Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership & Administration online
Earn your terminal degree to prepare for advanced positions in higher education.
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Program Overview
Discover the advantages of an online Ed.D. in higher education leadership
$24,900*
In-State Tuition
As few as 32 months
Program Duration
60
Credit Hours
Earn your CAEP-accredited Ed.D. in higher education leadership online and be prepared for career advancement into leadership roles at the college or university level. Gain practical, career-relevant tools in this research-driven, academically rigorous program while examining theories and research about learning processes, leadership in academia, diversity in higher education and ethical decision-making. You will also gain experience in legal and financial issues and building organizational culture and community partnerships. Establish relationships with supportive, experienced faculty as well as your fellow students in a collaborative, cohort-based environment. This flexible and affordable doctorate program has 100 percent online coursework and an embedded dissertation.
The educator preparation programs at Youngstown State University meet rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). For more information, contact CAEP by mail at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 or by phone at 202-223-0077.
In this online Ed.D. program, you will learn to:
- Design, conduct, critique, and utilize various assessment, evaluation, and research methodologies to inform and shape practice in higher education
- Provide effective advising and support to individuals and groups, considering self-knowledge and the needs of others
- Understand policy development processes, address compliance and policy issues, and comprehend governance structure that impact professional practice in higher education
- Apply student development and learning theories to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice
- Design, conduct, critique, and utilize various assessment, evaluation, and research methodologies to inform and shape practice in higher education
- Provide effective advising and support to individuals and groups, considering self-knowledge and the needs of others
- Understand policy development processes, address compliance and policy issues, and comprehend governance structure that impact professional practice in higher education
- Apply student development and learning theories to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice
- Design, conduct, critique, and utilize various assessment, evaluation, and research methodologies to inform and shape practice in higher education
- Provide effective advising and support to individuals and groups, considering self-knowledge and the needs of others
- Understand policy development processes, address compliance and policy issues, and comprehend governance structure that impact professional practice in higher education
- Apply student development and learning theories to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice
Graduate this online Ed.D. program prepared for a variety of elevated roles, including:
- Department Chair
- Dean
- Administrator
- Director
- Associate Provost or Provost
- Chief Academic Officer
- University President or Chancellor
In this online Ed.D. program, you will learn to:
- Design, conduct, critique, and utilize various assessment, evaluation, and research methodologies to inform and shape practice in higher education
- Provide effective advising and support to individuals and groups, considering self-knowledge and the needs of others
- Understand policy development processes, address compliance and policy issues, and comprehend governance structure that impact professional practice in higher education
- Apply student development and learning theories to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice
- Design, conduct, critique, and utilize various assessment, evaluation, and research methodologies to inform and shape practice in higher education
- Provide effective advising and support to individuals and groups, considering self-knowledge and the needs of others
- Understand policy development processes, address compliance and policy issues, and comprehend governance structure that impact professional practice in higher education
- Apply student development and learning theories to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice
- Department Chair
- Dean
- Administrator
- Director
- Associate Provost or Provost
- Chief Academic Officer
- University President or Chancellor
Tuition
An online doctorate in higher education leadership program fits your budget
YSU offers students the opportunity to earn their online degree with affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
$415*
Per Credit Hour
$24,900*
Total Tuition
*In-state tuition.
Note: No payment plans are available for accelerated online students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | |
| Ed.D. Higher Ed Leadership & Administration | $415 | $420 | $1,245 | $1,260 | $24,900 | $25,200 |
Additional Fees
Application: $45 (waived if you are an active/veteran military member)
Contact Us
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
1 Tressel Way
Meshel Hall, 203
Youngstown, OH 44555
Phone: 330-941-3505
Fax: 330-941-1659
Email: [email protected]
Calendar
Find the important dates and deadlines for your online program
At YSU, we offer multiple start dates throughout the year so you never have to wait long to get started on your online degree program. View the chart below to find upcoming start dates, along with important deadlines, such as when your application should be submitted and when payments are due.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
2/17/25
Next Application Deadline
3/10/25
Start Classes
| First Starts | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/6/25 | 12/16/24 | 12/23/24 | 1/1/25 | 1/3/25 | 2/16/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/17/25 | 2/24/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/7/25 | 4/20/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/21/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/9/25 | 6/22/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/9/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/25/25 | 6/27/25 | 8/9/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/20/25 | 8/22/25 | 10/12/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/6/25 | 10/15/25 | 10/17/25 | 12/7/25 |
Admissions
Here’s what you need to apply for this online program
YSU's online Ed.D. programs have specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Online application
Master's degree
GRE Waiver Available
Minimum 3.25 GPA
Online application
Master's degree
GRE Waiver Available
Minimum 3.25 GPA
- Complete online application for admission
- Pay $45 application fee ($90 International). Waived for active/veteran military members or for applicants who have attended the College of Graduate Studies in the past.
