PhD in Educational Leadership Future Faculty Founders: Shape Tomorrow
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100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Grow Your Teaching and Researching Skills with Liberty’s PhD in Educational Leadership
A successful education system requires outstanding leadership and guidance from the top of the organization. With advanced training in educational leadership and research, conferring Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Leadership degree program can help you gain valuable communication and problem-solving skills based on empirical research to lead your students, faculty, and staff to success.
Our PhD in Educational Leadership online can provide you with the tools and skills you need to lead an educational administration as well as develop research materials and publications to contribute to the body of knowledge in your field. Through this educational leadership doctorate, you can develop the research-based critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to lead at any level of an educational organization.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America
- What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s PhD in Educational Leadership?
Liberty’s online PhD in Educational Leadership can help you build upon your teaching experience and graduate education by developing an in-depth dissertation research topic. You can learn to thoroughly examine literature, design and conduct research, and disseminate said research to other researchers in educational leadership, practitioners, and policymakers.
Furthermore, your educational leadership doctorate is 100% online, which means you are not required to attend courses on campus throughout your degree. We are committed to helping you obtain your degree in a way that is most convenient for you. You will also receive training and instruction from professors who are grounded in their Christian faith and passionate about helping to equip you as a Champion for Christ in the education field.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s PhD in Educational Leadership?
Liberty University’s educational leadership courses integrate theoretical knowledge with the practical skills necessary for effective educational leadership. As you begin our PhD in Educational Leadership degree online, you can learn how to apply organizational theories and models to create and lead higher education organizations and implement best practices. You will also cover issues of effective communication and how to develop productive relationships both inside and outside the school.
Our educational leadership courses teach you how to analyze and evaluate rational and irrational decision-making as it relates to educational leadership and policy formulation. It is important to understand the current issues and trends in educational leadership so you can learn to handle conflict efficiently and effectively.
In addition, you will conduct research and develop your dissertation to contribute to the field of educational leadership. These courses are intense so that you can effectively design and conduct research for your dissertation. This will allow you to take what you’ve gained in your professional degree and apply it to a more focused research doctorate.
Potential Career Opportunities
- College or university administrator
- College or university professor and/or researcher
- District administrator
- Educational change agent
- Educational consultant for an education organization or government agency
- Leadership researcher
- Performance improvement officer
- Principal or assistant principal*
*This will require outside licensure
Featured Courses
- EDUC 701 – Advanced Learning Theory and Research
- EDUC 741 – Theories of Educational Leadership
- EDUC 745 – Organizational Analysis and Problem Solving
- EDUC 840 – Issues and Trends in Educational Leadership
Degree Information
- This program falls under our School of Education .
- View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required) .
- This is a non-licensure program.
Degree Completion Plan
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- Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour ( learn more ) .
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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Admission Information for Our Online PhD in Educational Leadership
Admission requirements.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- An acceptable official college transcript must be issued directly from the institution in a sealed envelope with a signature across the back. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. You may also complete the Transcript Request Form to allow Liberty to attempt to request your transcripts on your behalf.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official college transcript policy.
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .
Admissions Office Contact Information
(800) 424-9596
(888) 301-3577
Email for Questions
Email for Documents
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
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Submit your application online or over the phone.
Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour . Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many educational research courses are required in the online phd program.
Our online PhD program requires 18 hours in educational research courses. Completing your PhD gives you a terminal educational credential that shows employers you have reached the academic pinnacle of your field’s achievement.
Inner Navigation
- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Admission Information
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