Executive EdD in Higher Education Leadership

This program is admitting students for fall 2025.

The BU Wheelock Executive Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Leadership is designed for current professionals in higher education administration who seek executive leadership roles or are already in such roles but seek to further develop their knowledge and leadership skills. The program is a part-time, three-year, 56-unit, cohort-based program. Coursework takes place fully online with optional in-person experiences throughout the three years.

The program is designed by practitioners for practitioners with a strong emphasis on building shared equity leadership, global professional networks, and data-informed management skills.

Learning Outcomes

• Advanced knowledge and skills in higher education leadership and management.
  • Advanced strategic planning and implementation skills employing a data-informed approach.
  • Advanced knowledge of higher education trends and current issues in a global context.
  • Advanced skills in navigating complex legal, policy, financial, and academic issues in higher education.
• Practiced networking, advocacy, and engagement with stakeholders.
  • Networking and advocacy skills to engage with deep and broad networks and to collaborate effectively with internal and external constituents.
  • Knowledge of how institutions shape and respond to local, regional, and national policy environments and practiced skill in influencing policy development.
  • Skill in engaging multiple stakeholders to improve student learning and student success.
• Strengthened equity, teamwork, and agile mindsets
  • Knowledge and skills in shared equity leadership to create more equitable organizations for students, faculty, and staff.
  • Creative and collaborative problem-solving skills for successfully managing organizational dynamics and diverse teams.
  • Leadership dispositions reflecting innovative and agile mindsets.

Program of Study

Total Units: 56

Required Coursework (40 units)

• WED AP 644 Advanced Strategic Planning and Implementation (4 units)
• WED AP 706 Cultivating a Leadership Disposition: Collaboration and Innovation (2 units)
• WED AP 730 Innovation in Higher Education (4 units)
• WED AP 761 Organizational Analysis (4 units)
• WED AP 762 Advanced Budgeting, Finance, and Labor Relations (4 units)
• WED AP 771 Advanced Policy Seminar (4 units)
• WED AP 7XX Advanced Current Issues in Higher Education (4 units)
• WED AP 801 Professional Development Seminar (2 units)
• WED AP 991, 992: Doctoral Capstone Seminar I: Defining the Problem of Practice (2 units per term; 4 total)
• WED AP 992, 994: Doctoral Capstone Seminar II: Developing the Evaluation Design (2 units per term; 4 total)
• WED AP 998 Doctoral Capstone Seminar III: The Final Project (4 units)

Elective Courses (16 units)

16 units of electives selected from AP courses at the 600 level or above, in consultation with the academic advisor. Up to 12 units of internship may be applied toward the requirement.