Compare Doctoral Programs

Ready to take the next step in your higher education career? Learn more about the distinctions between APU’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Leadership and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Higher Education programs.

Discover Which Degree Aligns with Your Goals

Who is it For?

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Practitioners in higher education.	Faculty, researchers, and administrators in higher education.

Emphasis

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
The application of research.	The development of theory and practice via research.

Target Group

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Primarily for consumers of research.	Primarily for conductors of research.

Dissertation

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Action research involving a campus change project; work on the dissertation begins in the first year and is embedded in coursework throughout.	Typically more complex in methodology, wider in scope, and contributes to theory building in the discipline; work on the dissertation begins in the first year and is embedded in coursework throughout.

Research Requirements

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Introduction to Action Research, Applied Action Research, Guided Inquiry Project, Dissertation Proposal, and Dissertation Research (11 units total).	Research Design and Statistics, Qualitative Methods, Advanced Quantitative or Advanced Qualitative Research, 4 units of research team seminars, Dissertation Proposal, and Dissertation Research (22 units total).

Cohort Size

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
No more than 15 admitted each June.	12-18 admitted each July.

Residency Requirement

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Each cohort is on campus for one full week each June and two days (9 a.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday) per month for nine months of the year (not May or August).	Twice-yearly intensive class sessions on campus (two weeks each in January and July).

Travel Requirement

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
In May of the second year, students travel to an international location for intensive coursework, rather than attending in Azusa that week (included in tuition).	As part of the Global Policy course, international travel in late May of the second year in the program is required (included in tuition).

Special Projects

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Guided Inquiry Project prepares students for the dissertation with its focus on development of the problem statement and research protocol.	Three comprehensive examinations are required; these are a range of oral presentations, leadership portfolios, and institutional projects.

Electives

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
None.	2 units.

Time to Degree Completion

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
Three years of coursework inclusive of dissertation.	Four years, inclusive of dissertation.

Total Units

EdD in Higher Education Leadership	PhD in Higher Education
51, inclusive of dissertation, taken in lockstep sequence with cohort, 17 units per year (3 terms per year).	60, inclusive of dissertation, taken in lockstep sequence with cohort (2 terms per year).

Note: This information is current for the 2023-24 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.