- Minimum 3.25 GPA
- Names and contact information for 2 professional references (in online application) who have supervised the applicant in professional roles or university faculty member knowledgeable regarding the candidate's scholarly abilities
- Submit one 750-word essay (in online application)
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
- Submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (waived for applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher)
- Holistic review of work experience including professional roles, achievements, and associations, educational background, leadership, and service
- Faculty interview may be requested if further assessment is needed
Transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution or sent electronically through a secured server vendor.
Mailing Address:
YSU College of Graduate Studies1 Tressel Way
Coffelt Hall
Youngstown, OH 44555
Email Address:
[email protected]
Courses
Explore the curriculum for your online Ed.D. in higher education leadership
In order to earn the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership & Administration online, you must complete a total of 60 credit hours. Required coursework is comprised of 24 credit hours of doctoral educational leadership core, 9 credit hours of doctoral educational research core, 18 credit hours of dissertation studies, 3 credit hours of clinical experience and 12 credit hours of electives relevant to your primary professional discipline.
EDAD 8155: Seminar in Current Issues
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Informing educational leaders about contextual issues of schools is necessary in order to understand and recognize that school reform, both at the time of its proposal and during the developmental stages of its implementation, is intended to ameliorate educational problems.
EDAD 8140: Seminar in Administrative Theory
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Extension of the administrator's abilities to analyze professional problems, develop leadership strategies, and exercise sound decision making. Nontraditional (nonfunctionalist) theories are stressed, with emphasis on deconstructing and purposefully framing educational issues. Case studies strengthen the application of the theories.
EDAD 8130: Learning Processes & The Instructional Leader
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of current theories and research in the areas of cognition and learning, development, and motivation that underlay approaches to teaching in any context. Primary topics will include social cognition, interpersonal relationships, group processes, and intergroup relations, as well as applied issues.
EDAD 8122: Leadership in Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course students will critically analyze contemporary ways of thinking about leadership. As students examine their present paradigm of leadership, they will also analyze a reconfiguration of leadership that reflects developments in the new sciences and other fields.
FOUN 8102: Perspectives on Leadership Among Diverse Populations
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An explorative study of constructs and concepts of cultural diversity within groups based on notions of class, race, gender, sexual orientation, educational status, mental and physical ability, religion, ethnicity, class. Consideration for expectations and organizational practices as informed by diversity issues.
EDAD 8142: Educational Decision-Making & Ethical Problem Solving
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will teach students how to make competent leadership decisions by applying and enforcing ethical standards with followers. Ethics is at the heart of leadership. Leaders must make every effort to make ethical decisions and foster ethical behavior among followers. In this course students will explore the ethical demands of leadership. We draw from many fields of research to help students make ethical decisions, lead with integrity, and create an ethical culture. This course is designed to increase students’ ethical competence and leadership abilities.
EDAD 8126: Legal Course in Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores legal issues and principles that guide the administration of higher education. Students will examine significant issues and trends, past and present, in higher education law to understand the legal environment in which colleges and universities operate. Topics will include academic freedom, student rights (including Title IX), and student conduct.
EDAD 8135: Building Organizational Culture & Community Partnerships
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Building Organizational Culture and Community Partnerships is designed in accordance with the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) District Level Program Standards, Standard 5. Candidates in this educational leadership preparation course will learn to apply new knowledge and skills to engage families, communities, and related business partnerships to meet student and community cultural and environmental needs. An examination of the school and community culture will contribute to the essential objectives of the course.
There are two tracks available with 9 total hours required. Students should pick between these two tracks:
Research Core
- FOUN 8104
- FOUN 8111
- FOUN 8112
Practitioner Core
- EDAD 8105
- EDAD 8114
- EDAD 8115
FOUN 8104: Research Strategies in Educational Administration
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of major research methodologies and a preview of the different paradigms and assumptions that underlie controlled disciplined inquiries. Techniques associated with particular methodologies in educational administration will be introduced, and their strengths and weaknesses will be analyzed.
FOUN 8111: Advanced Research Design & Statistics
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An in-depth treatment of the major correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental research designs and associated statistical analyses, including the design and analysis of surveys and factor analytic techniques. Experience in data analysis using SPSS or other statistical packages.
FOUN 8112: Qualitative Research for Educators
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Consideration of evolving and qualitative methods and literature that apply to doctoral study of problems in teaching, school leadership, and school change.
