Attention Educational Leaders of Today and Tomorrow
The Future of Education is HERE.
Are you ready to make a positive impact in the lives of K-12 and postsecondary students with Trident’s online Ph.D. in Educational Leadership degree program? In our 100% online program, you will:
- Prepare for leadership roles in teaching, school administration, or consulting in your professional field.
- Develop in-depth subject matter expertise.
- Practice innovative research methods.
- Contribute to and benefit from an engaging online learning community in the Trident Learning Community (TLC).
- Collaborate with dedicated faculty who guide you through coursework, qualifying exam, and dissertation study.
Earn a Ph.D. of Educational Leadership From Our 100% Online University
Our PH.D. EL degree program is designed to help you take your skills and leadership to the next level.
Join Us For Your Future in Education
A doctoral degree represents the highest level of achievement in any academic discipline. The Trident online Ph.D. degree in Educational Leadership is research-based and prepares its graduates to excel as educational leaders at K-12 and higher levels. Our graduates are high-level administrators, cutting-edge researchers, and sought-after consultants.
Applicants who choose this path will develop deep knowledge, elevate their capacity for innovation, and learn the practical skills necessary for improving school districts and all types of educational institutions.
Earning your online PH.D. EL will not only improve your career – it will allow you to influence and change both schools, and the lives of the students who attend them, for good.
Discover the Trident Difference
Program Overview – What Students Can Expect
Theory and research intersect in our online PH.D. EL program where you will learn to meet the constantly evolving and growing demands of diverse student bodies. As you complete an expansive literature review, interact with leading scholars, and delve into research to answer your most pressing academic questions, you will undergo a transformative journey. You will emerge as a world-class educational leader with the skills and knowledge to address the future of education as you prepare your students for their futures.
The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership curriculum ending in the completion of the dissertation is composed of five milestones. A summary of the milestones is provided below:
#1 Doctoral Coursework
The Ph.D. EL degree requires a total of 52 credit hours of coursework. After core courses are completed, students enroll in dissertation series courses.
#2 Qualifying Exam
Attempt the exam during course DEL 622. Those who successfully pass the exam continue and are assigned their dissertation committee.
#3 Dissertation Proposal
Working with the committee chair, choose a dissertation study—successfully defend the proposal, and receive approval from the Doctoral Studies Director.
#4 IRB Application
Apply for IRB approval and conduct data research (i.e., collection, analysis, report of findings–required components of the dissertation manuscript).
#5 Final Dissertation
Write a five-chapter dissertation and defend it. Once approved by the Doctoral Studies Director & Dean, receive your Ph.D. EL degree!
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. The documents specified below are required for all Ph.D. applicants:
Core Courses
You will take four research methods courses and four required theory courses in the field of educational leadership. These courses build the foundation for electives, which you may pursue in your specialized area of study. Courses are valued at four credit hours.
Trident University accepts no more than four credit hours of doctoral level credits from regionally accredited doctoral granting institutions provided the transferred course meets the same content standards as the Trident course.
DEL 602 – Leadership and Leader Roles in Education
DEL 610 – Qualitative Research
DEL 612 – Program Evaluation in Education
RMS 600 – Research Methods
RMS 608 – Quantitative Research and Advanced Statistics I
RMS 618 – Quantitative Research and Advanced Statistics II
DEL 622 – Dissertation Research
DEL 699 – Dissertation Seminar
DEL 700-702 – Dissertation Series
Note: Students are required to purchase IBM SPSS Statistical Software for the quantitative research courses and dissertation research.
See the Trident University Catalog for full descriptions of all program course offerings.
Concentrations
In addition to required core courses, you will engage in three concentration courses to complete this degree plan. Select one concentration from our four areas of study:
- Educational Technology
This concentration prepares educational leaders to understand and create new technologically and sound pedagogies grounded in innovative research and practice. - Health Education
The concentration in Health Education prepares students to serve in the field of health education through teaching, research, and service. We will provide a contemporary curriculum that empowers our students to translate knowledge to meet the growing needs of domestic and global health education. Courses include Research in Educational Leadership, Health Promotion, Program Planning, Design and Evaluation, and Health Behavior and Change. - Higher Educational Leadership
This concentration prepares professionals from community colleges and higher education institutions. - Teaching, Learning and Development
This concentration prepares professionals from various sectors in pre-kindergarten through high school level teaching.
Doctoral Positioning System (DPS)
Designed to help doctoral students follow their progress, Trident’s Doctoral Positioning System (DPS) allows students to track the completion of tasks and milestones that are required to obtain their doctorate and provides a single place to submit and store documents and track completed tasks.
Comprehensive Exam
This includes a written and oral qualifying exam to test your understanding of research methods and statistical concepts within the research process. Upon completion of all courses, the exam is conducted via phone conference or e-conference.
Dissertation Study and Committee
Our Ph.D. programs require a five-chapter Dissertation format. Within the Dissertation, students must defend a comprehensive synthesis of their Ph.D. study by demonstrating knowledge and scholarship with a significant and novel research project which contributes to the body of knowledge in the field(s) potentially affected by the research. Students will collaborate with dedicated faculty who guide you through coursework, qualifying exam, and dissertation study.
A Dissertation Committee (one chair and two members) will be assembled in course DEL 622. Three members must be from Trident University. The fourth optional member could be an external member 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.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition cost for the Ph.D. program:
| tuition type | per credit | per course | per year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $990 | $3,960 | $15,840 |
| Retired Military / Veteran / And Their Immediate Family Members** | $885 | $3,540 | $14,160 |
| Military & Immediate Family Members / Department of Defense Federal Civilian Employees** | $800 | $3,200 | $12,800 |
| Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve U.S Military Service Members** | $800 | $3,200 | $12,800 |
*Assumes no transfer credits and that student enrolls in an average of 16 credits per year. Does not include cost of dissertation continuation courses, the number of which vary based on dissertation completion date. **Tuition per credit represented with applicable military grant applied.
All per semester credit hour costs are for program level (600/700) courses. Students in the dissertation stage register for one course of four semester credit hours per session. In addition, there are dissertation continuation courses which are $800 per course at 0 credit hours.
University Fees:
- Books and Supplies: $0
- Course Materials: $0
- Diploma Copy: $30 (optional)
- Food, Housing, and Transportation: N/A
- Graduation Fee: $150
- Official Transcript: $10
- Other Expedited Shipping Fees: varies based on region
- Payment Plan Set-up: $35-$55 (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? 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!
