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Doctor of Education (EdD)
Request InformationLead the future of education with an EdD from Walden, the Educator of Educators™. Transform learning achievement in your organization and community.
Next start dates
- Course-Based Courses with a set schedule November 30, 2020
Transfer Credits
- Up to 39 Credits
Learn from a leader in doctoral education degrees.
You see where the field of education needs to go. Lead the way forward with an EdD online program from Walden University's CAEP-accredited Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. Gain the skills and credentials to shape decision-making, solve complex problems, and forge brighter futures in a changing world. An EdD helps educators deepen their mastery of leading-edge developments in the field and positively influence learning outcomes in your school, district, or organization.
Educational Leader
Walden is No. 1 in education professional doctoral and PhD graduates in the U.S.1 and the choice for more than 150 state teachers of the year. Join a community of educational leaders.
Actionable Learning
Explore true-to-life challenges you’ll face in your career with Grand City, an interactive, multimedia simulation. Build practical skills in a safe yet authentic environment.
Capstone Component
Align your research capstone topic with your professional passion. Apply your newfound knowledge to your community or organization.
Personalized Support
You’re never alone in earning your EdD online. From research coaches to peer mentors, assistance is always available to help you stay on track.
Saving Opportunities
Are you an education professional with principal licensure and a minimum of three years of administrative experience? You may qualify for a 25-credit block transfer.
Faculty Excellence
Our faculty includes 300+ honorees for excellence in teaching and mentorship.
Program Savings
Receive your first course at no cost if you reside in the U.S. and start this program on November 30, 2020. Contact one of our enrollment specialists to learn more.
Get Started NowCommunity College Leadership
Prepare to be a scholar-practitioner who can effectively lead successful 21st-century community colleges.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Gain expertise in the latest research and best practices in learner-centered curriculum.
Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure)
Gain the skills to foster positive outcomes in positions working with young children, families, and communities.
Educational Administration and Leadership (for Administrators)
Increase your ability to influence and transform your educational organization.
Educational Administration and Leadership (Non-Licensure)
Increase your ability to influence and transform your educational organization.
Educational Technology
Learn to develop and lead technology-supported solutions to learning challenges in the K–12 classroom.
Higher Education and Adult Learning
Prepare to design, develop, and lead successful adult learning programs within higher education institutions, corporations, and workforce development settings.
Higher Education Leadership and Management
Gain the leadership skills and management knowledge you need to lead meaningful and sustainable change across your institution.
Higher Education (Self-Designed)
Design a specialization that most closely matches your personal passions and professional goals.
P–20 Education (Self-Designed)
Create a highly customized doctoral experience unique to your personal and professional goals by choosing from a wide range of electives.
Reading, Literacy, and Assessment
Gain expertise in the latest research and best practices in reading and literacy and influence achievement in these key areas.
Special Education
Advance your professional growth while deepening your understanding of the critical trends and issues impacting special education today.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for this doctoral program, you must have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university and meet the general admissions requirements. All applicants must submit a completed online application and transcripts. Depending on program specialization, additional requirements may apply. More information for international applicants.
A Program Designed With You in Mind
Finding a balance between work, studies, and your personal life is important. That’s why we’ve built a program with busy educators like you in mind. Although you’re learning online, you’re never in it alone. From start to finish, get access to a wealth of exceptional student resources designed to move you forward, from writing support to on-demand webinars.
Earning your doctorate is the ultimate intellectual challenge, and Walden’s online learning environment is designed to help all educators succeed. You bring your curiosity, drive, and determination. We’ll help you reach the finish line, step by step.
What’s the difference between an EdD and a PhD in Education? Learn more about the advantages of each program to decide which is best for you.
Be an Educator of the Future
In a complex education field, earning a “Dr.” in front of your name will open doors you never imagined. Go further in your career and attain a new level of credibility, respect, and influence with Walden’s EdD online program. Gain the insights to think bigger, create novel solutions, and impact the “big picture” for your school district or organization for years to come. Become a sought-after education expert and change-maker with the power to shape better student outcomes—and brighter futures.
What’s the Career Impact of Earning Your EdD?
