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An alumna with students: Pursue an EdD degree online at Regent University.

Ed.D. – Doctor of Education

Prepare for Leadership Opportunities Through Regent’s Ed.D. Degree Program

Are you ready to build your skills and knowledge so you can become an organizational leader in education? If you desire to drive change in this field, earning an Ed.D. degree is your best next step. Regent’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is a terminal degree with a focus on applied research and practice-oriented curriculum. Designed to facilitate the learning styles of adults, this program offers a collaborative community for higher-level thinking and problem-solving. Follow your dream path to learning the latest developments in the field of education while preparing to demonstrate independent scholarly ability at the doctoral level. During this time, you’ll prepare to present and defend your dissertation before a dissertation committee.

Online
61+
August 21, 2023

INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE & SALARY

Advance in organizational leadership roles and earn a higher salary too.

WIDEN YOUR JOB PROSPECTS WITH AN ED.D. DEGREE

Enjoy rewarding opportunities in schools and communities.

MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN EDUCATION

Create engaging education environments that foster learning with the knowledge and skills gained through the doctorate in education.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Our programs have also been ranked among the Top 10 Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for 11 years in a row (2013-2023). Experience the Regent difference through the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree 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 Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program, you can:

  • Foster institutional change through innovative thinking grounded in theory and research.
  • Develop original research that greatly impacts the field of education and promotes the core values of our society through shared responsibility.
  • Understand key theories that inform planning, administration, policy and professional practice.
  • Practice vital skills in critical thinking, scholarly research and writing.

Career Opportunities

  • School Principal
  • Superintendent
  • Education Administrator
  • University Professor
  • Training & Development Manager
  • Instructional Coordinator
$98Thousand
2021 median pay for elementary, middle, and high school principals U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Adult Education program equips current and aspiring organizational and institutional decision-makers with the knowledge and skills to design, implement and evaluate professional development programs for adult populations.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Advanced Educational Leadership program is designed for students who desire to become leaders in the field of education. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to improve educational systems and institutions.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Christian Education Leadership program focuses on teaching for discipleship. The research-based relational love motive, being crucial to both faith and learning, is a mainstay of the educational process in this program.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Curriculum & Instruction helps you deliver research-supported programs while teaching you how curriculum and instruction can be structured and applied to educational reform.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – 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, creating environments conducive to learning, brain research, teacher education, faculty roles; and professional development in varied settings.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Educational Technology & Online Learning will prepare you for leadership positions in K-12, higher education or corporate learning settings. You will study the principles of curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation, and apply them to an online education setting.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Exceptional Education Executive Leadership program focuses on a more inclusive approach to supporting exceptional learners by broadening the reach to populations who need it most. Enjoy a meaningful career while you help close the achievement gaps for groups in Special Ed, 504, Gifted, At-risk and Diverse categories.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Higher Education Leadership & Management is designed to prepare mid- to senior-level administrators at Christian higher educational institutions for positions of significant administrative leadership.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – K-12 School Leadership program provides continuing education for teachers and is designed for those seeking initial administrative endorsement in preparation for positions as principal or assistant principal.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Special Education program provides career development for special education teachers seeking leadership positions in special education research, practice and policy.

Theory and practice in analyzing qualitative data. Topics include coding, meaning generation, and validation.
Overview of scholarly research and methods to evaluate research. Presents the basic concepts of quantitative and qualitative research methods and the diverse approaches to scholarly inquiry and reflective practice.
Basic understanding of statistical methods, particularly as they pertain to research in education. Focuses on conceptual rather than mathematical and applied rather than theoretical—understand why a particular statistical technique is appropriate and how to make sense of the results obtained from its utilization rather than to understand the full mathematical underpinnings of the statistic. SPSS will be used as a productivity tool to perform all statistical procedures. Specific topics include descriptive statistics, visual representation of data, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation.
An advanced examination of current educational issues and contributing factors.
Doctoral candidates will develop a Dissertation Prospectus, which demonstrates the student’s ability to articulate: a viable researchable issue; context for the issue; significance of the proposed research; theoretical/conceptual framework that informs the study; literature that informs the researchable issue; general Research Plan for the proposed dissertation.
Doctoral candidates will work with their dissertation committee to defend their proposal, research and collect data, and write five chapters of their dissertation. Final dissertation defense occurs during EFND 906C or EFND 907 enrollment.
Doctoral candidates will work with their dissertation committee to defend their proposal, research and collect data, write and defend five chapters of their dissertation. Final dissertation defenses take place during this course enrollment.

2022-23 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All new 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 12Monday, August 22
Session MFriday, September 9Monday, September 19
Session BFriday, October 14Monday, October 24
Session CWednesday, January 4Monday, January 9
Session TFriday, January 27Monday, February 6
Session DFriday, March 3Monday, March 13
Session EFriday, April 28Monday, May 8
Session FFriday, June 9Monday, June 19

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial College Transcripts

  • Email your unofficial college transcripts to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Unofficial Transcripts.
  • Upon conditional acceptance, Regent University will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

  • Email a photo of your government-issued ID to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: Government ID.
  • Please note that 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
Career Switcher$2506$1,500
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
Career Switcher$2509$2,250
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
University Services Fee (Online Students)$700

PART-TIME STUDENTS

DegreeTuition Cost Per Credit HourAverage Credit Hours Per SemesterAverage Tuition Per Semester
Career Switcher$2506$1,500
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
Career Switcher$2509$2,250
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

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

Advanced Standing

Students possessing an Ed.S. or equivalent may be admitted to the Ed.D. program with advanced standing after a review of their post-master’s transcript(s). Offered in a cohort model. Students may begin the program in the spring, summer or fall semesters. Courses are delivered online with some required face-to-face components. School division cohorts are also offered in varying formats.

“A Regent education will open up doors for you. It certainly has for me.”

Roxie Godfrey, Ed.D., 2005 Teacher Educator & Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University

“One of the biggest skills I learned through my studies at Regent was confidence. I learned that I am worthy, and I can go forward in my career and affect more students than just those in my own classroom.”

Kathy Galford, Ed.D., 2018 School Principal, Chesapeake Public Schools

“I am grateful for Regent’s rigorous, Christ-centered Special Education program. I look forward to sharing my passion and experience with the next generation of special education teachers. I’m also excited to continue my research on educational practices utilized in public schools.”

Allisha Beerwart, Ed.D., 2018 Assistant Professor of Education, School of Education, GSW State University

“I looked at other institutions, but I understood the importance of a Christ-centered focus, and I wanted that to be a part of my graduate experience.”

Cheryl C. Askew, Ed.D., 2012 Principal, Landstown High School

“I just can't say enough about the program—it's everything I wanted.”

Gary Maestas, Ed.D., 2010 K-12 School Leadership

“There’s an atmosphere of excellence at Regent.”

Sharon Byrdsong, Ed.D., 2008 K-12 School Leadership