Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Sacred Heart’s Doctor of Education in educational leadership (Ed.D.) will prepare you to attain the highest level of educational leadership while developing the knowledge, skills, and scholarly practice to drive meaningful change in your school, district, or organization.

Offered fully online through the Farrington College of Education & Human Development, the Ed.D. in educational leadership offers two distinct tracks so you can pursue the specialization that best aligns with your career goals.

Learn more about tuition rates and payment options for the Doctor of Education in educational leadership program.

Choose Your Track

Sacred Heart's Ed.D. in educational leadership offers two specialized tracks, each built on a shared research core and a commitment to equity, ethics, and improvement science.

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Track

Designed for classroom teachers, coaches, school counselors, psychologists, and social workers who want to advance their careers by developing deep expertise in social and emotional earning. You'll be prepared to become a practitioner and advocate for SEL in K-12 schools and beyond.

Learn more about the SEL track

PreK-12 School & Systems Leadership Track

Designed for school administrators seeking to earn their doctorate and strengthen their capacity to lead at the building and district level. You'll develop the strategic, organizational, and policy expertise needed to lead complex educational systems.

Learn more about the PreK-12 school leadership track

Why Earn Your Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Sacred Heart?

By earning your Doctor of Education in educational leadership at Sacred Heart, you'll benefit from a program built around applied scholarship, robust dissertation support, and a community of educator-practitioners committed to improving outcomes for students. Across both tracks, you’ll:

• Expand your knowledge of SEL pedagogy and leadership principles
• Develop as a practitioner and advocate for the application of SEL programs in response to the challenges and opportunities associated with contemporary PreK-12 education
• Deepen your knowledge and appreciation of the political, economic, and social forces that influence the decisions of educational leaders

More Details

Complete Your Dissertation in Practice in Year Three

Every student in the educational leadership doctoral program completes a five-chapter Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP). A dissertation in practice is a scholarly work that addresses a complex problem of practice.

This is not a traditional dissertation written in isolation. It is a scholarly work rooted in your professional setting, designed to address a persistent, real-world problem of practice and produce findings that benefit students, educators, and leaders beyond your own organization.

As you work on your dissertation, you’ll:

• Utilize improvement tools to identify and explore a complex problem of practice in their professional setting
• Conduct end-user interviews and environmental scans
• Write a review of the literature and professional practice related to the problem
• Design and implement a change idea to address the problem of practice
• Discuss the findings and implications for educational leaders within and beyond their professional setting
• Explore previous dissertations from our students

Explore previous dissertations from our students

Dissertation Support from Day One

From your first course to your dissertation defense, SHU’s doctoral program provides you with clear benchmarks, semester-by-semester deliverables, and a strong support network.

You will:

• Build research skills through dedicated research core courses
• Receive mentorship through dissertation seminars led by SHU faculty
• Benefit from resources at SHU’s Ryan Matura Library for dissertation research assistance

Member of The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate

Lifetime Career Support

Sacred Heart's Center for Career & Professional Development provides lifetime career support to students and alumni. Whether you're seeking a leadership role in a school district, higher education, or another educational organization, you'll have access to expert career coaching, résumé and interview preparation, networking opportunities, and job search resources to help you achieve your professional goals.

Career Outcomes

Graduates are prepared for advanced leadership roles, including:

Many educational leadership roles now require a doctoral degree. Earning your Ed.D. at Sacred Heart positions you to lead with credibility and confidence.

Ready to Take the Next Step?