The Ed.D. is delivered primarly online (along with one-week summer residencies) and is designed to facilitate the learning styles of adults and provide a collaborative community for higher-level thinking and problem solving. The problem-oriented curriculum and cognate specialties allow for individualization of programs. Undergirding the entire program is critical thinking, scholarly research that informs practice, writing and learning from a Christian worldview. The capstone project, as with any doctoral program, is the submission and defense of a doctoral dissertation.

Each student will designate a cognate from one of ten cognate areas: Adult Education, Advanced Educational Leadership, Character Education, Christian Education Leadership, Distance Education, Educational Psychology, Higher Education (TAR), Higher Education Leadership and Management, K-12 School Leadership, and Special Education. Some cognates, if completed with the addition of an internship, may fulfill licensure requirements in the State of Virginia.

The doctoral program may be completed in a minimum of three years; however, this minimum is for those who meet all required deadlines in regard to coursework, candidacy requirements and dissertation defense. The average time for completion is three to four years. A Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) is earned when 30 credits of doctorate-level coursework is completed. The maximum time that is allowed to complete the program is seven years.

Cognate Areas

Students may choose from the following concentration/cognate areas:

1. Adult Education
2. Advanced Educational Leadership
3. Character Education
4. Christian Education Leadership
5. Distance Education
6. Educational Psychology
7. Higher Education (TAR)
8. Higher Education Leadership and Management
9. K-12 School Leadership
10. Special Education