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A teacher in a classroom: Pursue a PhD in education online at Regent University.

Ph.D. in Education

Pursue Your Purpose through Regent’s Online Ph.D. in Education

Ready to take the next big step in your career and pursue a doctoral degree? Regent’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education is a terminal degree for those seeking a career in academia or research at the university level. It offers a range of specializations, designed to enhance your area of expertise. Similar to the Ed.D., the Ph.D. in Education track is more research-intensive with extra courses offering a greater analytical approach to learning. During this time, you’ll prepare to present and defend your dissertation before a dissertation committee.

Online
67
May 6, 2024

Careers | Concentrations | Courses | Admissions | Tuition

INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL

Capitalize on a higher salary with your doctoral degree in education.

EXPAND YOUR CAREER PATH WITH A PH.D. IN EDUCATION

Take your career to the next level with exciting leadership opportunities.

MAKE AN IMPACT

Present ground-breaking research to improve the world of education.

EARN YOUR PH.D. IN EDUCATION ONLINE

Earn your terminal degree without relocating—pursue your Ph.D. in Education online at Regent University. Our programs have been ranked among the Top 10 Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 11 years in a row by the U.S. News & World Report, 2013-2023. Regent has also been ranked among Top National Universities for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Experience the difference through the Ph.D. in Education program.

Presented from a Christian worldview, this specialty degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

On completing the Ph.D. in Education, you can:

  • Lead change through strategic and innovative approaches.
  • Understand how key theories inform planning, administration, policy and professional practice.
  • Use theoretical and inquiry-based methods to identify weaknesses and solve problems.
  • Conduct original research and publish findings in refereed conferences, journals and books.

Career Opportunities

  • University faculty
  • Superintendent
  • School administrator
  • Principal researcher
$96Thousand
Approximate mean annual wage for postsecondary teachers, 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Adult Education

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Adult Education program can prepare you for leadership connected to the education of adults and a career in academia. Examine theories and methods of teaching and learning that can better equip you to deliver results-based programs.

Advanced Educational Leadership

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Advanced Educational Leadership program is designed for students who wish to advance their careers as educational leaders. You’ll research topics including strategic planning, program evaluation, and implementing institutional change, while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective leader.

Christian Education Leadership

Regent’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Christian Education Leadership program emphasizes teaching for discipleship by equipping for competence in the Great Commission, Two Greatest Commandments and Holy Nation Citizenship, all within an excellent academic setting. This research-focused concentration can equip you to teach and administer in Christian academia.

Curriculum & Instruction

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Curriculum & Instruction is built on sound theory using current research so you can make a significant difference in the world of education. The program can prepare you for a career in academia and to guide innovative curriculum and instruction initiatives.

Educational Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Educational Psychology allows for a broad area of academic inquiry with topics like psychological underpinnings of learning, cognitive strategies for learning in children and adults, brain research, teacher education, and faculty roles. It can prepare you to use and develop current theories to improve academic and behavioral success.

Educational Technology & Online Learning

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Educational Technology & Online Learning can prepare you for a career in academia. It examines the principles of curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation, and how they can be applied to an online education setting.

Exceptional Education Executive Leadership

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Exceptional Education Executive Leadership provides an executive-level insight on championing, leading and developing innovative programs and policies. The program focuses on a more inclusive approach to supporting exceptional learners by broadening the reach to populations who need it most.

Higher Learning Leadership & Management

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Higher Learning Leadership & Management is designed for students who have a passion for improving the quality of higher education, and enjoy the responsibilities of leadership and management. The program can prepare you for a career in academia and to hold positions of significant administrative leadership.

K-12 School Leadership

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – K-12 School Leadership is designed for students who have a passion for improving the quality of K-12 education and can prepare you for a career in academia. The courses are organized around the six Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) standards and the endorsement competencies for Administration & Supervision Pre-K-12 as issued by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

Special Education

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Special Education can prepare special education teachers and administrators to advance in special education research, practice and policy. The program is ideal for professionals seeking a career as a university faculty member or senior educational administrator.

MANOVA, Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance, Multiple Linear Regression, and Factor Analysis with emphasis on the practical application of SPSS to produce valid and meaningful Results Sections for research articles and dissertations. Prerequisite: Grade of B+ or better in EFND 722.
Designed to provide advanced skills and knowledge to doctoral students for them to design and carry out and evaluate sophisticated research studies. As an advanced course it provides an in-depth examination of the issues and problems facing the educational researcher as he/she organizes a research study or a program evaluation. The course is not bound to any one paradigm but examines educational research from various perspectives. The course focuses on the theory behind the methodology, advanced research design techniques and associated statistical procedures, internal and external validity, mixed methodology, and qualitative research tools common to the practice of education. Prerequisites: EFND 702 and EFND 722.

2023-24 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

SessionSemester Check-InSession Start Date
Session AFriday, August 11Monday, August 21
Session MFriday, September 8Monday, September 18
Session BFriday, October 13Monday, October 23
Session CThursday, January 4Monday, January 8
Session TFriday, January 26Monday, February 5
Session DFriday, March 1Monday, March 11
Session EFriday, April 26Monday, May 6
Session FFriday, June 7Monday, June 17

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.


Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Part-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5656$3,390
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8003$2,400
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8003$2,400

Full-Time Students

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Master of Education (M.Ed.)$5659$5,085
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)$8009$7,200
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)$8006$4,800
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)$8006$4,800

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)$800 (Fall & Spring)
$650 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)$650

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Ph.D. Requirements

A Ph.D. student will (a) complete 21 hours associated with the Ed.D. core curriculum, (b) complete 24-26 hours associated with an Ed.D. concentration, (c) complete an additional 6 hours of research related credit, and (d) complete 16 hours of dissertation research credit—the total program is 67 hours. A candidate for the Ph.D. degree must present an acceptable research-based dissertation. The dissertation demonstrates that the candidate has technical competence in the field and has done research of an independent character. It must add to or modify what was previously known in the candidate’s field of interest or present a significant interpretation of the subject based upon original investigation and research.

Ph.D. students are required to take the following courses:
EDCO 806 Multivariate Statistics (3)
EHEA 805 Advanced Research Design and Analysis (3)

“Regent opened a door to self-discovery and selflessness. My Regent instructors encouraged me to operate on a higher level of motivation and others-oriented awareness.”

Sandra Turner, M.Ed., 2016 Professional Development

“What I love about Regent is being treated not only as a student trying to pursue an education but as a person who is trying to make a difference in the world.”

Jasmine Farnsworth, Doctor of Education, 2022

“Looking back, I can take almost every single facet of my daily work and tie it to my training at Regent. ”

Thomas "Randy" Brunk, M.Ed., 1989 Head of School, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy

“Just four years after receiving my degree from Regent, I had the honor of being named one of the nation's top educators. My Regent professors honed my focus on leadership, quality and innovation in education, which I use in my classroom every day.”

Lakeshia Ames, M. Ed., 2008 Educational Leadership

“If you are considering a career in teaching,
 consider preparing at Regent University.”

Doreatha White, M.Ed., 1997 Principal, J.J. Roberts Elementary School