Doctoral Degrees in Education
Earn Your Doctor in Education From GCU
If you enjoy developing relationships and creating meaningful impact in the education field, you might consider enrolling in one of the doctoral programs in education at Grand Canyon University. Our programs cover educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, nurturing your passion for improving instructional environments, critical thinking and addressing educational challenges within your community.
The College of Doctoral Studies offers a variety of doctoral degrees in education with a focus on practical skills, theoretical knowledge and hands-on experiences to teach you to become an effective, thoughtful leader in this field.
"Even though I was an online student, my committee was awesome. They supported me, provided clarity and made themselves available for questions. They had full confidence in my ability to get through the process, which made a huge difference in my experience. The support from my faculty was amazing."
"Even though I was an online student, my committee was awesome. They supported me, provided clarity and made themselves available for questions. They had full confidence in my ability to get through the process, which made a huge difference in my experience. The support from my faculty was amazing."
Types of Doctoral Education Programs at GCU
GCU offers a thriving community of faculty and student-scholars. With our online(See disclaimer 1) doctoral education programs, you will have the opportunity to learn how to blend theories and research with leadership practices, enabling you to critically analyze and apply best practices in education, management, psychology or ministry. You can choose from various emphases, such as K-12 education leadership, higher education leadership, behavioral health and healthcare administration. In addition, our online college courses provide a faith-integrated curriculum, allowing you to access a well-rounded education.
Doctor of Education Degrees
Education PhD Programs
Education Specialist Degrees
Doctoral Education Coursework
GCU’s doctoral programs in education offer a flexible schedule, allowing you to earn a degree while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities. Our faculty provide support throughout your online courses, ensuring you have the help you need all the way to graduation.
Our intuitive and collaborative e-learning platform connects you with a group of peers from a variety of backgrounds and locations. You will receive the same high-quality instruction from knowledgeable professors as our on-campus students. You can engage in academic discussions with fellow student-scholars who bring a wide range of perspectives, as well as access course materials online at your convenience to reinforce your understanding of key concepts.
Our dissertation process is integrated into the standard coursework, which can help streamline your path to graduation. You will benefit from a supportive learning community that keeps you engaged throughout your journey.
Note that you will need to attend two in-person residencies to build relationships and participate in fellowship opportunities with faculty and students.
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Career Opportunities for Doctoral Graduates
Students enrolled in doctoral programs in education could choose from an array of opportunities after graduation.
Some potential career paths might include the following:
Adult secondary education instructors
Education administrators
English as a second language instructors
Instructional coordinators
Management analysts
Social scientists
Training and development managers
Postsecondary instructors
Number of jobs estimated for postsecondary teachers from 2023 to 2033(See disclaimer 2)
Median annual wage for those with a doctoral degree in May 2023(See disclaimer 3)
Doctoral Degrees in Education FAQs
At GCU, you can earn your degree with convenience and flexibility by enrolling in online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. Here are frequently asked questions about our online doctoral education programs.
What is the difference between PhD and EdD?
Is a doctorate in education worth it?
Is a PhD more prestigious than an EdD?
Benefits of Pursuing Advanced Educational Studies
The Doctor of Education (EdD) courses instruct students on how to create technology-driven curricula and forward-thinking educational programs, while learning at a university built on a foundation of leadership, ethics, missional work and a Christian worldview.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, job growth for postsecondary education careers is projected to increase steadily from 2023 to 2033.(See disclaimer 1)
University Accreditation
GCU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an independent accreditation institution. Since 1968, GCU's accreditation has been reaffirmed by the HLC every year.
Doctoral Admission Requirements
GCU proudly welcomes doctoral applicants who aspire to achieve higher levels of learning and research. Admission can be granted by meeting our specific criteria, which is based off of your previous education. For detailed information on these requirements, visit our admission requirements page.
Doctoral Resources
As a doctoral student, you have access to resources and a supportive community for your educational journey within the online(See disclaimer 3) doctoral education programs. Our online tools help you obtain the support you need during your time at GCU.
- This program has residencies that take place on or near GCU's campus.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers, retrieved Sept. 9, 2024.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Doctoral or Professional Degree, as of May 2023, retrieved July 18, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as doctoral or professional degree graduates, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.