Executive Doctorate in Leadership and Change
A practice-driven, cohort-based doctorate for experienced professionals and current leaders who want to grow while engaged in their current positions. The EdD brings rigorous thinking together with real-world application, so what you’re learning connects directly to how you lead every day.
This program gives you space to think deeply about your leadership while staying fully engaged in your professional role. Coursework, mentoring, and the dissertation-in-practice all connect to challenges you may be facing right now, creating opportunities for a steady back-and-forth between learning and doing.
Fall 2026 applications are due May 1, 2026.
What Defines The William Davidson EdD
Leadership beyond a single field: Built for leaders working across institutions and communities—not only traditional education settings.
Theory that’s meant to be used: Put serious ideas to work immediately by bringing real leadership questions into the classroom and taking insights back to your organization.
A clear path to completion: The program is structured with defined milestones and consistent faculty support to ensure you move confidently toward your degree.
A diverse community of inquiry: Learn alongside a cohort of peers from different professional contexts to build, test, and strengthen your leadership skills.
Program Structure and Experience
The EdD is delivered online over three years, designed to balance academic rigor with your professional schedule.
Dissertation in Practice: The program concludes with an applied research project rooted in your professional setting, focused on a challenge that matters to your specific work.
Live Online Learning: To foster real-time collaboration, the program is primarily synchronous, featuring live sessions each semester complemented by targeted asynchronous coursework.
The Cohort Model: You move through the program with the same group of peers. Through shared inquiry and reflection, you’ll sharpen your decision-making and learn to lead through uncertainty.
In-Person Retreat: An annual retreat offers time for deeper connection and relationship-building.
Year-by-Year Focus
| YEAR | FOCUS | CREDITS |
| Year 1: Foundations | Vision, Research, and Design | 16 Credits |
| Year 2: Practice | Fieldwork, Analysis, and Meaning Making | 16 Credits |
| Year 3: Integration | Translate Research into Leadership Practice | 8 Credits |
Click here for a more detailed overview of the curriculum.
Who the Program Is Designed For
Our participants come from education, nonprofit, communal, and organizational settings. This program is a strong fit if you:
- Are ready to use your current workplace as a “laboratory” for leadership growth.
- Have meaningful professional or leadership experience.
- Value real-time, face-to-face digital interaction with faculty and peers.
What You’ll Gain
When you complete the Executive Doctorate in Leadership and Change, you leave with:
- A doctoral degree grounded in real-world leadership practice
- Greater confidence navigating complexity and change
- Stronger judgment and decision-making skills
- Expanded professional credibility and opportunity
- A network of peers that continues long after the program ends
FAQ
How is the online learning structured?
Unlike self-paced programs, this EdD prioritizes synchronous (live) sessions. This ensures you have direct access to faculty and real-time dialogue with your cohort. These live sessions are supplemented by asynchronous assignments and readings.
Can I really finish in three years?
Yes. This is a nonnegotiable part of our program design. The curriculum is heavily scaffolded, meaning your dissertation milestones are built into your coursework. You don’t “start” your dissertation after classes end; you build it as you go, ensuring every student in the cohort is positioned to graduate on time.
How is this EdD different from a PhD?
This EdD is grounded in leadership practice rather than academic specialization. It is designed for professionals who want rigorous thinking that informs real decisions, not preparation for a traditional academic career. Research, coursework, and the Dissertation in Practice are all oriented toward questions that emerge from your professional context.
Is this program manageable for people working full-time?
Yes, the program is built specifically for working professionals. Because the learning is “practice-driven,” your daily work actually serves as the primary material for your studies.
What is the cohort experience like?
You move through the program with the same cohort, learning alongside peers from diverse professional backgrounds. The cohort model provides continuity, accountability, and a sustained community of inquiry. Many participants find that the relationships built through the cohort become one of the most valuable aspects of the program.
What kind of support will I receive throughout the program?
Students receive structured support through faculty mentoring, clearly defined milestones, and ongoing engagement with their cohort. The program is intentionally designed to help you move steadily from coursework through the Dissertation in Practice without losing momentum.
What is a Dissertation in Practice?
It is not a theoretical thesis. It is a high-level, applied research project where you identify a complex challenge in your current organization and use rigorous research methods to solve it. It is a professional tool that provides immediate value to your workplace before you even graduate.
What is the career ROI for a William Davidson EdD?
Our graduates don’t just gain a title; they gain expanded professional authority. This degree is designed to move you into top-tier executive roles, increase your credibility across sectors (nonprofit, communal, and public), and equip you with the judgment required to lead through high-stakes change and organizational complexity.
What is the cost and is financial aid available?
The cost of the JTS EdD in Leadership and Change is $1,882 per credit (this is the cost for 2026–2027). The program requires 40 credits to complete. Tuition is billed per credit as students progress through the program, rather than as a single upfront cost. The Davidson School offers need-based financial aid. More information about financial aid is available here.
