Overview
The online doctor of education (EdD) in educational leadership from MU lets you continue your career while also acquiring skills that you can put to use immediately. This newly retooled doctorate program is designed for practicing educational leaders ready to enhance their leadership skills and career opportunities.
The program is not designed to lead to professional licensure or certification. If you wish to enhance your degree with the requirements for certification or licensure, please contact the ELPA department (ELPA@missouri.edu) to discuss potential options.
Quick facts
Official name
Doctor of education in educational leadershipCampus
University of MissouriProgram type
DoctorateAcademic home
College of Education | Department of Educational Leadership and Policy AnalysisDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
54Estimated cost
$28,962.90*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

Career prospects
Graduates of this program lead across a PK–20+ context as principals, superintendents, directors, university administrators, faculty and more.
Program structure
Delivery of this program is 100% online: No campus visits required. Optional on-campus opportunities (e.g., meetings with faculty, networking events, writing retreats) may be offered during the program based on student interest and availability.
This program requires synchronous components, held on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. CT.
Courses are semester-based. Students will take two classes each semester and finish the program in three years.
Course work includes
- Leadership theory and practice
- Organizational analysis
- Educational policy
- Content and context of learning
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
3 yearsTypical course load
2 classes per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight

Dr. Jennifer Fellabaum-Toston is an Associate Teaching Professor and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri. She is also the Director of the Statewide Cooperative EdD Program. Dr. Fellabaum-Toston holds a BSS in professional leadership and a MEd in college student personnel from Ohio University. She completed her PhD with an emphasis in Higher and Continuing Education at the University of Missouri. Dr. Fellabaum-Toston’s research and teaching interests include identities in higher education, postsecondary teaching and learning, and the development of scholarly practitioners/practitioner-scholars.