess learning and evaluate programs.
- Lead change and improvement efforts.
Why Earn an Ed.D.?
Earning an Ed.D. can prepare you with the additional training and education that is in increasingly high demand in organizations across sectors. Projected employment growth in postsecondary education will allow Ed.D. graduates to pursue administrative or organizational careers in growing college and university systems. The healthcare sector is also increasingly in need of organizational professionals as it expands.
As an Ed.D. degree holder, you can pursue careers in some of today’s fastest-growing sectors and have an impact on pressing 21st-century issues.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Postsecondary teaching jobs
are expected to grow by 12% between 2020 and 2030.1
Medical and health service
management jobs are expected to grow by 32% between 2020 and 2030.2
As a graduate of Dayton’s online Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations program, you will have the deep understanding of organizational systems and practical experience to truly influence change where it is needed in your organization and community.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers (visited September 21, 2021).arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers (visited September 21, 2021).arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
Make a difference as an organizational professional.Make a difference as an organizational professional.Make a difference as an organizational professional.
Learn more about earning your Ed.D. online with the University of Dayton today.Learn more about earning your Ed.D. online with the University of Dayton today.Learn more about earning your Ed.D. online with the University of Dayton today.