Educational Leadership: Learning, Design & Technology Concentration, Ed.D.

Program Overview

Boost Your Ed.D. Educational Leadership Degree With a Learning, Design & Technology Concentration

Are you interested in a career as a senior-level leader in a learning, design and technology position in a higher education, K–12, corporate, government or military setting?

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a Learning, Design & Technology (LDT) concentration features rigorous coursework in foundational leadership principles and specialized LDT topics. You will become adept at designing effective learning experiences, integrating technology strategically and leading LDT initiatives with confidence.

Our Ed.D. degree in educational leadership program is ideal for experienced professionals seeking to elevate their careers and shape the future of learning through innovative technology. You will engage in learning that integrates theory with practical application for advanced technology application and development in educational settings.

Through the flexibility of our blended online and on-campus courses, you will complete a portfolio of achievements related to the three focus areas of learning, design and technology. Your portfolio, which will serve as your qualifying examination, must receive satisfactory ratings from the Portfolio Review Committee.

Program Contact

  • Delivery
    Online & In Person
  • Credits
    48 Credit Hours
  • Admits
    Fall

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Learning, Design and Technology Accreditation

UNC Charlotte’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Learning, Design and Technology is offered by the Cato College of Education, which is accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). More information is available here.

Success Stories

Explore some of our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership success stories:

  • Dr. Marion Bish, Executive Director of Student Services, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, NC
  • Dr. Ruth M. Hedgpeth, Dean of Nursing, Allied Health, Early Childhood Education, and Cosmetology, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC
  • Dr. Linda Hopper, Assistant Superintendent of District and School Improvement, Cleveland County Schools, Shelby, NC
  • Dr. Jennifer McGee, Assistant Professor, Assessment and Research Methods, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
  • Dr. Denise Q. Patterson, Assistant Superintendent, Hickory Public Schools, Hickory, NC
  • Dr. Gary Ritter, Executive Director of Learning Technology Services and History Instructor, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC
Courses

Foundation Courses (9 credit hours)

  • ADMN 8110: Organizational Theory and Behavior
  • ADMN 8181: Equity and Social Justice in Adult Education
  • ADMN 8610: Interdisciplinary Seminar

Learning, Design and Technology Concentration (15 credit hours) Required:

  • ADMN 8695: Doctoral Seminar in Teaching and Learning*
  • ELDT 8102: Research in Learning, Design and Technology*
  • Choose 3 courses from the following.
    • ELDT 8000: Topics in Learning, Design and Technology*
    • ELDT 8100: Foundations of Learning, Design and Technology*
    • ELDT 8110: Instructional Design*
    • ELDT 8120: Current Trends in Learning, Design and Technology*
    • ELDT 8121: Advanced Instructional Design*
    • ELDT 8130: Instructional Multimedia Development*
    • ELDT 8135: Learning Media, Resources and Technology*
    • ELDT IST 8150: Design, Development, and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems*
    • ELDT 8160: Designing Learning Systems with Simulation and Game* Technology
    • ELDT 8170: Human Performance Technology*
    • ADMN 8171: The American College Student*
    • ADMN 8125: Doctoral Seminar in Instruction
    • ADMN 8660: Instructional Leadership Seminar

Research and Evaluation Courses (15 credit hours)

  • RSCH 8210: Applied Educational Research
  • RSCH 8110: Descriptive & Inferential Statistics
    • OR RSCH 8111: Qualitative Research Methods
  • RSCH 8120: Advanced Statistics
    • OR RSCH 8121: Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis
  • RSCH 8196: Program Evaluation Methods*
  • RSCH 8890: Special Topics – Applied Dissertation Proposal

Dissertation Courses (9 credit hours)

  • ADMN 8699: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credit hours)
    • (taken after successful submission of the portfolio and the presentation to the Portfolio Review Committee)
  • ADMN 8999: Dissertation Research (minimum 6 credit hours)*

NOTE: Courses marked * are tentative for online delivery

Admissions

Admissions Requirements for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Learning, Design and Technology

  • Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
  • Completion of a Master of School Administration or a comparable degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor with a GPA of at least a 3.5.
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts from all academic coursework beyond high school.
  • At least three years of relevant work experience in formal school leadership.
  • Three recommendations from individuals who know the applicant’s current work and/or academic achievements in previous degree work. Applicants will provide reference contact names and email addresses through the application portal.
  • A statement of purpose describing prior educational and research experiences and objectives for pursuing doctoral studies.
  • A current resume or vita.
  • Writing sample that demonstrates best evidence of academic writing or respond to writing prompt.
  • Interviews may be scheduled with select applicants.
Application

Application Deadline: March 1 (fall)

Outlook

What Can You Do With Your Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Learning, Design and Technology?

Our Ed.D. graduates typically go on to work in school districts, colleges and universities, and other organizations. Top organizations employing our graduates include:

  • University of North Carolina
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Cabarrus County Schools
  • Curriculum Associates
  • Central Piedmont Community College

Job titles our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership alumni hold include:

  • Principals and assistant principals
  • Directors of learning solutions
  • Executive directors of client services
  • Assistant superintendents of curriculum and instruction
  • Superintendents
  • Deans of students

Exceptional salary expectations

Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics research, collects job and salary data from UNC Charlotte graduates. Lightcast sampled alumni of our Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program and found the average annual estimated wage to be approximately $113,900.

Why UNC Charlotte?

Why Earn Your Ed.D. Educational Leadership Degree From UNC Charlotte?

By choosing UNC Charlotte’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership degree program, you will enjoy a number of advantages, including:

Earn your Ed.D. in just four years of part-time study. Our flexible degree in educational leadership allows you to continue working full time as you complete your coursework part time. Students find this format ideal for earning their Ed.D. around their busy schedules.

Boost your offerings with the Learning, Design & Technology concentration. By adding this concentration to your Ed.D. degree program, you will focus on LDT topics such as active and experiential pedagogy, integration of technology, blended and online learning, open educational resources, creative instructional materials design, digital storytelling and more.

Enjoy our blended online and on-campus course format. Our on-campus courses allow you to learn face to face and network with your instructors and classmates. Our online courses are asynchronous, meaning there are no set times to meet for class. You can complete your online coursework around your busy schedule.

Learn from faculty experts. Dr. Ayesha Sadaf is the coordinator for the LDT concentration of our Ed.D. degree in educational leadership. Dr. Sadaf has more than 20 years of experience in designing, developing and teaching courses in online, hybrid (blended) and face-to-face formats. Her teaching experiences inform her research, ultimately demonstrating a process that emphasizes theory into practice.

Tuition

Please view the graduate distance education tuition and fees rates via Niner Central.


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