EdD of Educational Leadership New England campus experience
Experienced professors
Career-relevant curriculum
Academic and career support
Program Overview Why get an educational leadership degree on campus?
Learn to lead education-focused organizations in the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership program at Southern New Hampshire University. In this low-residency cohort program, you'll analyze and synthesize theory and research to address issues in educational settings and promote equitable learning for all students.
Skills you'll learn:
- Doctoral-level reading and writing
- Goal setting with sociocultural knowledge
- Drawing defensible conclusions from research findings
- Application of research findings in decision-making
- Participatory and democratic strategies to engage others
- Leadership-level critical reflection
Courses & Curriculum Learn to lead with on-campus education leadership courses
The EdD in Education Leadership program is a 48-credit cohort program influenced by SNHU’s active participation as a member of The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate. Through action-based frameworks, innovative strategies, scholarly readings and collaborative conversations, you'll analyze and reflect on contemporary educational issues while learning to lead positive organizational change. Best of all, you can tailor your program and dissertation to your goals as a scholar-practitioner.
Learn from instructors with industry experience
Our faculty members bring with them decades of knowledge and experience, which informs the development of SNHU’s courses and curriculum. They look forward to supporting your journey both in the classroom and as you work toward a career in your field.
Audrey Rogers
Position
Associate Dean for Graduate Education Programs
Joined SNHU
2007
Education
- EdD in Leadership and Learning from Rivier College
- MA in History from the University of New Hampshire
- MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell
- BA in History from Tufts University
Dr. Audrey Rogers is the associate dean for graduate education programs and professor of education at Southern New Hampshire University. She holds New Hampshire licensure as a social studies educator (grades 5-12) and as a digital learning specialist (K-12). She is past president and current member of the NH IHE (Institutions of Higher Education) Network, a consortium of all NH educator preparation programs. Her recent research focused on competency-based education and assessment literacy in preservice educators.
To learn more about SNHU faculty, visit our campus faculty page.
Campus major courses
You’ll take major courses that provide you with a solid foundation in your area of study – in some cases featuring experiential or project-based learning opportunities, labs, simulations and internships. These courses will allow you to learn a wide variety of topics and help prepare you for a role in your desired field.
Courses may include:
Visit the course catalog to view the full EdD in Educational Leadership curriculum.
Engaging and convenient low-residency cohort model
The cohort learning environment of the doctorate in educational leadership offers a collaborative experience for doctoral candidates with diverse career experiences and backgrounds. With hybrid courses occurring in a condensed weekend format during the spring and fall and a 5-day residency each summer, this low-residency format makes getting your doctorate engaging and convenient.
Your cohort members will become a source of support and encouragement to one another. Ideal candidates are in a position to influence the ideas and actions of others through positional or non-positional leadership opportunities. School leaders, community leaders, leaders within nonprofit and government organizations and local entrepreneurs are welcome to apply for program admission.
Can't wait? You don't have to!
Whether you’re looking to continue your education locally or traveling across the world to experience SNHU, you can apply now. We can’t wait to meet you!
Career Outlook What can I do with a doctorate in educational leadership?
In the field of education, there are many ways to make an impact on others. With field experience and an advanced degree in educational leadership, you could set yourself up for a successful career in a number of leadership roles. In academia, this could mean becoming a curriculum leader, dean, department head, principal or superintendent. Or, you could go on to work in the corporate world, with titles like chief learning officer, executive director, policy director and beyond.
Career paths include:
- Principal
- Postsecondary administrator
- School superintendent
- Training and development manager
Median annual pay for elementary, middle and high school principals as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1
Median annual pay for postsecondary education administrators as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1
Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.
Campus Student Experience So, what's it like taking classes on campus?
At SNHU, you’ll serve as a scholar-practitioner, building experience and analyzing theory. With a low-residency format, you can split your time between the workplace and the classroom, so your life (and your career) won’t have to pause for your degree. You'll pursue dissertation topics based on your individual interests and apply theory to your professional practice. You’ll also build your professional network, connecting with your cohort members in hybrid courses as well as a weeklong residency each year.
