Educational Studies, Ed D (Educational Leadership & Higher Education)
Doctor of Education Degree with a Specialization in Educational Leadership and Higher Education

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Overview
Admissions and Requirements
Courses You’ll Take
Tuition & Fees
Program Overview
The blended Educational Studies, Ed.D. with specialization in Educational Leadership & Higher Education program is designed to prepare scholars whose work will influence educational change in local, regional, national and global settings.
Students choose the blended Educational Studies, Ed.D. program to:
- Develop leadership and analytical skills needed to lead P-20 education, higher education, community colleges and other educational institutions.
- Join a diverse, doctoral learning community that engages in intense, graduate study of contemporary issues from multiple perspectives.
- Learn from graduate faculty who are internationally renowned scholars who craft rigorous opportunities for advanced study, mentor students and engage in funded research.
- Gain knowledge through in-depth learning, practicum and scholarly experiences which prepare students for leadership positions as professors and scholars in the field of higher education.
Who should choose this program?
- Individuals with a master’s degree who aspire to hold an administrative position other than P-12 administration.
- Individuals who intend to pursue or continue a career as a practicing administrator in education or a related field.
- Practitioners working in P-20 educational settings, higher education, community college and other education-related organizations throughout the world.
The program provides students with constructive experiences that enhance their academic and professional success by:
- Demonstrating a commitment to the study of problems of practice and contributing to policy development and analysis.
- Providing mentored opportunities for teaching in higher education.
- Working with faculty who offer opportunities to participate in international research initiatives, overseas conferences and comparative travel-study.
- Assisting individuals to tailor a program of study to their scholarly and professional interests.
- Preparing students to conduct and share educational research.
- Encouraging and promoting academic writing for different audiences and stakeholders.
Through the program, students explore innovative approaches to today’s education problems utilizing research tools of inquiry such as:
- Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
- Hermeneutics
- Ethnographic research methods
- Discourse analysis
- Phenomenological study
- Narrative inquiry
- Policy analysis
- Historical analysis
- Geospatial analysis
- Philosophical analysis
- Teacher self-study research
- Multimodal analyses
Note: A minimum of 45 semester hours must be completed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after admission to this program. Six credit hours of coursework must be in-residence, on-campus, as approved by the student’s adviser. These are typically completed as one-week in-residence sessions during the summer. These courses focus on special topics of major interest and allow for extensive interaction with experts in the field.
Career Outlook: Educational administrators oversee student services, academics and curriculum in schools and colleges. Typically, postsecondary education administrators need a master’s degree because employers prefer to hire candidates that have experience with the job duties listed above. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Postsecondary Education Administrators is growing at 10%, which is faster than average. The Bureau also reports that the demand for Elementary, Middle and High School Principals is growing at 8%, which is about as fast as average. Principals coordinate curriculums, oversee teachers and provide a safe environment for students.
The UNL Educational Studies, Ed.D. program is invested in preparing researchers and educational leaders to serve and work in a variety of professional positions including universities, private industry, non-profit organizations, research agencies, policy agencies and school systems.
More about the Educational Studies (Educational Leadership & Higher Education Specialization) program:
The University of Nebraska—Lincoln offers two nationally recognized Doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership and Higher Education, the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. The programs are offered to individuals interested in any level (P-20) of education.
The program is described as an online program; however, all students are encouraged or required to travel to campus. Normally, all doctoral students will be on campus to present the dissertation proposal and for the final defense of the dissertation study.
Courses are offered on the regular semester and summer session schedule of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Research residency seminars are offered during the summer in a hybrid fashion (time-intensive on-campus experiences followed by additional online content) to facilitate the on-campus residency requirement. Courses are announced in the UNL online schedule and students register for courses using the University web-based enrollment and billing system.
New applicants should be aware that not all advisors can accept new students every year. We recommend that you contact the individual faculty members to learn about their scholarly interests and advising capacity in the course of preparing your application for admission.
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
A Master's degree
3 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
Taken the GRE
Taken the TOEFL or IELTS
(Only required if English is not your native language)
A written personal statement
3 letters of recommendation
Official transcripts from all previous schools
Three samples of writing or research
Personal Vita or Resume
Copy of your current administrative certificate
NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states
To apply to this program:
- Complete and submit the online application for Graduate Studies
- Pay $50 application fees
- Complete and submit separate application to the Department of Educational Administration
Courses You’ll Take
Core Courses
Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDAD 993 | Introduction to Doctoral Studies in Educational Administration | 0 |
Workshop seminar topics are determined with the student’s adviser. This is a required, non-credit course. | ||
EDAD 925 | Law and Higher Education | 3 |
Examination of legal principles applicable to postsecondary education institutions. Overview of the legal system, postsecondary education institutions as legal entities, authority for governance and administration, faculty rights and responsibilities, student rights and responsibilities, institutional and personal liability, and other selected issues. | ||
EDAD 830 | Administrative Theory | 3 |
Introduction to classic and contemporary administrative theory as applied to educational organizations. The theoretical nature of the course content is relevant to those with an interest in a broad variety of educational institutions. General organizational theory, organizational models, historical schools of administrative theory, authority, power, motivation, and leadership. Frequently students are involved in studying problems of practice as a means of testing theory. | ||
EDAD 800 | Foundations of Research & Methods of Inquiry in Educational Administration | 3 |
A written report is required. Investigation and analysis of current problems in education administration and supervision. | ||
EDAD 837 | Education Law | 1 - 4 |
Evolution, principles, and practice of education law in relation to local, state, and national units of organization. Education law of Nebraska. | ||
