Tailor your degree with specializations and electives.
Pepperdine University Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership | OnlinePepperdine University Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership | OnlinePepperdine University Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership | Online
The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD) program from Pepperdine University delivers a rigorous, values-centered curriculum in a full-time format that supports aspiring leaders in their quest to make a positive, lasting impact on their communities and the world.The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD) program from Pepperdine University delivers a rigorous, values-centered curriculum in a full-time format that supports aspiring leaders in their quest to make a positive, lasting impact on their communities and the world.The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD) program from Pepperdine University delivers a rigorous, values-centered curriculum in a full-time format that supports aspiring leaders in their quest to make a positive, lasting impact on their communities and the world.
Drive Meaningful Change With an Online EdD in Organizational Leadership
Designed to be completed in as few as 32 months, the EdD program combines research-driven academics with real-world immersion experiences to prepare you to become a purpose-driven and transformative leader in your community—and beyond.
Online courses are a mix of live and asynchronous learning.
12:1 student-faculty ratio fosters close collaboration.
Online Doctorate in Education Program Highlights
As an EdD in Organizational Leadership student, you’ll gain expertise in leadership, learning, and policy through a mix of online course work, immersive in-person learning experiences, and independent dissertation work that empowers you to apply theory to practice immediately in the workforce.
With a robust 57-credit curriculum—and flexibility for your dissertation path—this program helps you create a learning experience that’s unique to your career aspirations via:
20
courses
6
required immersion experiences
1
EdD to PhD pathway
Admissions Overview
No standardized test scores required
Pepperdine University seeks applicants with passion, perspective, purpose, and commitment to inspire transformative change on the job and in the community.
A bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s or doctoral degree, from a regionally accredited institution, is required to apply.
Visit our Application Requirements page for further details.
Tuition and Financial Aid
You’ll need to complete 57 credits (or more, depending upon your dissertation needs) to graduate from the EdD in Organizational Leadership program. Financial aid opportunities are available for Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology students. There are a number of ways to obtain assistance for program expenses, including employer tuition assistance, federal student loans, private loans, or military benefits.
For more information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Create Immediate, Lasting Change in Your Organization
If you’re a full-time, experienced, working professional who is looking to personalize your learning experience and apply what you learn right away in the workforce, our EdD program can be the catalyst you need to bring your career—and your organization—to new heights.
Online EdD in Organizational Leadership Curriculum Overview
Our cohort-based Doctor of Education program employs the scholar-practitioner model of doctoral training, integrating rigorous academics, hands-on experience, and robust research, preparing you for a wide variety of career opportunities. Transform your leadership potential with as few as 57 credits, and emerge with the advanced knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change in your organization and community.
Program Courses
As course work progresses from foundational to advanced research theory, you will work under the guidance of a chosen faculty chair and begin work in the final semesters on a dissertation, which includes a proposal, preliminary oral examination, and final manuscript defense.
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- 17 core courses
- 4 onsite class immersion experiences at our West Los Angeles campus
- 1 comprehensive International Leadership and Policy Development Experience that takes place outside the United States
- 1 Leadership Advocacy and Policy Development Experience at our Washington, DC, campus
- 3 courses within your selected specialization
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- Leadership Theory and Practice (3 credits)
- Scholarly Writing and Digital Literacy (0 credits)
- Ethical Leadership, Equity, Cultural Proficiency, and Social Justice (3 credits)
- Quantitative Methods & Statistical Analysis (3 credits)
- Leadership Advocacy and Policy Development (4 credits)
- International Leadership and Policy Development (5 credits)
- Virtual Learning and Collaboration (3 credits)
- Law and Dispute Resolution (3 credits)
- Learning Design, Cognition, and Evaluation (3 credits)
- Leading Strategic Change (3 credits)
- Introduction to Research Design and Methodology (3 credits)
- Qualitative Research Design and Analysis (3 credits)
- Higher Education Professions Preparation Colloquium (3 credits)
- Qualifying Examination Seminar (3 or 1 credit(s))
- Dissertation Research I (2 credits)
- Dissertation Research II (2 credits)
- Dissertation Research III (2 credits)
Program Spotlight: Choose Your Specialization
Personalize your degree experience in our EdD program by selecting one of three specializations: Change Management, Learning Technologies, and PK-12 Leadership.
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The Change Management specialization equips you with the tools and insights to effectively design and implement change within an organization. Our program’s emphasis on change management responds directly to the evolving needs of today’s global marketplace, empowering you to navigate organizational shifts with confidence.
