Help the 21st-century student excel
Higher education is in a period of great upheaval and great opportunity. If you’re a subject-matter expert with a master’s degree who wants to move into teaching in colleges, universities, adult education programs or even in corporate training and development, our online Ed.D. with a concentration in Higher Education: Teaching and Learning could be right for you.
This program expands on the leadership, pedagogical theory and policy knowledge in the Ed.D. core to include strategies for delivering effective instruction in traditional class settings and virtual learning environments.
Potential career paths after graduation
After completing your Ed.D. in Higher Education: Teaching and Learning, you will be equipped with knowledge and skills to pursue career opportunities in:
- Community colleges or technical colleges
- Colleges and universities
- Adult education programs
- Higher education textbook or instructional software publishing
- Corporate training consultancy
- Executive-level leadership in the private sector (e.g., Chief Learning Officer)
Core courses
The core Ed.D. curriculum challenges you to master the theories of educational practice and to critically evaluate available evidence which supports those theories. You will progress through the following 12 credits with your cohort:
- ED 900 Doctoral Seminar—This seminar is intended for students beginning their doctoral plan of studies to meet certain objectives within their first semester of entering the program.
- ED 845 Curriculum Design, Theory, & Evaluation—Explore research-based practices for designing, evaluating, implementing and continuously improving curricula.
- ED 860 Leadership in Education—Explore models of leadership and leadership development while building your own capabilities for creative problem solving through communication and interpersonal relationships.
- ED 865 Academic Program Assessment & Evaluation—Take a holistic perspective of program and student evaluation, learn strategies for planning and evaluating assessment methods, and more.
- ED 870 Educational Issues & Policy—Reflect and discuss current policy issues impacting the field of education and complete a research project based on an issue you feel is critical to the field.
- ED 901 Ed.D. Comprehensive Exam—The comprehensive exam will allow doctoral students to identify, analyze, and synthesize selected areas of educational topics.
Research and dissertation advising
You will take 24 credits focused on advancing your research skills and developing the capstone of your degree—your doctoral dissertation.
- ED 930 Advanced Research Methods—Build skills for analyzing data sets, evaluating research design and technique and designing research.
- ED 935 Intermediate Qualitative Research—This is an intermediate research course focusing on quantitative methods including ANOVA, MANOVA, regression analysis, non-parametric statistics including chi-square, and introductory clinical trial design in a practice setting.
- ED 940 Qualitative Research Methods—Comparisons and critiques of the major forms of qualitative research methodology and assessment of credibility, trustworthiness, reliability, and validity of studies that use qualitative designs are topics covered in this course. It will include development of research designs that can be used to inform therapeutic decision making and to assess intervention outcomes.
- ED 945 Qualitative Procedure and Analysis—This course focuses on the practical application of qualitative research methods.
- ED 960 Dissertation Advisement 1: Literature Review—Begin developing the dissertation by posing questions and reviewing existing content to find a specific issue or problem to address.
- ED 965 Dissertation Advisement 2: Proposal—Build skills for designing the research for your dissertation, hone your proposal and begin developing the first chapters of your dissertation.
- ED 970 Dissertation Advisement 3: Collection of Data—With advisor approval, enter the main phase of research for your proposed topic and continue producing chapters for the dissertation.
- ED 975 Dissertation Advisement 4: Research Conclusion—Analyze your data, complete writing and revisions and prepare for oral defense of your dissertation.
Courses: Higher Education: Teaching and Learning
- ED 855 Advanced Educational Psychology for Non-Education Learners—Gain understanding of theories of human motivation and behavior that impact educational practice.
- ED 856 Theory of Teaching and Learning—Explore the unique needs of the adult learner, what defines effective teaching, and the factors that drive student learning.
- ED 857 Assessment of Learning—Because the cycle of instruction is not complete without assessing knowledge, this course introduces the theory and practice of assessing student learning.
- ED 858 Art and Science of Instructional Design—Learn how to organize course content and design assignments to create a student-centered learning experience.
- ED 861 Advanced Digital Andragogy & Learning Technologies—Examine the strategic application, management, and evaluation of digital technologies tailored for adult and non-traditional learners in higher education.
- ED 862 Leading Higher Ed. Curr. Planning & Program Review—Develop expertise in strategic curriculum management, cyclical program review, and evidence-based decision-making.
Build on your expertise with advanced knowledge and skills for teaching in colleges and universities: earn your Ed.D. in Higher Education: Teaching and Learning online with Brenau. Get in touch with us today to learn more about what this program can offer you!