EDAD 966 | Leadership in Educational Organizations | 3 |
Education administration problems with an analysis of research and literature pertaining to these problems. | ||
EDAD 833 | Educational Finance | 3 |
Critical analysis of the political and economic elements impacting K-12 school finance. Content and activities address both building and district level concerns with an emphasis on principles, programs, and trends in school finance. | ||
EDAD 922 | Finance in Postsecondary Education | 3 |
Federal and state government funding, institutional planning, technological and community influences, human resources finance, budgeting, and sources of financial support as they relate to postsecondary education institutions and agencies. |
Elective Courses
Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDAD 926 | The American Professoriate: An Administrative Perspective | 3 |
Contemporary faculty issues in postsecondary education institutions from the perspective of college administrators. Current status of faculty, assigning faculty workloads and monitoring performance levels, evaluating faculty performance, structuring development activities, and special topics. | ||
EDAD 912B | Educational Leadership in Community Colleges | 3 |
Issues facing community college leaders and the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to provide effective leadership in the community college setting. Case studies of community colleges, combined with the literature on community college leadership, and active learning opportunities to examine current practices and develop a personal philosophy of leadership. | ||
EDAD 921 | Administrative Issues in Postsecondary Education | 3 |
Introduction to contemporary issues in the administration of postsecondary education with a focus on the scholarly literature, a comparative analysis of administration in types of institutions, leadership and planning, institutional and environmental issues, and selected topics. | ||
EDAD 932 | Global Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
Selected issues affecting global educational policies and practices. | ||
EDAD 924 | Administration of Higher Educational Instructional Programs | 3 |
Administration of higher education instructional programs. Exploration of curricular issues including an assessment of program quality and reputation, program reallocations, retrenchments, and expansions. | ||
EDAD 910 | The Higher Education Environment | 3 |
Universities are adaptive, living systems interacting with their environment. Equips participants with the skills required to analyze and assess the environment of higher education institutions. Environment concepts, components and structures are studied together with analysis techniques and methodological approaches to future study. | ||
EDAD 842 | College Students in America | 3 |
This course is designed to provide students an understanding of a broad range of facts and issues pertaining to undergraduate college students in America. | ||
EDAD 980 | Seminar in College Student Development | 2 - 3 |
EDAD, EDPS 977. (2-3 cr per sem, max 6) Current knowledge, theories, and practices, and related issues in the area of college student development. Special field experiences and research projects are available to students for additional credit. | ||
EDAD 923 | The Community College | 3 |
Designed particularly for those interested in upper secondary and college levels. Junior college movement; relationship of movement to provisions for an adequate educational program; functions of the junior college; legal status and basis for extension of junior college; problems of organization, administration, and curriculum. | ||
EDAD 907 | Issues in Educational Politics and Policies | 3 |
Analyze and evaluate policy processes involved in making choices; develop understanding, apply and evaluate knowledge about key political concepts and theories to the analysis of educational policy issues; analyze and evaluate issues as points of political conflict between institutional structures with competing interests; understand people as the actors in roles they occupy in the political system. | ||
EDAD 935 | Workforce, Economic, & Community Development | 3 |
Workforce, economic, and community development represents a central mission of the community college. Community colleges provide an important means for educating citizens and preparing skilled workers to maintain the civic vitality and economic growth of their communities. EDAD 890 develops the knowledge base and capabilities needed by community college leaders to advance the workforce, economic, and community development mission of the community college. This course explores the workforce, economic and community development role of the community college within the broader context of recent economic, social, and technological changes in communities, society, and the economy and examines the how this role is integrated with, and distinct from, other community college missions. Drawing on both sound theory and best practices, course topics include the strategy, structure, funding, policy, and programs of the community college related to workforce, economic, and community development. Using both conventional and applied/experiential learning activities, students will explore leadership issues related to planning, managing, budgeting, and evaluating the effectiveness of workforce, economic, and community development programs in the community college. | ||
EDAD 892 | Special Topics in Education | 3 |
(CYAF 892; EDPS 892; EDUC 892; SPED 892; TTEAC 892) Prereq: EDPS 859 or parallel; EDPS 859 or equivalent Aspects of education not covered elsewhere in the curriculum. | ||
EDAD 934 | Teaching and Learning in the Community College | 3 |
This course is planned for individuals who hold or aspire to leadership positions in community colleges that focus on or support instructional programs and others who seek to learn more about this particular aspect of America’s comprehensive community colleges. The primary purpose of the course is to develop a comprehensive understanding of five aspects of the community college:Its curricular missions (general education, transfer education, career education, remedial/developmental education, community education);Its faculty and student population;Issues concerning program and curriculum development;Human resources aspects related to instructional programs (full- and part-time faculty ratios, hiring qualified adjunct faculty, faculty development programs);Issues concerning the evaluation of programs and the assessment of student outcomes. | ||
EDAD 933 | Strategic Planning (EDAD 933) | 3 |
System theory, practice and problem solving. The strategic planning process in higher education. Models of strategic planning. |
Tuition & Fees
Nebraska Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $357.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $409.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $1071.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $1227.75
Out of State Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $750.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $802.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $2250.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $2406.75
Jiangang Xia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Jiangang Xia worked seven years as a high school math teacher in Guangzhou, China and as an evaluation specialist at Dallas Independent School District, Texas. His research and teaching interests focus on P-12 leadership/organization theory, policy analysis and program evaluation, while his expertise lies in quantitative methods and large-scale data analysis. Through collaboration, Xia has published 4 journal articles and 3 book chapters and presented more than 10 research papers in national conferences in the area of K-12 educational leadership.
Application Deadlines
- Fall SemesterJan 15