Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership

The Ed.D. is designed for completion within eight consecutive semesters (three years). You will take two eight-week courses each semester in an interactive online cohort with two face-to-face, one-week summer residencies that occur between the first and second and second and third years. You may also apply your 18 Online credits to your Ed.D., allowing you to save time and money on your degree.

The healthcare emphasis in the Ed.D. program will equip you the skills and knowledge to teach, practice and perform research across healthcare and education. Graduates of the program will find leadership positions at hospitals, educational institutions and research organizations.

You’ll find our professors to be personable, responsive and invested in your success. Faculty are highly credentialed, possess P-12 and higher education administrative experience, and collaborate to advance your learning and progression though the program.

MSUM’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is delivered via a cohort model through a combination of online courses and interactive instructional mentoring and communications. Created for full-time employees, the program allows you to take classes while working, put theory into action through clinical assignments, and conduct action research to guide the framework for your dissertation.

The cohort admissions model welcomes mid-career and seasoned professionals, making it an interesting and knowledgeable mix of viewpoints and experiences that represents a variety of areas within myriad educational organizations. You’ll find a strong sense of interprofessional collaboration within the program that frequently translates to professional partnerships and joint efforts post-graduation.

MSUM's Ed.D. was ranked among the 10 Best Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership Programs by Forbes Advisor. It's the only program from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa on the list.

In the Ed.D. program, you will conduct applied research to address today’s educational challenges, enhance your soft skills to promote innovative leadership practice, and grow your professional learning network to encourage collaboration. Upon completion of your doctorate in Educational Leadership at MSUM, you will transform educational institutions by putting theory into practice.

Study Online with a One Week Residency. The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership is available for international applicants who wish to stay in their home country and study online with the following caveat. The applicant must be able to attend a one week summer residency at Minnesota State University Moorhead. This program is not eligible for a normal student visa (F1 or J1). Students who need a visa to enter the United States for the 1-week residency should obtain a B-1 temporary tourist visa from their local US Embassy.