Advance Your Career with a Doctor of Education
At the University of Southern Indiana, our online Doctorate in Educational Leadership prepares you to effectively solve problems, manage school policy issues, cultivate curriculum planning, and demonstrate ethical and legal leadership skills.
As an educator, you know that classrooms and educational delivery continue changing and transforming. To keep pace with an ever-evolving world and build a strong future, schools and universities need innovative leaders. Join the ranks of change-makers shaping the next chapter of American education by completing an online Doctor of Education program.
At the University of Southern Indiana, our 100% online Doctorate in Educational Leadership is designed for working professionals like you — dedicated educators who have earned a master’s degree from an accredited university.
Our convenient and affordable Doctor of Education in Leadership program will give you the critical tools and strategies to become an effective leader or administrator. Choose from three concentrations in our online Educational Leadership Doctoral program:
- Higher Education Administrative Leadership – a track that focuses solely on higher education administration
- Pedagogical Leadership – which focuses on classroom planning and management
- School District Administrative Leadership – a track that leads to school district-level licensure
Our online Doctor of Education program consists of just two classes each semester and one in the summer. Whichever specialty path you choose, USI’s program provides an exemplary education that puts you in control. Our program provides some synchronous learning (meets Wednesday's 5:30-8:30pm CST) opportunities that are a personalized, interactive experience for each student. The program is cohort-based, with fall-only admission.
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Boost Your Earning Power with our Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership
A Doctor of Education in Leadership provides the credential you need to enter the highest-paying positions in educational leadership. On average, professional educators who pursue an online educational leadership doctoral program earn $98,490 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When you complete USI’s online Educational Leadership Doctoral program, a whole new world of vocational possibilities becomes available, including:
- Chief academic officer
- Elementary or secondary school administrator
- Educational policy advocate
- College professor or administrator
- Educational researcher
- Curriculum developer
- Submit an online application, $40 application fee, and a list of 3 references (names, relation to you and email address). One must be an employment supervisor and the other two must be professional references.
- Upload the following to your application account:
- A current resume/curriculum vitae. The file should be a PDF and use the following naming convention: First Name Last Name EdD resume.pdf (example: Joe Smith EdD resume.pdf).
- A second PDF answering the following questions:
- How do you foresee this program positively impacting your community?
- What do you perceive as a major social justice issue in your field? How do you hope to address it?
- How will your work contribute to equitable outcomes in education?
- Imagine yourself in 5 years from now/after you graduate, what do you see yourself doing professionally and with whom will you be working with?
- Submit transcripts to Graduate Studies.
- Official transcripts are required only from the institution at which your highest degree was earned. Electronic transcripts are preferred and can be emailed from the previous institution to Graduate.Studies@usi.edu
- Unofficial transcripts from other institutions attended can be submitted via email by the applicant to Graduate.Studies@usi.edu
- Applicants who wish to seek transfer credit for graduate coursework must submit an official transcript from the institution where that work was completed.
- Mailed transcripts can be sent to this address:
Graduate Studies
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
- Read the full transcript policy by clicking here.
- International applicants may be required to submit additional information.
Courses within the EdD are offered entirely online using a learning management system and videoconferencing. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. CST. Access to a reliable computer with internet access, microphone, speakers and a camera are required.
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern Indiana is a cohort program based on a practitioner-scholar, community-based model. The purpose of the program is to transform leaders, organizations, and communities through focused, flexible study addressing real-world problems and issues. A unique characteristic of the program is a curriculum in which each course is community-based, i.e. course content is connected to the graduate student's community. Academic study is connected to concepts, issues, and content that are familiar, understandable, accessible, and personally relevant to each student. In each course, students will apply learning in practical real-life settings. The program of study includes an 18-hour leadership core, a 12-hour research sequence, the choice of a 15-hour concentration in administrative leadership or pedagogical leadership, and a 15-hour dissertation sequence. Both concentration areas include an internship.
Go Further with an Accredited Doctor of Education Online Program.
Education licensure programs are approved by the Indiana Department of Education and are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
USI’s community-based approach provides unique benefits
Our Doctor of Education in Leadership course content connects you to your community. That means you’ll study ideas and concepts that are familiar and personally relevant. You will gain an understanding of the interplay between schools and community well-being.
