Advance as a Leader
Education & Nonprofit Leadership Programs
Ready to advance your career in K-12 schools, higher education, or nonprofit organizations?
GMercyU's nationally recognized Doctor of Education (EdD) can be completed in less than three years and is led by award-winning Program Director Ray Bandlow, PhD. Our EdD programs offer a motivational learning community in which to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to lead and transform organizations.
Start options
May, August
Ideal for
Education and non-profit leaders
Format
Online coursework, plus 3 in-person residencies (2 on campus, 1 abroad)
Model
Continue working as you complete one course at a time in 7-week accelerated sessions
Dissertation support
Exceptional support from day one of the program
Strong graduation rate
76% of our EdD students graduate within 4 years, compared to 56.6% nationally even after 10 years
Options for School Districts, Higher Education
Prepare for leadership at all levels of education
- EdD in Educational Leadership, which offers three concentrations:
- Leadership in K-12 Schools and School Districts
- Leadership in Special Education
- Leadership in Higher Education
- EdD in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, with option for Nursing concentration
NEW! Options for Nonprofit Organizations
Become a visionary leader
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- EdD in Organizational & Nonprofit Leadership, AI, and Innovation
- Organizational & Nonprofit Leadership, AI, and Innovation Online Certificate, which is stackable toward the EdD above
- EdD in Organizational & Nonprofit Leadership, AI, and Innovation
Plus
All But Dissertion Program
You’ve completed the coursework in a doctoral program. But, you haven’t completed your dissertation. GMercyU's ground-breaking All But Dissertion (ABD) program will get you over the finish line. This program is open to anyone in an EdD or PhD program in any academic discipline.
Fast-Track 2+2 Master's & Doctorate
Complete a master’s degree in education and a doctoral degree in just four years, saving time and up to $21,000 in tuition. Explore the M.S. in Educational Administration with K-12 Principal Certification and EdD in Educational Leadership (K-12).
GMercyU's faculty and staff not only gave me the opportunity to embark on their doctoral program but also supported me all the way through the completion of my Doctoral Journey. I cherished their consistent support, invaluable feedback, and words of encouragement in every course. I especially enjoyed the memories from each residency, particularly in Ireland, and valued connecting with everyone beyond the classroom.
—Dr. Allan Cosma Sr., EdD '23, District Associate Vice Chancellor of Wayne County Community College District
EdD Program Overview
"Too often, the story heard from doctoral candidates is one of feeling isolated and unsupported as the graduate coursework finalizes and the dissertation process ensues. From the moment an individual elects to embark on the doctoral journey, Gwynedd stands by their side to ensure success. While writing my dissertation, I had access to not only professors in the program but also library and writing specialists to help me acquire relevant literature and review my work (multiple times), providing construction feedback to strengthen the writing. Writing a dissertation requires time, energy, and commitment. These are characteristics both students and program leaders need to display."
—Dawn Durham, EdD '21, winner of the Outstanding Dissertation Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE)
