What is the online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and what are its key learning outcomes?

This fully online Doctor of Education prepares students to create organizational cultures that welcome diverse perspectives, lead toward equitable practice, and empower people to succeed. Graduates will be able to: • Apply styles, strategies, and theories to lead organizations to learn, improve, and change. • Create cultures where diverse voices are invited, considered, and empowered. • Recognize and attend to organizational context across stakeholders and networks to manage complex systems and improve them. • Assess structures, resources, stakeholders, relationships, and power to drive systems change. • Collect, analyze, and use data and evidence to evaluate learning processes and make ethical, effective decisions.

Is the program 100% online?

Yes, this program is 100% online with an intuitive platform, comprehensive support, and flexible learning. Each spring, students may join an optional in-person immersion that builds community, deepens learning, and offers real-world leadership exposure within the UNC School of Education.

What are the admission requirements for the online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?

Applicants need at least three years of management or leadership experience, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (lower GPAs require an explanation). A master’s degree and GRE/GMAT scores are not required.

How long does it typically take to complete the online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?

The program typically takes 36 months to complete.

What is the typical curriculum or course structure for the program?

The 54-credit lockstep curriculum includes 17 courses with a culminating series of capstone seminars. Each term is 13 weeks. Courses and descriptions are subject to change.

What career paths and job opportunities are available to graduates?

Graduates are prepared for leadership roles across industries—supporting talent development in health care, driving change in higher education, and improving systems in nonprofits. Example roles include business/management consultant, HR manager, project manager/coordinator, medical and health services manager, sales and marketing manager, leadership coach/developer, business or organization executive, and nonprofit administrator.

Earn your Doctor of Education online from UNC Chapel Hill.

Organizational Learning and Leadership at a Glance

Degree

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership

Funding

Estimated Tuition & Fees

When evaluating how to pay for a Doctor of Education program, students often explore a number of resources, including tuition assistance from employers, scholarships, and student loan programs.

Learn more about the cost of tuition and financial aid options »

Program Length

3 years

Credit Hours

54+

Accreditation

Yes

What Will You Learn in the Online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership?

This 54-credit hour online Doctor of Education prepares students to foster inclusive, empowering organizational cultures that support equity and success. Through 17 courses — including a Dissertation in Practice grounded in students’ real-world experiences — students gain the tools to lead with purpose and align colleagues with shared goals. An optional in-person immersion each spring offers additional opportunities to deepen learning and connect with peers.

View the curriculum details to learn more »

Skills You Will Learn

Graduates of the program learn to:

Apply leadership styles, strategies, and theories to help organizations learn, improve, and change
Build organizational cultures that invite and act on diverse voices and perspectives
Read organizational context — stakeholders and networks — to lead effectively within complex systems
Assess organizational structure, resources, and power dynamics to drive systemic change
Use data and evidence to evaluate organizational learning and make ethical, effective decisions

Degree Requirements

To gain admission into this online Doctor of Education you must have at least three years of management or leadership experience in a professional work setting, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (less than 3.0 will require an explanation accompanying your application). A master’s degree and GRE/GMAT scores are not required.

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What Can You Do With an Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership?

This program equips graduates to step into a wide range of leadership roles across diverse industries and organizational settings, including:

Business and management consultant
Human resources manager
Project manager or coordinator
Medical and health service manager
Sales and marketing manager
Leadership coaching or development
Business or organization executive
Nonprofit administrator

Who Should Apply?

This online Ed.D. is designed for experienced professionals across sectors who are leading — or ready to lead — with a focus on driving human-centered, equitable change. With flexible scheduling, a supportive cohort model, and a Dissertation in Practice grounded in real-world challenges, this program fits into busy lives while delivering practical tools for lasting organizational impact.

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Academic Programs

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership

Organizational Learning and Leadership at a Glance

Organizational Learning and Leadership

A people-first approach to leadership