After you complete your online Doctorate in Educational Leadership, you can immediately apply your classroom knowledge, practical experience and theoretical training to real-world settings.
We know strong leaders are prepared leaders. You’ll appreciate our online Doctor of Education program as it prepares you for the issues and problems you’ll face, both in your school community and the larger community where you serve.
Our outstanding curriculum prepares you for the future
At USI, our online doctorate in educational leadership features diverse courses taught by exceptional faculty members. Our challenging online educational leadership doctoral program sets you up for success.
As you pursue your Doctor of Education in Leadership, you’ll gain a solid educational foundation that includes knowledge of the law, policy, finance and diversity.
Our online educational leadership doctoral program prepares you to become an effective and thoughtful educational leader. Along with your cohort, you’ll study:
- Legal and Ethical Issues for Educational Leaders
- Analyzing Race, Class, and Gender Dynamics in American Education
- Creating Community-Based Curricular Change
- Orchestrating a Community-Based Educational Vision
Expand each section below to see the complete 60 credit hours you'll earn to complete the program.
- EDLE 725 - Becoming a Community-Based Educational Leader
- EDLE 731 - Analyzing Race, Class, and Gender Dynamics in American Schooling
- EDLE 705 - Introduction to Educational Research
- EDLE 706 - Statistical Literacy for Educational Leaders
- EDLE 707 - Survey of Qualitative Research Methods
- EDLE 708 - Advanced Research Methods and Design
Choose one specialization.
This specialization leads to school district-level licensure.
- EDLE 726 - Legal and Ethical Issues for Educational Leaders
- EDLE 727 - Special Education Policy and Practice
- EDLE 728 - Evaluating School Effectiveness Through a Community Lens
- EDLE 732 - Creating Community-Based Curricular Change
- EDLE 755 - Orchestrating a Community-Based Educational Vision
- EDLE 756 - School Personnel Management
- EDLE 757 - Analytical Decision-Making
- EDLE 758 - School Finance
- EDLE 760 - Internship in School District Administration
- EDLE 723 - The History and Leadership of Higher Education
- EDLE 724 - Policy and Practice in Higher Education
- EDLE 742 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Higher Education
- EDLE 743 - Organization and Management of Colleges and Universities
- EDLE 744 - Technology & Organizational Innovation
- EDLE 745 - Competitive Context of Higher Education
- EDLE 746 - Budgeting and Finance in Higher Education
- EDLE 748 - The College Student Experience
- EDLE 780 - Internship in Higher Education Leadership
- NOTE: EDLE 780 Internship in Higher Education Administration is taken Summer, Fall, and Spring for 1 credit hour for a total of 3 credit hours.
The following courses are required for the Pedagogical Leadership Concentration:
- EDLE 732 - Creating Community-Based Curricular Change
- EDLE 744 - Technology & Organizational Innovation
- EDLE 762 - Curriculum Theory
- EDLE 763 - Community-Based Curriculum and Instruction
- EDLE 770 - Internship in Pedagogical Leadership*
- NOTE: EDLE 770 Internship in Pedagogical Leadership is taken Summer, Fall, and Spring for 1 credit hour for a total of 3 credit hours.
You will then choose 4 courses from the following pairs:
- EDLE 723 - The History and Leadership of Higher Education OR
EDLE 728 - Evaluating School Effectiveness through a Community Lens - EDLE 724 - Policy and Practice in Higher Education OR
EDLE 727 - Special Education Policy and Practice - EDLE 726 - Legal and Ethical Issues for Educational Leaders OR
EDLE 742 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Higher Education - EDLE 748 - The College Student Experience OR
EDLE 764 - Literacy and Technology in Twenty-First Century Schools
The final 15 credits are the dissertation-in-practice.
- EDLE 800 - The Research Proposal
- EDLE 805 - Seminar in Community-Based Educational Research
- EDLE 899 - Dissertation Research - A total of 9 credits is required.
Earn Your Doctor of Education with USI.
| Course Start | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline |
| 08/19/24 | 04/01/24 | 05/01/24 | 08/12/24 |