Online Doctorate Degree Programs in Higher Education

You can chose from two doctoral degrees in higher education: the Doctor of Education, or Ed.D., and the Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D. Most schools offer one or the other, although a few offer both.

Historically, the Ed.D. has been considered a practitioner's degree, using existing knowledge to solve higher education problems. The Ph.D. in higher education is considered to be a research degree that combines theoretical knowledge with individualized research. The distinctions between the two degrees have become less defined over time, and the National Science Foundation considers both to provide an education of the same rigor but with a different focus. Determining which degree is the best one for you depends on your career and education goals as well as the programs offered by the schools you're considering.

Advanced degrees in higher education are available in a range of formats, including fully online programs and programs that require brief, on-campus residency periods. On-campus visits typically occur early in the program to help orient students and again during the dissertation phase when students can benefit from face-to-face meetings with advisors. Some online doctorate programs stipulate residencies regularly throughout the degree.

Admission to a higher education doctoral degree program generally requires a master's degree in education or a related field. Some programs also require previous experience in higher education or give preference to applicants currently working in the field.

Both traditional and online doctoral degree programs, which can take from three to five years to complete, generally require both core and elective coursework, a qualifying exam to determine competencies, and a doctoral dissertation.

• Core courses can include history of higher education, theories of learning, distance education, leadership, law and ethics, assessment and evaluation, and research method design.
• Concentration and elective coursework can include administration, student affairs leadership, organizational behavior and management, finance and business management, institutional planning, higher education public policy, strategic enrollment, and current trends in higher education.
• Cognate coursework is related to, but outside, the higher education field of study. For example, students may take relevant classes in statistics, sociology or management.

After completing coursework, students typically sit for comprehensive examinations, which can be either written, oral, or both. Once the exams are passed, students move on to the dissertation phase. Ph.D. programs typically require a traditional, academic dissertation, but some Ed.D. programs allow students to complete a doctoral project, which may be shorter and based on applied research.

Returning to school to earn a Ph.D. can be a life-changing decision. For specific program details, request more information from any of the online schools below.