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Leadership in Higher Education
The Leadership in Higher Education specialization digs deep into a variety of topics specific to higher education, such as how higher education is organized, how it is financed, legal issues and the history of higher education, and will provide you with knowledge of educational leadership research, theory and practices applicable to higher education. You will also conduct action or applied research to identify future directions of national and global higher education leadership. As a Leadership in Higher Education graduate, you will have the knowledge and skills to lead organizations in higher education.
General Degree Requirements
The EdD program may be completed in 54 credits. However, up to an additional 12 credit hours will be allowed as needed to complete the dissertation research. An Academic Advisor or Enrollment Specialist evaluates each student individually and works with the student to create an academically sound Learning Plan based on prior academics and their professional goals.
Completion Period for Doctoral Degrees
Northcentral University allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less. Normal time to complete varies depending upon course take rate and credits transferred.
Northcentral University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed toward a non-conferred doctoral degree at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. Transfer credit is only awarded for course work that is evaluated to be substantially equivalent in content with the required course work for the EdD program.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The EdD program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country.
Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree Requirements
- Individuals with a previously completed master’s degree will meet the basis of admission to the Doctor of Education Program.
- Students must complete all doctoral courses with a Grade Point Average of 3.00 (B) or higher.
- EdD students must demonstrate competency in specific subject areas prior to enrolling in any of the specialization or elective courses.
Doctoral Dissertation Process
The School of Education has developed a logical step-by-step process that assists in completing an EdD applied research dissertation. Northcentral University provides a detailed EdD Dissertation Handbook that explains the process and Northcentral University's dissertation support structure. The EdD doctoral research courses, the comprehensive exam course and the dissertation courses are specifically designed to guide students through the process.
The dissertation is the capstone academic achievement of the EdD. The EdD dissertation is applied, project based and results in a product designed to produce appreciable improvements in the student's school or organization and must also impact the student's leadership growth. Although applied and project based, the EdD dissertation is a scholarly document. To earn the EdD degree, the student must demonstrate the ability, drive and determination; and Northcentral University will provide the faculty, the academic support and process to assist in the attainment of high academic goals.
The School of Education offers students the opportunity to pursue an area of specialization within a degree program. Students who complete at least 18 semester credit hours in a specific specialization may elect to have the specialization recorded on their transcript and diploma.
Northcentral University recognizes that each student is unique, and therefore evaluates each application based not only on what courses or program of study a student has accomplished previously, but takes into consideration which specialization is being pursued at Northcentral University and their current and future professional goals.
Course Length
Existing EdD students may opt to switch to eight-week courses by contacting their Academic Advisor. Once existing EdD students have opted for eight-week courses, they must receive approval from the Office of the Dean to switch back to a program of 12-week courses. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU7002 / EDU7002-8 | Educational Research Methodology | The purpose of this course is to enable students to gain a holistic understanding of the research process and examine the most common research designs used in educational research. In this course, students are prepared to make thoughtful and wise choices about their dissertation research project or capstone project through the exploration of different research design options. |
Specialization Course 1 | ||
EDU7003 / EDU7003-8 | Statistics I | This course provides an introductory exploration of statistics for the graduate student. It includes instruction on the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics, and introduces inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts to help the student understand statistical methodology as used in education, and also more generally, developing a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
Specialization Course 5 | ||
EDU7702 / EDU7702-8 | Research Design (Methods Course 1) | In this course, the student acquires the basic skills necessary for the interpretation and application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. The student will examine the formal research process carefully, with an emphasis on practical applications and skill development. Critical concepts and principles intrinsic to research paradigms, study designs, and methods of inquiry are presented to empower the student's ability to formulate and respond to research questions. |
Specialization Course 6 | ||
EDU7005 / EDU7005-8 | Qualitative Methods (EdD only) (Methods Course 2) or Quantitative Methods | Qualitative Methods: This course is an examination of qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, and case studies. A few months prior to this course, students must consult with their Academic Advisors to consider whether the alternate course on Quantitative Methods (EDU7006) might better suit their plans for a dissertation. Quantitative Methods: The student contacts their Academic Advisor to assist them with selecting the appropriate research methods course based on their proposed research design. The Academic Advisor then updates the students degree program with the selected research methods course. Options are EDU7703 Qualitative Methods or EDU7704 Quantitative Methods. |
EDU7707 / EDU7707-8 | Planning Dissertation Research in Education | Students in this course will begin the process of writing a dissertation for a research or professional doctorate. The course will address the University dissertation procedures and aids students in the process of successfully completing a dissertation, including attending to self-care and time management. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU7101 / EDU7101-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study in Education (This course will be taken as the first course) | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a doctoral degree in Education. Doctoral level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
EDU7001 / EDU7001-8 | Advanced Scholarly Writing | The purpose of this course is to build advanced skills identifying and obtaining high quality sources through online library searches. In addition, the course addresses advanced writing and APA formatting skills, and it prepares students to be critically reflective consumers of research reports. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
LHE7004-8 | Organization and Governance of Higher Education | This course introduces doctoral Learners to the classical theories, traditional models, and contemporary readings regarding approaches and structures relative to organizational governance in higher education. Topical areas to be covered include organizational theory, governance models, campus climate, institutional change, and diversity. |
