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

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 can prepare to present and defend your dissertation before a dissertation committee.

Online
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January 13, 2025

Careers | Concentrations | Courses | Admissions | Tuition

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.

PURSUE YOUR ED.D. DEGREE ONLINE

Earn your doctorate in education without having to relocate—pursue your Ed.D. degree 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 by it among Top National Universities for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Experience the 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.

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

Adult Education

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

Advanced Educational Leadership

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 can equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to improve educational systems and institutions.

Christian Education Leadership

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.

Curriculum & Instruction

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.

Educational Psychology

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.

Educational Technology & Online Learning

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

Exceptional Education Executive Leadership

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.

Higher Education Administration & Leadership

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

K-12 School 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.

Special Education

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. Student must complete all concentration coursework before enrolling in this course.
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.

2024-25 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 9Monday, August 19
Session MFriday, September 6Monday, September 16
Session BFriday, October 11Monday, October 21
Session CWednesday, January 8Monday, January 13
Session TFriday, January 31Monday, February 10
Session DFriday, March 7Monday, March 17
Session EFriday, May 2Monday, May 12
Session FFriday, June 13Monday, June 23

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

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

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.

“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

“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

“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