Best Online Doctorate in Educational Technology 2021
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An Ed.D. in educational technology will give you the expertise to assess, develop, and implement technological learning tools to enhance students' learning and improve educational outcomes.
As the highest available degree for education professionals, a doctorate in education demonstrates expertise. An Ed.D. in educational technology prepares graduates for administrative roles within school districts and institutions of higher learning.
Doctoral programs in educational technology hone knowledge and skills related to both software and hardware used in learning. Students explore technology-based learning curricula, including how it can be used to help students learn more effectively.
The use of technology in education continues to increase, especially with online learning's growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With a doctorate in educational technology, graduates can meet the growing demand for technology professionals with education, training, and library backgrounds. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 5% growth in employment in these roles from 2019-2029.
The Best Online Educational Technology Doctorate
The school offers an online doctorate in curriculum and instruction that prepares students for a career in education. The program allows aspiring educators and administrators to expand their professional expertise, impact education, and share their passion.
It takes 61 credits to complete and can be completed in six years.
Students must obtain a master's degree from an accredited communication prior to applying for admission. Students must also submit official transcripts from all schools attended, a statement of purpose, and submit test scores from the GRE.
Founded in 1878, Duquesne enrolls nearly 8,900 students every year.
The school offers an online doctorate in educational technology that prepares students for a career in education.
The 54-credit program provides an advanced degree in technology-infused teaching and learning practices for academic, community, and corporate settings to working professionals.
The program takes three years to complete and students are required to take professional leadership in technology, cognition and instructional design, learning theories and instructional design, and foundations of instructional technology.
To apply for admission, applicants need a 3.0 GPA, a master's degree in Education or a related field from an accredited college or university, and an admissions application.
Founded in 1820, IU enrolls more than 43,000 students every year.
The school offers an online doctorate in instructional systems technology that teaches students how to apply research findings to build and test products, services, and processes to produce instructional materials for training, education, or performance improvements.
To apply for admission, students must have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75 out of 4.0. Students must submit transcripts, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a resume (international students), and a minimum 79 TOEFL score or 6.5 IELTS score (international students).
Established in 1858 as Bluemont Central College, K-State offers more than 250 undergraduate degree programs and 160 graduate degree programs.
The school offers an online doctorate in curriculum and instruction that allows students to develop an understanding of the historical, philosophical and societal basis of education and practice and teaches them how to apply research to practice.
The program takes 94 credits to complete and costs $495.50 per credit.
Prerequisite courses include research methods in education and another research course approved by the supervisory committee.
To complete the degree, students will have to take courses such as teaching and learning models, introduction to doctoral studies, history of American education, and contemporary issues in teaching and learning.
Established in 1971, Liberty enrolls more than 100,000 students every year.
The school offers a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction that allows students to work 100 percent online. The program takes 60 credit hours to complete, which amounts to three years on average.
Students can expect to take courses like issues and trends in exceptionality, issues and trends in curriculum and instruction, curriculum theory, and research in curriculum design and development.
To apply for admission, students must submit and admission application (with the application fee), official college transcripts, and proof of English proficiency.
ODU began offering remote learning in the mid-80s prior to the internet. It enrolls 24,000 students every year and offers over 100 online degrees.
The school offers a 60-credit doctor of philosophy in education with a focus on instructional design and technology online that teaches students the fundamentals of instructional design, cognitive theory, research, and practical application. The program prepares students for careers in fields like human performance technology, distance education, evaluation and assessment, instructional design, and quantitative and qualitative research.
Students must have completed a master's degree program prior to admission. The program costs $551 per credit for in-state residents and $595 for out-of-state students.
Established in 1978, Regent enrolls nearly 11,000 students every year.
The school offers a 60-credit online doctorate in educational technology and online learning that helps students advanced the classroom through technology and facilitate improved performance through technological resources and processes.
Students should expect to study the principles of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evaluation, and upon graduation, apply them to an online education setting with an emphasis on program development and management of online learning. The program equips students to work as university faculty, technology administrators, or online course designers.
Established in 1876, Texas A&M enrolls more than 69,000 students every year.
The school offers a 30-credit doctor of education in curriculum and instruction that students have the option of completing fully online. Students must meet with an advisory committee comprised by the designated coordinator of the distance education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture and the Department Head of that department.