Change Management specialization courses include:
- Organizational Psychology, Theory, and Design (3 credits)
- Global Cultural Development and Change (3 credits)
- Advances in Theory and Practice (3 credits)
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The Learning Technologies specialization prepares you to deploy new and proven learning technologies within schools, corporations, and other public and private organizations.
Learning Technologies specialization courses include:
- Futuring: Jobs and Technology of the Future (3 credits)
- Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds (3 credits)
- Advances in Theory and Practice (3 credits)
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The PK-12 Leadership specialization prepares Pre-K-12 leaders in various roles to create and sustain strong learning environments within schools and school districts. Note, this program does not offer credentials/licensure, but is designed for those who already possess the required licensure to continue their professional learning and elevate their school systems to new levels of academic excellence.
PK-12 Leadership specialization courses include:
- Education Finance and Policy (3 credits)
- Leadership and Action Research in Pre-K-12 (3 credits)
- Advances in Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Career Paths After Earning a Doctor of Education Online
The EdD in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University provides a strong opportunity for career growth across a variety of professional settings, including public and higher education institutions, businesses, and nonprofit and governmental organizations. Here are some of the careers you may want to pursue after attaining your EdD:
- C-level executive at a university, nonprofit, or business
- University administrator
- Nonprofit director
- Learning and development executive
- Human resources director
- Superintendent
- Principal or district administrator
- Pre-K-12 instructional coordinator
- University faculty
- Director of innovation
- Director of learning
- Instructional design manager
- Training and development manager
- Educational/learning technologist
Take Your Leadership Career to New Heights With an EdD Online
If you have the passion, the purpose, and the commitment to go out into the world to drive meaningful change in the organization and communities that you serve, let’s go there—together.
FAQs About the Online EdD
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An accredited online EdD program, such as this one (accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)), will offer many of the same opportunities for learning and skill development that a traditional program presents. The coursework, which includes leadership, research methods, policy, educational theory, and applied practice, is designed to provide the rigorous academic foundation needed for impactful professional roles.
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If your career goals are focused on applied practice and organizational leadership, an EdD is generally a better fit than a PhD. An EdD goes beyond traditional academics, equipping you with the skills to make a real-world difference and serve as a springboard to impactful careers across the educational spectrum.
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If your career goals are focused on applied practice and organizational leadership, an EdD is generally a better fit than a PhD. An EdD goes beyond traditional academics, equipping you with the skills to make a real-world difference and serve as a springboard to impactful careers across the educational spectrum.
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Yes, both a PhD and a professional doctorate like an EdD earn you the title of “doctor.” However, there are differences between the types of doctoral degrees in terms of their emphasis—a professional doctorate (EdD) typically focuses more on applied practice, while a PhD emphasizes original research.
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Graduates with a doctoral degree have strong earning potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that postsecondary education administrators, a common career path for EdD holders, earned a median annual wage of $103,960 in May 2024. However, salaries can vary significantly based on the specific career path, location, and years of experience, with some top-tier positions like school superintendent commanding salaries well over $150,000.
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An EdD prepares you for high-level leadership and administrative roles across diverse sectors. Career titles may include: chief academic officer, chief learning officer, chief knowledge officer, policymaker or analyst, educational consultant, director of human resources, academic dean, and instructional coordinator.
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Yes, you can be a professor with an EdD, but a PhD is often preferred for academic research roles, while an EdD is more suited for administrative and leadership positions in education. To secure a professorial role, you may need several years of practical experience, and the type of institution (e.g., community college vs. research university) will influence the feasibility of an EdD for the position.
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The EdD program is designed to be completed in as few as 32 months. This timeline combines the required coursework with the independent dissertation work, preparing you to become a purpose-driven and transformative leader in your community and beyond.
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As an EdD in Organizational Leadership student, the culminating experience is an independent dissertation. This project is designed to empower you to apply theory to practice immediately in the workforce, reflecting the program’s focus on applied leadership. The curriculum is a robust 57-credit program with flexibility for your dissertation path to create a learning experience unique to your career aspirations.
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Yes, the EdD in Organizational Leadership program includes immersive in-person learning experiences as part of its curriculum. The program is delivered through a mix of online coursework, these immersive experiences, and independent dissertation work.
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No, GRE scores are not required for the EdD program. The program values your desire to make an impact on our communities more than standardized test scores.
Pepperdine University partners with 2U to support the delivery of these online programs. Pepperdine University has full control over the programs, including all core academic functions. Click here to learn more about 2U’s roles and responsibilities.