Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership and Learning in Organizations

Bridge the divide between theory and practice while gaining the deep understanding and contextual experience needed to lead organizational change across industries.

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Program Overview

Why Earn an Online Ed.D. in Leadership from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College?

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Program Facts

Program Director: Eve Rifkin

Program Start Dates: January, May and August

Application Deadline: The final deadline for the spring 2025 cohort is November 18, 2024. 

Credit Hours: Our 54-credit program can be completed in three to four years. Students in the program are required to attend all classes, complete a capstone project, and attend three on-campus convenings.*

OPM Disclosures: Vanderbilt Peabody College works with an online program manager to offer this degree program. Learn more about Vanderbilt's partnerships with OPMs.

*The full program requires a total of 84 credit hours - 54 credit hours in addition to 30 credit hours transferred from a regionally accredited institution, preferably from a completed master’s program.

Contact Us:
(855) 338-4540
admissions@peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu

Online Ed.D. Curriculum

The online Ed.D. in leadership and learning in organizations curriculum prepares students to identify, assess, and resolve organizational challenges. Students will learn how to improve operations in organizations across industries while focusing on three key competency areas:

  • Leadership and organizational development
  • Data and analytics
  • Learning and design

Students will also develop leadership skills and an in-depth understanding in the following areas:

  • Organizational change and systemic improvement
  • Different methods of inquiry and analysis
  • Issues of practice from a variety of perspectives
  • Impact of systems and practice on learning
  • Methods to address organizational challenges
  • Context-specific individual and organizational learning
  • Organizational improvement, practice, and processes
  • Data analytics

Capstone

The program culminates with a capstone project that provides the opportunity to identify a problem of practice, conduct research, test a solution, and make recommendations for improvement. Students will work in small teams of two to three with the approval of a faculty adviser. More specifically, students will:

  • identify and analyze a problem of practice, challenge, or complex phenomenon in an external organization;
  • investigate the problem and provide multiple forms of evidence that demonstrate a need to focus on the problem in the particular organizational context;
  • design an intervention or process that implements a learning, improvement, or change to solve the problem;
  • develop a system of evaluation for the recommended intervention; and
  • share a detailed plan and evaluation strategy to address the organization’s challenges.

Ed.D. Admissions

Admission to the online Ed.D. in leadership and learning in organizations depends on several factors, including the overall quality of application materials, depth and relevance of leadership experience, and a record of academic and professional achievements.

Those with less than three years leadership experience are unlikely to be admitted to the program. Internships, student teaching, and assistantships during undergraduate or graduate study will not be counted as work experience.

Applicants interested in applying to the online Ed.D. in leadership and learning in organizations must meet the following requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • A superior undergraduate scholastic record, normally above a 3.0 GPA.
  • At least 30 applicable graduate-level hours:
    • The 30 applicable graduate-level hours must be transferred to this degree program from a regionally accredited institution, and preferably from a completed master’s program. Applicants should have earned Grades of B or better in their 30 hours. Grades of P, S, or CR will transfer if approved by the department.
  • Submission of GRE or GMAT scores is optional.
  • A Statement of Purpose that explains your reasons for wishing to undertake doctoral study at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, your professional goals, and any additional information that may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your application.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Evidence of a minimum of three years of successful leadership experience.
  • TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores are required of all international applicants, unless you have received a college degree and completed coursework from an accredited institution in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.

Required Application Materials

  • Transcripts

    You must submit official academic records from all institutions where you earned your bachelor’s or master’s degrees. You must also submit records from any additional college- or university-level course work, even if you did not earn a degree from these institutions.

    Many schools issue transcripts electronically, either through their own web services or through vendors. If this option is available, please have your transcript(s)emailed to this address: apps@peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu. This will expedite the delivery of your transcript(s) and the completion of your application.

    Your transcripts can be sent by mail to:

    Vanderbilt University
    Application Processing Center
    Peabody Online
    P.O. Box 30096 025-001
    College Station, TX 77842

    Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s), through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution, or delivered in the original sealed envelope from the institution(s). If a transcript appears to have been opened, unencrypted, or downloaded by any party other than Vanderbilt University Application Processing Center, it will be marked as unofficial.

    Official verification of prior degrees is required for any new student who has earned a university degree prior to enrolling at Vanderbilt. Students must submit final, official transcripts (and any necessary supporting documentation) prior to the first day of classes of their first semester at Vanderbilt. Students who have not submitted required documentation by the first day of classes are subject to having their classes canceled.

    All entering students to Peabody College must have their prior degrees verified in order to register for classes for their first term. A final, official transcript should list the degree(s) awarded and the month and year of conferment.

