Doctor of Education (Online)
Program Credit Hours
60 credits
Course Length
7 weeks per course
Average Completion
40 months (for coursework)
Program Format
Online plus summer residencies
Cost per Credit Hour
$650
Total Cost
$39,000*
*Total Cost (cost per credit hour x total credit hours) is provided to aid in program comparison only. All stated financial information is subject to change. Total Cost does not include book and material costs.
An online doctorate for the high-impact educator.
SWU’s online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) provides a rigorous, Christ-centered doctoral education that will enable you to increase your institutional impact. Our cohort model forges deep, supportive, and lasting relationships, and our focus on a Christian ethic of care underpins everything we do.
SWU’s Ed.D. program focuses on assessment, setting you up to become a leader who can help your institution meet accountability standards. Our convenient seven-week sessions and two concentration options create flexibility and allow you to customize your Ed.D. experience.
SWU also requires a summer residency, during which you’ll have the opportunity to meet your peers and caring, dedicated faculty face-to-face.
Concentrations
The Curriculum and Assessment concentration focuses on training you to succeed in today’s outcomes-based educational climate. You will graduate equipped to use quantitative and qualitative data in any role.
In the Exceptional Learner concentration, you’ll focus on culturally responsive teaching practices and the needs of diverse learners. You’ll graduate ready to create or lead programs supporting this student population.
“The Ed.D. program has been an incredible opportunity for me! The professors are helpful and knowledgeable and always available to answer questions that may arise. This is a program I would highly recommend to anyone considering more educational opportunities.”Dr. Rachel Gregory — Ed.D. graduate
- College/university professor
- Curriculum developer
- District leadership
- Instructional coach
- Non-profit organizational leadership
Graduates of the Ed.D. program will be able to:
- Create, enact, and advocate for a shared mission focusing on high-quality education that supports each student's academic success and well-being.
- Live out a Christian ethic and adhere to professional standards when engaging with students, colleagues, and community.
- Develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems.
- Cultivate an inclusive, caring, supportive school community that encourages beneficial, meaningful, and reciprocal behaviors.
- Foster a professional community of teachers focused on student development and success.
Additional Program Information
- Submission of a completed application.
- An earned master's degree in education or related field from an institution that is fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. A master's in a related field must be approved by the School of Education Graduate Review Committee.
- Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
- Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges and university-level coursework.
- Submission of two professional references with one of the references from current supervisor.
- Resume.
- One page letter addressed to the Department of Education Graduate Admissions Committee explaining why this particular degree would be important to the applicant’s career.
- International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers can do this evaluation, and National Association of Credential Evaluation Services provides a list of approved agencies. From the NACES list, Southern Wesleyan recommends using World Education Services or Josef Silny.
- Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet the official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or demonstrate equivalent evidence of proficiency in English, such as an overall band score of 6.0 or higher on the IELTS test.
If you have any questions regarding admission requirements for your degree program, please contact an admissions representative at 864-644-5550 or .
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972 and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Southern Wesleyan University does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, or physical handicap in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. The university reserves its right to operate as a church-related institution and to develop policies consistent with the religious tenets of its sponsoring denomination, The Wesleyan Church.
Additional information related to SWU’s non-discrimination policies include:
Southern Wesleyan does not advise students on what will or will not be accepted by their state departments of education. Students are encouraged to contact their state department of education to ensure the degree offered by Southern Wesleyan University meets state requirements. Additionally, Southern Wesleyan cannot determine credentials for individuals desiring to teach at the collegiate level as this varies by accreditor and is based on each individual's collegiate credit history.
Degrees are conferred during the May and December commencement ceremonies. Final degree requirements must be completed or in progress to participate in commencement. Students’ degrees will also be conferred on August 31st for those who complete degree requirements after the academic deadline for May graduation and by the end of the publishing ending date of the summer semester. For students who receive an August conferral date, they will be able to participate in the December commencement.