LHE7005-8 | Exploring Legal Issues in Higher Education | This course enables doctoral students to develop a fundamental understanding of the importance of legal issues in higher education and their impact on individual rights and responsibilities as well as those of institutions of higher education. |
LHE7006-8 | Student Affairs Leadership | Within this course, doctoral Learners study the evolution and current practices of student affairs in higher education. The philosophical, historical, conceptual, and research foundations of the profession and the cultural and organizational contexts of student affairs will be explored. Learners will examine how various functional areas contribute to learning, personal development and other elements of the institutional mission. Learners will also explore how current trends in campus demographics impact student affairs programming. |
LHE7007-8 | Strategic Enrollment Leadership | Community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities can use information and intelligence to improve relationships throughout the institution, an approach known as strategic enrollment management. Similar methodologies can be applied to prospective and current students, alumni and donors. The enhanced relationships that result can increase enrollments, improve graduation rates and advance the institution. The program provides Learners with the best principles and practices for leading recruitment, enrollment management, and institutional advancement efforts. Learners will focus on effective enrollment management and leadership, recruitment, retention, institutional advancement, student service, targeted communication, applying technology to enrollment management and developing an institution-wide strategic enrollment process. Learners have the opportunity to customize this course to their particular professional setting and goals. |
LHE7008-8 | Higher Education Finance | This course will provide students with an overview of financial issues applicable to higher education in the United States. Students will engage a broad foundation of theory, practice, research, and policy of higher education economics. Topics will include societal investment in higher education, methods of finance, costs of higher education, and budgeting concepts. |
LHE7010-8 | Current Trends and Topics in Higher Education | This course explores areas of interest in higher education. Often these areas are new topics of special interest to higher education. At times, areas of higher education that are receiving attention nationally will be highlighted through this course. |
LHE7011-8 | Foundations of Higher Education Leadership | The purpose of this doctoral course is to provide a foundation for the nuances of higher education leadership and theory. Emphasis will be given to the practical application of higher education leadership theories and the academic and administrative roles of an institution of higher education. Students will explore best practices to uncover links that can be made to increase the value of higher education practices. |
LHE7012-8 | Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness in Higher Education | Institutional and programmatic planning in tandem with the concern for institutional effectiveness often present academic leadership with more questions than answers: How does one create the future in a time of rapid change? Where does the process essential to creating responsive, transformational change in higher learning organizations begin? Who among us should be trusted with guiding deep change in the very essence of the academy? How does one take on new programmatic initiatives without losing sight of the traditional strengths and values of the academy? How does one respond to rapidly evolving missions, confront disruptive technologies, and attain operational flexibilities in a highly competitive environment? How does one build a learning organization that does not make absolute loyalty to tradition a precondition for experimentation and action? And, importantly, how does one both stay the course and modify chosen strategic paths through the employment of practical assessment models and outcomes measures. Critically, a major goal of this course will be to insure an understanding of and appreciation for the range of approaches that can be taken to strategic planning, explicitly linking all strategies with the principles and best practices that support the drive toward institutional effectiveness. |
LHE7013-8 | Community College Curriculum and Program Development | Community Colleges enroll close to 50% of all students who begin higher education in the United States. What happens at community colleges affects the course of study, and the nature of learning for nearly half of all higher education students. This course provides students with an in-depth examination of higher education curriculum issues and specifically those of the contemporary community college curricula. Students will gain perspective on the educational, economic, political and social forces that have influenced the development of the community college, and its associated curriculum. |
LHE7014-8 | Introduction to the Community College | This course provides the student with a foundational understanding of the history, nature, and purpose of the American community college. The emphasis is on the public community college with a comprehensive educational program that includes general education, career education, community services, workforce development, basic skills education, and student development services. The course provides the student with both practical and theoretical knowledge relative to leadership and management of the contemporary community college. Students will gain perspectives on the educational, economic, political, and social forces that have influenced the development of the community college. Throughout the course students will review literature relating to the state of the community college as well as research focusing on "best practice" in these institutions. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
CMP9400E | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination | In their pursuit of a professional doctoral degree (EdD) at Northcentral University, students gain expertise in their academic discipline and in one or more specializations that complement their academic discipline. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is intended to assure that students have mastered knowledge of their discipline before candidacy status is achieved and their dissertation work is initiated. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is taken following the completion of all foundation, specialization, and methods courses. This course is graded using Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grading criteria. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be successfully completed with an (S) grade prior to beginning any work in Dissertation courses. This course may only be retaken once. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
DIS9401E | Doctoral Dissertation Research I | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9402E | Doctoral Dissertation Research II | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9403E | Doctoral Dissertation Research III | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9404E | Doctoral Dissertation Research IV | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Doctor of Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your EdD program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s EdD costs below:
- Per credit cost: $820
- Per 3 credit course cost: $2,461
- Program cost: $44,298
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
