For education practitioners aspiring to become impactful leaders and drive significant change in their fields, pursuing an online EdD doctoral program is a strategic step forward. Johns Hopkins University stands at the forefront of online education, offering a rigorous and flexible Doctor of Education (EdD) program designed to cultivate exceptional education professionals. Our internationally renowned faculty are committed to fostering curiosity, critical discourse, and diverse perspectives through a unique curriculum grounded in social justice, systems thinking, research methodologies, and empirical inquiry.
Our online EdD doctoral programs are meticulously crafted to address the evolving landscape of education. Coursework delves into cutting-edge research areas, including the social determinants of education, the intersection of mind, brain, and teaching, entrepreneurial leadership, data-driven decision-making, and the integration of technology in learning environments. Recognizing the diverse professional interests of our students, we’ve redesigned the program to offer a wider array of electives. This customization allows you to deeply specialize in areas that directly align with your professional challenges and aspirations, ensuring your doctoral journey is both personally enriching and professionally transformative. The overarching aim of our online EdD doctoral programs is to empower education practitioners to become transformational leaders, capable of enacting positive and enduring change within their respective professional settings.
The vision of the Johns Hopkins EdD program is to address complex educational challenges worldwide. We achieve this by preparing graduates to critically and systemically analyze problems within their professional contexts. Our program fosters deep understanding and insights, enabling our alumni to lead positive, sustained change. Graduates are equipped to contribute to the field by initiating new research areas, disseminating research findings into practical applications, and enriching public discourse and policy discussions in education.
Areas of Interest
Our EdD program offers several specialized areas of interest, allowing applicants to focus their studies on a problem of practice aligned with their passions. Prospective students can indicate one or more areas of interest they wish to explore during their application. Current areas of focus include:
- Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education
- Learning Design and Technology
- Neurodiversity and Neuroeducation
- Urban Leadership
Please note that courses and course sequences are subject to change.
Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education
The Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education area of interest provides a distinctive pathway for leaders in both public and private educational organizations. This specialization is designed to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead innovative ventures within diverse educational settings. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students learn to champion innovation in paradigms, strategies, values, and culture across school systems, social entrepreneurial ventures, and education companies. Each course within this area offers opportunities to explore foundational leadership theories, identify and refine a Problem of Practice, and develop actionable plans through the analysis of current educational environments and future challenges.
Sample Courses:
- Entrepreneurship in Education
- Talent Management and Organizational Finance for Entrepreneurial Leaders
- Data Driven Decision Making
- Partnerships and Educational Organizations
- Leadership in Education Organizations
- Research on Effective Professional Development
Learning Design and Technology
The Learning Design and Technology (LDT) area of interest within our online EdD doctoral programs is tailored for educational leaders and researchers seeking to critically engage with the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology. Building upon the core principles of our esteemed LDT program, this specialization emphasizes the integration of learning sciences, human-centered design, and innovative assessment strategies to drive meaningful educational change. EdD candidates will explore the dynamic intersection of technology and pedagogy, examining both conceptual and empirical research, and honing skills in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital learning environments. This area prepares graduates to spearhead initiatives that effectively leverage technology to enhance learning outcomes, promote equity and inclusivity, and cater to the diverse needs of learners across varied educational contexts. It is an ideal choice for those committed to making a significant impact on educational practice and policy through the thoughtful and effective application of educational technologies.
Sample Courses:
- Gaming and Simulations for Learning
- How People Learn
- Computational Thinking for K–12 Educators
- Maker Education: Cultivating Curiosity, Creativity, and Problem Solving in Theory and Practice
- Foundations and Applications of Learning Experience Design
- AI in Education
Neurodiversity and Neuroeducation
The Neurodiversity and Neuroeducation area of interest is specifically designed for educators who are passionate about exploring the latest research in cognitive science and neuroscience and its potential applications within education. Courses in this specialization promote the integration of diverse disciplines that investigate human learning and development. Drawing upon foundational and applied research from cognitive science, psychology, brain sciences, neurology, neuroscience, and education, this area equips educators with the knowledge and skills to interpret complex research and apply relevant findings to educational practices and policies, always through a lens of social justice. Coursework focuses on building expertise in learning sciences and cognitive diversity, preparing candidates for impactful roles as informed educators, effective leaders, and skilled advocates for equity and excellence in diverse learning environments.
Sample Courses:
- Mind, Brain Science, and Learning
- Fundamentals of Cognitive Development
- Neurobiology of Learning Differences
- Twice Exceptional Learners
- Creativity in Education
- Social, Emotional, and Psychosocial Development of the Gifted
- Survey of Autism
- Introduction to Children and Youth With Exceptionalities
Urban Leadership
Urban centers are characterized by diverse populations, creating vibrant communities rich in varied races, classes, languages, and nationalities. This dynamism is a core strength of urban areas. However, urban schools often serve communities with high concentrations of poverty, leading to complex decisions about resource allocation. The Urban Leadership area of interest within our online EdD doctoral programs is tailored for educational professionals keen to explore this duality of urban schools through a deep investigation of a Problem of Practice rooted in their unique professional context. This area prepares educational leaders to excel in urban environments by focusing on developing a strength-based understanding of urban community complexities, engaging with current research on urban educational programs, developing strategies for program enhancement, and building strong partnerships with families, communities, and other relevant organizations.
Sample Courses:
- Approaches to Urban Education
- Individuals in Urban Context
- Organizations and Institutions
- Partnerships and Community Organizing
- Power, Politics, and Policy in Education
- Leadership for School and Educational Organization Redesign
- Critical Theories of Race and Racism in Education
View Program Structure and Requirements
Scholarship Support Available
The Johns Hopkins EdD program is committed to making quality education accessible. Thanks to the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the EdD Initiative Scholarship provides need-based scholarship assistance to eligible Johns Hopkins EdD students for up to three years of study. We encourage prospective students to explore these opportunities to help fund their online EdD doctoral programs. Learn more about scholarship opportunities.