EDAD 8105: Research Methods for the Practitioner
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is an essential course designed for educators, administrators, and research practitioners seeking to enhance their research competency. The course is focused on providing practitioners with knowledge, skills, and resources to apply research-based practices in educational contexts. This course will enable students to think critically about research processes, develop a better understanding of scholarly research literature, and enhance their research literacy. By taking this course, students will gain insights into how research is conducted, evaluated, and used to inform decision making within their field. The course emphasizes practical application and hands-on experience, enabling students to develop a research plan, conduct data collection, and analyze and interpret research findings. As such, this course is an essential resource for practitioners seeking to improve their research skills and contribute to evidence-based practices within their educational contexts.
EDAD 8114: Applied Case Study Methodology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is a research-based course that offers practitioners a comprehensive understanding of the case study research and qualitative methods including focus
group, interview, observation, etc. The course is designed to equip students with valuable research skills and tools applicable to their own research practices as well as provide students with a deep understanding of the research process, including how to formulate research questions, design data collection instruments, carry out data collection and analysis, prepare a research report, and present research findings. Through this hands-on experience, students will gain the practical knowledge necessary to engage in meaningful research and produce evidence-based findings that can inform informed decision-making practices in their field.
EDAD 8115: Program Evaluation and Data Mining
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is a course that is designed for educational practitioners seeking to enhance their understanding of Program Evaluation and Data Mining methods. Students will explore quantitative research design, sampling strategies, initial research category formation, and data coding methods. The course will also utilize statistical tools, such as regression analysis, to demonstrate how data can be collected to form statistically significant conclusions. Throughout the course, students will examine a variety of case studies from the field of education to provide practical applications for the topics covered. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with applied research methods that can be used when engaging with stakeholders or evaluating programs within their own
organization.
EDAD 7070: Clinical Experience in Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a clinical practicum. It requires the student to address one problem, phenomena or project in a higher education professional setting, while applying professional knowledge of higher education and student development. Students will write a summary of the existing problem or project and, working alongside a supervisor, attempt to remediate, re-write or re-form existing policies, procedures or programs in order to improve this phenomena in their professional setting.
EDAD 8191: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Review of Literature
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Students will build knowledge and skills in conducting a literature review to complete Chapter 2 of their dissertation. Writing will be broken down into manageable milestones, following the guidelines set forth by the YSU Educational Leadership Dissertation Guidelines and template.
EDAD 8192: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Introduction & Proposal Defense
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This course is the for Doctoral Candidates who are in the process of developing and completing Chapter 1 of their dissertation, which includes the background to the problem, problem statement, purpose statement, theoretical frame, limitation, operational definitions, methods, etc. relevant to the proposed research study. Finally, candidates will develop a presentation and defend their proposal to their committee.
EDAD 8193: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Methodology
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Students will build knowledge and skills in developing Chapter 3 of their dissertation. Writing of Chapter 3 will be broken down into manageable milestones, following the guidelines set forth in the YSU Educational Leadership Dissertation Guidelines and template.
EDAD 8194: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Data Collection & Analysis
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Students will build candidate knowledge and skills in developing Chapter 4 of their dissertation, which includes collecting data, completing the data analysis, and writing up their findings. Writing will be broken down into manageable milestones, following the guidelines set forth in the YSU Educational Leadership Dissertation Guidelines and template.
EDAD 8195: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Results & Discussion
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Students will gain knowledge and skills in developing Chapter 5 of their dissertation, which will discuss the findings and their implications. Writing of the chapter will be broken down into manageable milestones, following the guidelines set forth by the YSU Educational Leadership Dissertation Guidelines and template.
EDAD 8196: Seminar in Educational Research - Dissertation: Defense
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Doctoral candidates, nearing the end of the dissertation process, will prepare and defend their dissertation proposal to their committee. Finally, they will prepare the final version of their dissertation for submission to the Graduate school.
EDAD 8141: History of Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A course that examines the historical development of post-secondary education in the United States. The purpose of the course is to identify how higher educational institutions have been utilized and situated throughout American history with special attention given to locating the historical context and source of the promise and problems associated with contemporary American higher education.
EDAD 8147: Diversity in Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the University through a critical-theory lens as an environment in which power relationships can both promote and inhibit the concepts of equity and inclusion. Special attention will be paid to understanding how higher education policy can be inclusive while promoting race, class, sexuality, and gender equity.
EDAD 8143: Finance and Legal Issues in Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the roles of the state and federal government, governing boards, local administrations, and other parties in shaping public policy in higher education. The course will also provide an overview of financial resource management at the institutional level, including the following: budgeting and planning for needs; cost and benefit analysis; public and private grants and gifts; and budget control strategies
EDAD 8144: Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of assessment practices to ensure accountability and inform continuous improvement. Emphasis will be placed on curriculum-based assessment of learning outcomes, measures to improve teaching and learning, and the use of formative and summative evaluation strategies in educational decision making.
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*Price includes in-state tuition and fees. For students from outside Ohio, tuition and fees total $25,200.
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