Drexel University
Drexel University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable EdD Education Online Programs.
The fully online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Management at Drexel University fosters personal leadership growth, empowering students to move ahead. The program is specifically designed to prepare innovative leaders who are capable of guiding complex organizations through uncertain times. With its focus on collaborative discourse, action research, and evidence-based theory, students will challenge old ways of thinking while simultaneously learning to create new models of effective practices across a wide range of business and educational environments.
Students may earn their degree in three or five years on a part-time basis, allowing them to work full-time while earning their degree. All courses and the dissertation process can be completed entirely online, and there are no residency requirements. Students may tailor their degree to their area of interest via nine diverse concentration options, including Special Education Leadership, Learning Technologies, Human Resource Development, Higher Education, Global and International Education, Educational Policy, Educational Administration, Creativity and Innovation, and Athletic Administration.
The online Ed.D. program requires 60.5 to 61.5 quarter-credits and is organized into four 10-week quarters per year instead of the traditional two-semester system, meaning students may take more courses in a shorter period of time. One semester credit equals 1.5 quarter credits. Students must take core courses in areas such as transformative leadership, program evaluation in organizations, using and integrating learning technologies, creative strategies for educational leaders, and educational leadership and change. Research courses cover qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, applied research study, educational research design, and writing for research, funding, and publication in education. Depending on the concentration chosen, 15 or 16 credits of additional coursework will be required. Students round out their degree with a doctoral dissertation.
The online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management is ideal for leaders in corporations that serve the educational community, organizers of community programs, and higher education administrators as well as K-12 leaders such as teachers, administrators, principals, and superintendents. Graduates go on to become innovators and leaders in the areas of strategy, learning, administration, and instruction within a number of organizations, including corporations, foundations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, postsecondary institutions, and private and public schools.
About Drexel University
Drexel University is a private post-secondary research institution that operates a main campus in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted philanthropist and financier in 1891, the school was initially known as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and Industry before becoming the Drexel Institute of Technology in 1936. It later became Drexel University in 1970. More than 26,000 students pursue more than 70 bachelor's degrees and more than 100 professional, doctoral, and master's degrees each year. Drexel is known for its cooperative education program that offers students the opportunity to gain up to 18 months of full-time, paid work experience in a field relevant to their graduate or undergraduate program prior to graduation. Drexel is ranked among the top 10 "Up-and-Coming Schools," as one of "America's Best Colleges," and among the "Best Colleges for Veterans" by U.S. News & World Report.
Drexel University Accreditation Details
Drexel University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. In addition, a number of degrees and programs are accredited by their respective accrediting bodies. For instance, the School of Education is ranked among "America's Best Graduate Schools" by U.S. News & World Report, and all programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Other specialized accrediting agencies include the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation serves to inform prospective and current students that a school meets or exceeds established standards of quality set by the accrediting bodies. The process is conducted via a peer review that looks at a number of factors such as a school's programs, faculty, learning outcomes, student satisfaction, and whether or not it has the means to meet its goals and adhere to its mission statement.
Drexel University Application Requirements
In order to be admitted into the online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Management at Drexel University, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree as well as a master's degree in education or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must also show evidence of three years of work experience relevant to their professional goals. In order to apply, prospective students must submit a completed application as well as official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, verifying completion of their master's and bachelor's degrees. Other required documents include three professional letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal essay that discusses the applicant's aspirations and goals, including how their current skills, along with doctoral studies of educational leadership, will help them to attain those goals. The application process also requires a five- to 30-page writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's writing ability and potential for success in the program. Examples include a technical report, a manual, a paper written for class, or a journal article. To make the application more competitive, applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a detailed statement discussing their publications or research activities, a statement discussing their creative products or activities, or a statement discussing their sustained leadership activities.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition rate for the online doctorate in educational leadership and management is $1,265 per credit. Prospective students should keep in mind that the three-year program is eligible for financial aid, but the five-year program is not. Military members serving with the National Guard or reserves, those who are on active duty, veterans, and military dependents may be eligible for a 30 percent tuition savings. Doctoral students may be eligible to receive financial aid from the federal government through education tax credits and deductions, federal work-study programs, grants, and loans. In order to determine eligibility, prospective graduate Drexel University students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and should do so any time after October 1.