Students must also complete two university-directed internships in a professional employment setting for at least 150 hours, at 10 to 40 hours per week.
Established in 1979, The Chicago School enrolls 5,600 students every year.
The school offers an online doctorate in educational psychology and technology that prepares students to become experts in the field of learning technology. The program takes three years to complete. Students must choose one of three concentrations: higher education learning and technology, K-12 education learning and technology, or instructional design.
Courses include cognition across the lifespan and technology's impact, proseminar in technology and education, and integrating technology in learning systems.
Students must possess a master's degree prior to admission.
Established in 1963, UWF has awarded over 100,000 degrees.
The school offers a doctorate degree in instructional design and technology degree teaches professionals how to effectively apply research and theory to achieve educational goals and improve performance in a range of settings.
Students must possess a graduate degree prior wiht a GPA of 3.5 or higher prior to admission.
Established in 1858, UF enrolls 52,000 students every year.
The school offers an online doctorate in educational technology that focuses on professionals who conduct research related to educational technology in educational environments.
The program requires three campus-based experiences — a 2-day orientation in the first semester and 4-day summer sessions at the end of the first and second year. Students must complete the first two years online as a cohort and take qualifying exams at the end of the second year. Then, students must work on dissertations under the guidance of full-time faculty.
Established in 1931, ULM enrolled nearly 9,000 students annually.
The school offers a doctorate in education, curriculum, and instruction online that provides students with practical opportunities to relate theoretical foundations to curricular and instructional issues faced in real-world settings. Students must examine research-based theories, learn quantitative and qualitative methods, and explore the intellectual, moral, societal, and political foundations of education through multiple theoretical lenses.
The program prepares students for careers as university professors, education administrators, instructional coordinators, and superintendents.
Established more than 200 years ago, UofSC enrolls 35,000 students every year.
The school offers an online doctor of education in curriculum studies that prepares students to provide social justice in diverse communities through education. The program prepares students for work as a curriculum specialist in PK-12, higher education, or the private sector.
Sample courses include introduction to diversity and the curriculum, advanced study of diversity and curriculum, applications of learning principles, and educational policy analysis.
The program costs $515 per credit for South Carolina certified teachers and $572.25 for all other applicants.
Established in 1872, UT enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate students and 4,200 graduate students.
The school offers a doctorate in curriculum and instruction – special education online that prepares students for a career teaching special education. The program prepares special education professionals to take leadership positions in the field.
The program takes 60 credits to complete, which takes about four to five years. Students should expect advanced coursework and professional seminars in special education and early intervention. Students must also complete virtual internships that prepare them for roles in a variety of educational settings.
Established in 1913, VSU enrolls more than 11,000 students every year.
The school offers a doctor of education in curriculum and instruction that prepares students for advanced careers in education.
To apply, students must submit an admissions application, official transcripts from a master's degree-granting institution and from any graduate coursework, scores from the GRE exam, and three letters of recommendation. Students must also submit a doctor of education biographical career goal statement, a resume, and a valid teaching certificate.
Online Educational Technology Doctorate Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
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While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
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Data Sources
The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
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Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
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Featured Online Educational Technology Doctorates
Frequently Asked Questions
With a doctorate in educational technology, graduates can advance to leadership roles in educational settings. The degree prepares learners to develop, implement, and assess technological tools and techniques in learning environments.
An Ed.D. and Ph.D. in education both explore theory, practice, and policy in education. An Ed.D. focuses more on practical skills and leadership in educational settings, while a Ph.D. emphasizes research and analysis.
A Ph.D. in education facilitates career advancement and earning potential. With a doctorate in education, professionals can demonstrate expertise to colleagues, peers, and students alike.
Education doctorate holders can take on roles as postsecondary educators, school administrators, and training and development managers. According to the BLS, postsecondary teachers earned a median salary of over $79,500 in 2019, while school administrators earned a median income of just under $96,000. Training and development managers took home a median salary exceeding $113,000 during the same period.
Instructional technology refers to the design, development, implementation, and assessment of computer hardware and software in educational settings. The field blends educational theory with technology applications to optimize learning outcomes.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Instructional Technology? A degree in instructional technology opens career opportunities in instructional design, training analysis, and learning consultancy. Additional roles for individuals with degrees in instructional technology include instructional writer, instructional curriculum specialist, and academic director.
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