Dare to Imagine a New World in Education
You’re committed to innovation and reform in education, now you need the practical skill set to put your ideas into action. 91Â鶹 Online’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Innovation with a concentration in Leadership is a rigorous, cohort-based program designed for working professionals who want to lead transformational change in education.
Students progress together through a structured curriculum focused on real-world problem-solving, policy analysis, and research-based innovation culminating in an applied dissertation project.
The online format expands access for working professionals through flexible coursework with optional synchronous sessions to deepen learning, allowing educators to work together to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Are you ready to imagine a new world in education? Make it happen at 91Â鶹 Online.
Next Application Deadline: October 1
Grounded in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) model, the EdD program emphasizes practitioner-driven research, culturally responsive leadership and social justice.
91Â鶹's College of Education and Human Development prepares EdD graduates to solve a range of challenges in education through innovative reform, with a comprehensive understanding of topics including the following:
Earning your EdD in Educational Innovation with a concentration in Leadership prepares you with practitioner-focused, research-intensive skills to support your advancement as an education leader. EdD graduates are poised to take on leadership roles in K-12 and higher education, as well as policy organizations, technology firms, community organizations and nonprofits.
Take a look at the range of roles available to EdD-prepared professionals.*
Postsecondary Education Administrator
Median Annual Salary: $103,960
Political Scientist (Education, Nonprofit)
Median Annual Salary: $139,380
Management Analyst (Education)
Median Annual Salary: $99,410
Training and Development Manager (Corporate, Tech, Nonprofit)
Median Annual Salary: $127,090
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager (Education, Nonprofit)
Median Annual Salary: $132,870
*Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Earning a graduate degree is about more than career advancement — it’s about developing the skills to live a better, more financially stable life. Thanks to our affordably priced and career-focused graduate degrees, we rank in the top 5 percent for increased economic mobility for low- and moderate-income students, according to the Economic Mobility Index, a tool created by the Third Way think tank.
*$906 per credit hour for out-of-state students
Learn More About Financing Your Degree
As a student in the EdD program, you’ll progress through coursework alongside your cohort, completing your studies in just three years. This streamlined approach allows you to earn a doctoral-level degree in less than half the time of most doctoral programs.
Designed for full-time educators and professionals, the EdD offers a mostly asynchronous format with optional synchronous sessions — allowing you to maintain work-life balance while earning a rigorous, respected doctoral degree.
Unlike traditional PhD programs, this EdD is specifically designed for professionals who want to remain in practice — whether in K-12, higher ed or nonprofit leadership — while scaling their impact through innovation and reform.
The program culminates in an applied dissertation project, which you can complete as a group within your cohort, fostering collaboration to address education-related challenges with fellow practitioners who share your goals.
The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Innovation is a 49- to 54-credit hour program designed to be completed in three years over seven consecutive semesters.
Core Courses (40-45 total credit hours)
EDEI 8160: Curriculum Theory (3 credits)
EDEI 8020: Design and Analysis in Education (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8460: Leadership and Interpersonal Dynamics (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8162: Advanced Principles of Pedagogy and Learning Theory (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8021: Advanced Practice in Applied Quantitative Research (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8167: Educational Technology to Transform Practice (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8022: Advanced Practice in Applied Qualitative Research (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8001: Equity and Social Justice (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8998: EdD Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8025: Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis in Education (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8026: Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis in Education (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8000: Intro to Scholarly Practitioner Learning Communities (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8461: Educational Change (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8999: EdD Dissertation in Practice (1-6 credit hours)
Educational Leadership Concentration Courses (9 total credit hours)
EDEI 8420: Economics of Public Education (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8430:Philanthropic Development for Leading Innovation (3 credit hours)
EDEI 8450: Leading Innovations in Teaching and Learning (3 credit hours)
Research Residency
As part of the EdD in Educational Leadership program, students will participate in a two-day, on-campus Research Residency* designed to launch their dissertation journey. Scheduled during the short break between the first and second semesters, the residency provides dedicated time to develop and refine dissertation topics in a supportive, collaborative environment and build community and mentorship connections with peers and faculty.
During the workshop, students will form research groups, begin topic exploration, and prepare for EDEI 8020 and future coursework. This hands-on experience is a key milestone in helping students focus their research and build a strong foundation for their dissertation.
*In Spring/Summer 2026, the residency will take place on Friday, May 15 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and Saturday, May 16 (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) at 91Â鶹.
To be considered for admission to the online EdD program, the following materials must be submitted with your application:
91Â鶹 Online brings the tight-knit community experience found on campus to students across the country. Small class sizes, engaged professors, strong relationships with a multitude of professional organizations and valuable input from subject matter experts across industries allow our graduate degrees to provide students with individualized attention and practical, real-world skills. One of the country’s top universities for improving economic outcomes for low- and moderate-income graduates, 91Â鶹 Online gives students a truly transformative degree experience that allows them to make a profound impact on their lives and the lives of their students.
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