  • Statement of Purpose

    Applicants to the online doctor of education (Ed.D.) in leadership and learning in organizations program are required to write a Statement of Purpose that explains their desire to pursue doctoral study at Peabody College.

    The Statement of Purpose gives prospective students the opportunity to outline their professional goals and highlight any professional or academic experiences that have prepared them to pursue a doctor of education. This portion of the application is also used to evaluate effective verbal, writing, and analytical skills. To write an effective Statement of Purpose, applicants should provide clear and compelling reasoning for their motivations and qualifications for doctoral study.

  • Reference Letters

    Peabody requires at least three letters of recommendation. Letters should come from current or former employers who can comment on your professional contributions and/or former instructors who can speak to your academic preparation for doctoral-level work. Personal recommendations will not be accepted. 

    Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly in the online application by the references themselves, not by the applicants. Contact the admissions team at +1-855-338-4540 or admissions@peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu to discuss any questions you may have about this process.

  • Résumé

    A professional résumé is required. Your résumé should include all relevant professional and academic experiences and accomplishments.

  • TOEFL or IELTS Scores (for non-native English speakers)

    Results of either the TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English, unless they have demonstrated competence while attending an accredited institution in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or an English medium university in South Africa.

Ed.D. Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance for the 2024-2025 school year can be found on our Tuition and Fees page. Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change and may rise each year.

 

Federal Aid and Other Financial Options

  • Federal Financial Aid

    How Do I Qualify for Federal Financial Aid?

    Financial aid for graduate level students is non-need based aid. Non-need based aid for graduate students includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans on which the interest accrues from the date of disbursement. You must be enrolled as a part time student to be eligible for a federal loan.

    How Do I Apply?

    • To apply for federal student loans, a current or prospective student must complete one application: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Our school code for the FAFSA is 003535. Select Vanderbilt University school code 003535.
    • Complete the online application using your FSA ID.
    • Please make sure to submit the correct application for the year of enrollment.
    • Summer semester falls at the end of the prior academic year. Be sure to complete the correct FAFSA.

    Your tax information from prior year's tax returns is required to complete the FAFSA. You should indicate you will be a graduate level student on the FAFSA and you do not need to provide parents information on the FAFSA. The FAFSA must be filed annually and is available in October of each year. 

    How To Fill Out the FAFSA Form

    Eligibility

    Eligibility is based on the difference between the amount you are expected to pay, any additional financial aid resources and the total cost of attendance. Aid offers vary according to each student's eligibility. Once eligibility has been determined, students will receive an Aid Offer Notification Letter listing the type of aid offered.

    Financial aid is awarded for one academic year only, so students must re-apply (complete a new FAFSA) each year. To continue receiving assistance, students must satisfactory academic progress toward their degree and maintain minimum grade point average standards.

  • Federal Student Loan Options for Graduate/Professional Students

    IMPORTANT NOTE: It is our firm belief that families should borrow only when absolutely necessary, and then only to the extent that is needed. We encourage that serious and deliberate consideration be given to making any borrowing decision.

    Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

    How do I apply for this loan, and am I eligible?

    • Must meet federal eligibility requirements for federal student aid
    • Login to studentaid.gov using your FSA ID
    • Under "Loans and Grants," click on "Master Promissory Note (MPN)" and complete the MPN for Graduate/Professional students.
    • Under "Loans and Grants," click on "Loan Entrance Counseling" and complete for Graduate or Professional students.
    • Completion of MPN and Entrance is only required once
    • Effective July 1, 2024– June 30, 2025, the interest rate = 8.08%

    Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

    How do I apply for this loan?

    • Students must meet federal eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
    • Students must pass the credit check.
    • Initiate the process at studentaid.gov using your FSA ID to log in
    • Under "Loan and Grants," click on "Mastery Promissory Note (MPN)" and complete for Graduate/Professional student.
      • Completion of MPN is only required once
    • Under "Loan and Grants," click on "Plus Loans: Grad Plus and Parent Plus," then select Graduate or Professional student.
      • Grad PLUS Loan application is required each aid year
    • If the student does not pass the credit check, two options are available
      • Endorse a PLUS Loan
      • Appeal a Credit Decision
      • If either option is used, then PLUS Credit Counseling is required
    • Effective July 1, 2024– June 30, 2025, the interest rate = 9.08%

    When do I begin repaying the loan?

    • Repayment begins six months (grace period) after you drop below half-time enrollment status.

    How are financial awards disbursed?

    All financial aid is credited directly to a student's account at the beginning of each semester. In order to receive a loan, loan documents must be completed online and approved before loan funds disburse to the student account. Federal student loan information can be read and completed online here.

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