Doctoral Degrees in Education
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.
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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 2033.1
I felt like a sense of belonging. Even though I was an online student, my committee was awesome. They supported me, they provided clarity and they made themselves available for questions. They had full confidence in my ability to get through the process and I think that made a huge difference in my experience in the program. 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 online3 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 online3 college courses provide a faith-integrated curriculum, allowing you to access a well-rounded education.
Doctor of Education Degrees
The doctoral programs in education are taught by faculty with expert knowledge and skills, and all courses address practical educational and leadership challenges you could face in the education field. The coursework is designed to enhance your qualifications for instruction-based positions that value specialized expertise.
Are you passionate about advancing education and shaping the future of learning? An EdD degree can help you position yourself for potential leadership roles in academia, K-12 administration and policy-making.
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Education PhD Programs
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision is designed to prepare graduates for roles as counselor educators, supervisors, researchers and practitioners in both academic and clinical settings. The program’s standards are designed to enhance the strengths of students who want to advance their leadership and counseling skills.
Education Specialist Degrees
The EdS degree teaches ethics, research and theory, with an emphasis on educational policy development, staffing, organizational leadership and instructional supervision. Through an analysis-driven approach, students explore best practices in leadership that promote teamwork at all levels. It should be noted that while our EdS programs are offered by the College of Doctoral Studies, they are not considered to be doctoral 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 online3 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.
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.
University Accreditation
GCU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent accreditation institution. Since 1968, GCU's accreditation has been reaffirmed by the HLC every year.
You think that you learn a lot in your other degrees, and you do, but we’re all lifelong learners. I see myself as a lifelong learner and my experience at GCU taught me that there’s so much more to know.
At GCU, you can earn your degree with convenience and flexibility by enrolling in online3 courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. Here are frequently asked questions about our online3 doctoral education programs.
The EdD (Doctor of Education) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) are both advanced degrees, but they serve different purposes. Here is a breakdown of key differences:
A PhD is research focused and aims to contribute new knowledge to a specific field. It emphasizes theoretical research, original contributions to the field and academic scholarship.
An EdD is practice focused and aims to apply existing knowledge to solve challenges facing the education industry. It emphasizes practical application of research, leadership and policy development in educational settings.
This degree might qualify you for high-level administrative and leadership positions in educational institutions, and earning it could open the potential for teaching at the university level and for roles in academic administration.
One doctorate degree is not more prestigious than the other. Choosing to earn a PhD or an EdD depends on your career goals, personal interests and the specific benefits you seek from the degree. If you prefer research-focused work, a PhD might be in your wheelhouse. If enjoy leadership and policy development, you might want to consider an EdD.
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
1 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.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Doctoral or Professional Degree, as of May 2023, retrieved on 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.
3 This program has residencies that take place on or near GCU's campus.
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Postsecondary Teachers, as of May 2023, retrieved Sept. 9, 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 postsecondary teachers, 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.
Shape the Future of Education by Earning your Doctorate.