Lead the Way in Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders
Being an effective educator means understanding the change that must happen in the field—and leading the charge to get there. Gain the skills and support you need to stay on the cutting edge with a Walden Doctor of Education degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for education administrators and postsecondary teachers are expected to grow at faster-than-average and much faster-than-average rates through 2029:2
- Education administrators, postsecondary: 4%
- Training and development managers: 7%
- Postsecondary teachers: 9%
- Elementary, middle, and high school principals: 4%
What Can I Do With an EdD?
As an EdD graduate, you can pursue teaching roles in K–12 and higher education settings as well as in healthcare, government, corporate, or nonprofit settings. This degree also prepares you for administrative positions, such as associate dean, director of education, or director of instruction.
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this online doctorate in education degree program.
Enhance Your Earning Potential
A Doctor of Education could potentially lead to higher earnings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage for certain doctoral-level jobs as of May 2019 are as follows:3
- Education administrators, postsecondary: $95,410
- Training and development managers: $113,350
- Postsecondary teachers: $79,540
- Education administrators, elementary and secondary school: $96,400
Testimonials
Now that I’ve earned my EdD from Walden, I can really effect positive social change and build bridges between mothers and healthcare professionals. I love what I do.
Katrina Fuller EdD Graduate
The most rewarding aspect of pursuing my degree at Walden was the relationships and network that I formed.
Angela Valdez EdD Graduate
I am a first-generation college graduate. By earning my degree, I’ve set a positive example for my son. I know I’ve shown him that he can do anything.
Kimberly Sabrina McDuffie EdD Graduate
Resource Articles
The Benefits of an EdD
Resource Articles
Choosing the EdD Specialization That’s Right for You
FAQ About Walden’s Online Doctor of Education
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The benefits of earning your Doctor of Education (EdD) are numerous. An EdD is a terminal degree in education practice, which means earning your doctorate will put you among the most educated in your field. The degree can be an important part of your résumé and can help demonstrate to potential employers that you have the education and skills necessary to succeed at a high level. Whether your chosen field is K–12, early childhood, or higher education, or whether you focused on program development, policymaking, or corporate education, earning a Doctor of Education degree can take your career to new heights.
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When you pursue your Doctor of Education (EdD) degree, there are a lot of great specialization options from which to choose. Select the one that is most aligned with your passion and goals and your work will become even more important to you. Walden University offers a number of options, including:
- Community College Leadership
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- Early Childhood Education
- Educational Administration and Leadership
- Educational Technology
- Higher Education and Adult Learning
- Higher Education Leadership and Management
- Higher Education (Self-Designed)
- P–20 Education (Self-Designed)
- Reading, Literacy, and Assessment
- Special Education
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As a doctoral student, you will learn research methods, plan and design your research, and present your findings in a scholarly paper called a doctoral study. The study’s purpose is to make an original contribution to your field by creating a practical solution to a real problem.
In a doctoral study, you will identify a problem, present your methodology, describe your project, make observations about your findings, and present your practical solution. The doctoral study’s components demonstrate your competence in research and research design, your subject matter expertise, and your command of critical thinking and academic writing.
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A PhD degree, also known as an academic doctoral degree, can be pursued by college graduates who don’t yet have relevant work experience or by working professionals who are interested in using their advanced research skills and dissertation to add to the existing body of knowledge in their field.
A professional doctorate is designed for working professionals with practical experience in their field. Professionals often choose a doctoral program to increase their knowledge, advance their careers, and translate their work experience into a higher position of credibility, leadership, and influence. The coursework and research allow students to connect existing theories with practice. Professional doctoral research focuses more on applying existing theories and knowledge to address real-world problems.
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An EdD can lead to a career either inside or outside traditional education settings. Thanks to the problem-solving skills taught in EdD degree programs, a variety of public and private organizations seek out EdD graduates to fill important positions. Some of the jobs held by graduates of EdD degree programs include:
- K–12 administrator
- University dean or associate dean
- University faculty
- Education policymaker or policy writer
- Education researcher
- Superintendent
- School principal
- Education program director or coordinator
- Adult educator and trainer
- Civil service leader
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Questions about our Doctor of Education?
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