Student support
At SNHU, you don’t have to do this college thing alone. You’ll have help from your advisor, access to tutoring and office hours, career coaching, and mental health services so you can do your best and feel your best.
Additionally, our Office of Diversity and Campus Accessibility Center make campus a safe place for everyone. Visit our Student Services page to learn more about our support offerings.
Small class sizes
The EdD in Educational Leadership program's cohort learning environment offers a collaborative experience for doctoral candidates with diverse career experiences and backgrounds. The program includes hybrid courses occurring in a condensed weekend format during the spring and fall, as well as a 5-day residency each summer.
State-of-the-art facilities
Our 300-acre campus has everything you need. From technology-advanced classroom settings to your dorms complete with fitness centers and hangout spots, our goal is to give you the best college experience possible.
Whether you’re learning in a classroom, in a lab, on the field, or in your field, you’ll have what you need to be successful from the moment you wake up to the moment you close your textbooks.
School of Arts, Sciences and Education Learn about the School of Arts, Sciences and Education
From understanding why people behave the way they do, to studying and tackling today's environmental issues, the School of Arts, Sciences and Education serves as an academic hub for creativity, collaboration and learning. Here, you'll have the chance to gain real-world experience through internships, student teaching, lab work and community-based projects. From studying cells under a microscope or analyzing crime scenes to leading a student-teaching session in an elementary classroom, you’ll learn how the world works so you can help make it a better place.
Student teaching opportunities
Inkwell game design studio
State-of-the-art labs
How SNHU makes college affordable
At Southern New Hampshire University, we're on a mission to make high-quality education more accessible with more affordable tuition. With 70+ career-focused majors, state-of-the-art facilities, D2 sports and over 70 student clubs and organizations, you can get the campus experience you've always dreamed of at a more affordable price.
Hear from us
We offer a dynamic range of programs designed to support your career advancement through transformative educational experiences. Our offerings provide practical, hands-on learning, professional networking opportunities and a strong sense of community fostered by our cohort model.
Audrey Rogers, Associate Dean, Graduate Education Programs
Accreditations
SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The EdD program is a minimum 48 graduate credit program leading to a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Students needing longer to complete a dissertation in practice beyond these 48 credits will continue in dissertation colloquium courses until all program elements have been satisfied.
Many of our EdD students are professional adult learners balancing professional, academic, personal and family lives. This has influenced course scheduling, the action-focus of the program and practitioner-focused course content. While doctoral study is a significant undertaking, these are some of the elements that all help make the program doable.
SNHU's EdD program is offered in a cohort model with virtual and synchronous courses occurring in a condensed weekend format during the spring, fall and summer semesters and a week-long residency each summer.
During most academic terms, students in this doctoral program will take two or three 3-credit courses. After the successful completion of comprehensive exams, students enroll in dissertation colloquium courses each term.
Cohort sites are chosen with participants in mind. SNHU works with those interested in enrolling as well as with qualified professionals to explore building a cohort within a region.
EdD students from all regional graduate sites attend the week-long summer residency on our campus location, which provides an opportunity for new students to get to know more experienced students in the program.
No transfer credit can be applied toward the EdD program.
The EdD program cohort schedules are designed to take a minimum of 3 years. Individual students needing extended time to complete the dissertation can continue to register for dissertation colloquium courses to extend their time in the program beyond their cohort schedule. SNHU allows up to 8 years to complete your program from the time you begin the first course.
The EdD program consists of closed cohorts designed for matriculating students who have successfully completed the application process. Individual courses are not available.
EdD sites are not designed to accept new members once coursework is underway. New sites may be created in a specific region if there are enough interested students in an area to begin the program.
Sources & Citations
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm (viewed Oct. 18, 2024)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm (viewed Oct. 18, 2024)
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
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