KU Doctor of Education degrees in educational administration, higher education administration now offered online
LAWRENCE — At the University of Kansas, Jayhawks recognize how family and work commitments, health or mobility limitations, and other responsibilities can create barriers to education and career advancement. With the goal of creating degree programs that are accessible to everyone with the ambition to succeed, KU’s educational leadership & policy studies Doctor of Education degree (available with a concentration in either higher education administration or educational administration) is now 100% online.
These doctoral programs are offered through the KU School of Education & Human Sciences, which was recently ranked No. 10 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best public education schools. KU’s online courses are taught by the same highly regarded faculty and expert instructors and meet the same rigorous educational standards as its on-campus programs — but they offer more flexibility for students to study whenever and wherever is most convenient.
"Offering a fully online doctoral degree at KU has led to great introspection on the part of the faculty as we have engaged in backwards design to determine what it is that is essential to the degree," said Lisa Wolf-Wendel, Roy A. Roberts University Distinguished Professor and interim chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. "We believe that this move to fully online doctoral courses with synchronous sessions will best serve our target students — working professionals with experience in the field."
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts 7% job growth in the coming years as the demand for educational administration increases. To meet this growing need, KU’s online Ed.D. in educational administration is designed to help PK-12 educators and professionals advance in their careers as district-level leaders — including superintendents; director-level administrators in special education, curriculum, human resources, or business; and policy, consultancy or professional educational specialists.
Likewise, KU's online Ed.D. in higher education prepares individuals in entry- and mid-level administrative positions in colleges, universities and related nonprofits to advance in their careers as leaders in a wide range of areas, including student affairs, student support services, institutional research, admissions and fundraising. Some graduates have gone on to be deans, vice presidents and college presidents.
Through Jayhawk Global, the university’s education innovation center, KU plans to offer more online degree opportunities, giving more students the chance to earn a globally recognized degree that signals prestige, quality and career readiness.