Welcome to the Doctor of Education
“Trident’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D. EL) degree provides an outstanding alternative to traditional research-based Ph.D. programs. The Ed.D. program is targeted at practicing professionals, in both traditional and non-traditional settings, who are looking to lead complex learning organizations. It’s a challenging path filled with rewards, designed to shape individuals into innovators and thought leaders who have the know-how and desire to transform educational communities.” – Dr. Heidi Gilligan
Program Overview
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a post-masters professional practice degree, designed for the working professional. Our 60-semester credit hours degree curriculum requires students to demonstrate their ability to effectively apply expertise and prior experience to the practice of educational leadership in their area of specialization.
See the Trident University Catalog for full descriptions of all program course offerings.
Admissions Requirements
Prepare to take the lead in our virtual classrooms and in your career. If you are ready to take this important next step, apply online now. An application fee of $75 (non-refundable) and documents specified below are required for all Ed.D. applicants.
Core Courses
You will take 40 semester credit hours of core courses. Each core course is worth four semester credit hours. Course topics range from Communication for Education Leaders and Strategic Planning for Education Leaders to Applied Research and Dissertation.
The Doctor or Education program accepts up to 20 semester credits of doctoral level coursework from regionally accredited doctoral granting institutions; subject to approval by the Program Director.
Concentrations
In addition to required core courses, you will engage in 20 semester credit hours of concentration courses to complete this degree plan.
- Higher Education
This concentration is a practitioner oriented program intended for students currently holding leadership positions, or aspiring to obtain a leadership position in a post-secondary education setting. You will learn the conceptual / theoretical, attitudinal, and operation skills to transform and lead change in post-secondary educational systems. - PK-12
This concentration is intended for students currently holding leadership positions, or aspiring to obtain a leadership position in pre-kindergarten, elementary or secondary education setting. EDD 634 Current Issues in PK-12 Education is a required concentration course. You’ll also take courses like Management of Change in Education, Current Issues in E-Learning, School Reform and Dimensions of Teacher Leadership.
Doctoral Positioning System (DPS)
Designed to help doctoral students follow their progress, Trident’s new Doctoral positioning System (DPS) allows students to track completion of tasks and milestones that are required to obtain their doctorate. The Trident DPS includes 2 features:
- ePortfolio – To save everything related to the development of your dissertation in a single place.
- 800 Dissertation Tasks Course – Provides a single place to submit, track, and gain approval for completed tasks.
Dissertation Study and Committee
A dissertation committee will be assembled when students begin their dissertation research. Each committee consists of three faculty members, one of whom serves as chair of the committee. One member of the committee must be external to Trident. The chairperson and the committee members will be responsible for guiding the student during the dissertation process.
IRB Application
Pursuant to Federal law and regulations, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is required for research involving human subjects. Accordingly, prior to conducting research involving human subjects, including the collecting and analyzing of data, the proposed study must be reviewed and approved by the Trident IRB.
Gainful Employment Disclosure
Trident University offers high quality online degrees designed to impart the skills and knowledge required to compete in today’s marketplace for high demand careers. While our mission is to prepare students effectively to pursue career and professional development in their respective fields, finding gainful employment is the individual responsibility of the student. We do not imply or guarantee that students will find employment or be placed in any particular job as a result of completing an educational program.
Click here for important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program Gainful Employment
Click here for important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program Gainful Employment
School Performance Fact Sheet (California Residents Data)
Pursuant to California State Law, Trident University publishes and provides to students residing in California, Performance Fact Sheets to help students make informed decisions regarding their program of interest. The fact sheet for each degree program is filed with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Regardless of any information students may have relating to completion rates, placement rates, starting salaries, or license exam passage rates, fact sheets contain the information as calculated pursuant to state law. Any questions a student may have regarding this fact sheet that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at: P.O. Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818 | www.bppe.ca.gov | P:888.370.7589 or 916.431.6959 | F:916.263.1897
Tuition and Fees
Tuition cost for the Ed.D. program:
*Assumes no transfer credits and that student enrolls in an average of 16 credits per year. Does not include cost of any applicable dissertation continution courses.
| tuition type | per credit | per course | per year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $725 | $2,900 | $11,600 |
| Retired Military / Veteran / Partnership / And Their Immediate Family Members | $650 | $2,600 | $10,400 |
| Military & Immediate Family Members / Department of Defense Federal Civilian Employees | $625 | $2,500 | $10,000 |
University Fees:
- Books and Supplies: $0
- Bounced Check Fee: $30
- Course Materials: $0
- Diploma Copy: $30 (optional)
- Doctoral Application Fee: $75 (non-refundable)
- Food, Housing, and Transportation: N/A
- Graduation Fee: $150
- Lab Fee: $25-69 (for students enrolled in courses with a lab portion)
- Official Transcript: $10 (rush fee $35)
- Other Expedited Shipping Fees: varies based on region
- Payment Plan Set-up: $30 (non-refundable)
- Student ID Card: $10 (optional)
- Technology Fee: $0
- Other fees may apply and are subject to change without advance notice.
Seeking more information on the cost of attending Trident University? Visit Trident’s Financial Aid Resources page where you will find financial aid tools including Trident’s Net Price Calculator and Shopping Sheet, a guide to assist in early financial planning for college.
Get Started Today – Apply Today!
Trident University EDUseries Webinars
Your Study Method: The First Step in Successful Research
Hosted By: Dr. Wenling Li
Director of Doctoral Studies College of Education
Thursday March 28, 2019
4:00 PM PDT
Your Study Method: The First Step in Successful Research
28/3/20194:00pm PDT1 hour
Hosted by Dr. Wenling LiPresented by Dr. Karen Archondidis, Trident Ph.D. alumnus
In this webinar we will discuss the importance of looking beyond your topic to the study methods early into your dissertation journey.
Key topics will include:
• Research study limitations
• The study population and sample size
• Data collection: hat does it entail
• Testing your survey products
• Is reliability and validity established
At the end of the presentation, Dr. Archondidis and Dr. Wenling Li, Doctoral Director, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership program, will open the floor for your questions. Join us for "Your Study Method: The First Step in Successful Research" on March 28th at 4 pm (PT).
