Doctor of Education

Want to be a principal or school administrator?  Prepare to Lead & Serve at Milligan.

The environment of education is ever changing. Our world needs transformative leaders in preK-12 education who are committed to educational quality and educational innovation and who are well-trained in strong organizational and human resource management, school finance, public policy, current legal issues, technology, and how to lead organizational change. Milligan’s Ed.D. program is uniquely designed to help meet that need.

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Fast Facts

• COST: The most economical program in the region, below ETSU cost
• PREREQUISITES: Master’s degree and 3 years experience in educational practice
• COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 57 hours for Ed.D.; 36 hours for Ed.S.
• LENGTH: 24-30 months for Ed.D.; 18 months for Ed.S.
• TYPICAL COURSE LOAD: 3-4 courses per term, online and face-to-face
• SCHEDULE: New cohorts start each June (apply by March 30)

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Certify to become a principal or school administrator in this 57 hour, two-year program. The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership leverages the strengths of Milligan’s teacher education and business faculty, curriculum, and school partnerships to prepare system-level leaders in American preK-12 education. The program leads currently practicing elementary and secondary school teachers toward certification as school administrators, primarily as principals or assistant principals.

Graduates of Milligan’s 24-30 month Ed.D. program are uniquely prepared to become principals and administrators in public and non-public school systems, nonprofits, and government agencies. The Ed.D. is a full-time practice-based program built on a cohort learning model of approximately 10-20 students who progress through the program together.

Education Specialist (Ed.S.)

Advance your classroom teaching certification and leadership skills with this 36 hour, 18-month program. The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) allows candidates who don’t need a doctorate to develop a specialized knowledge with many of the same courses in the Ed.D. program, but without the requirement to write a dissertation.

Schedule

This program is designed to accommodate busy schedules. Courses are offered in both face-to-face and online platforms each semester. 

Curriculum

Degree candidates will gain a deep understanding of the context of American education from anthropological, historical, and sociological perspectives, and of the central elements of instructional, organizational, public, and evidenced-based leadership.

The Ed.D. program consists of a 57 hour curriculum, including 45 didactic hours and 12 hours of dissertation studies.  The course work consists of face-to-face classes, hybrid classes, and online classes. Some of the hybrid courses include Saturday residencies. Nine hours of the didactic work in each degree are cross-listed with courses from Milligan’s MBA program.

The Ed.S. program consists of the 36 hours of the Ed.D. program (without the dissertation).

Catalog

View all details and course requirements for this program in the Milligan College Catalog (link below). The Milligan College academic catalog is the official, authoritative source for all academic requirements and policies. Any discrepancies in curricular requirements from other sources will default to the Catalog.

VIEW CATALOG FOR Ed.S. »     VIEW CATALOG FOR Ed.D. »

Outstanding Reputation & Partner Schools

Milligan values the close relationships it has nurtured with over a dozen area K-12 school systems through its teacher education program.  Many of the leaders in these schools received their undergraduate and/or M.Ed. degree from Milligan. Representatives of our partner school systems served on the planning committee for this degree program.

The college’s reputation for producing well-prepared, creative, committed teachers is unparalleled. School administrators consistently look to Milligan as a resource for both hiring and training, regularly calling on faculty to lead workshops for in-services and to collaborate on various education issues. Thousands of our graduates are serving as teachers, coaches, counselors, and administrators in schools across the United States.

NCATE (now CAEP) accreditation means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized in Tennessee and the nation for its quality. Milligan’s commitment to meet NCATE quality standards means we take great care in seeing you gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for success as a professional educator. Read more about our accreditation below.

Mentored Experience

There’s nothing like walking into a classroom or office and seeing how theory learned in the classroom is applied to real-world situations. So the mentored experience is a critical part of the Milligan teacher education program and of real benefit to our degree candidates.

Working with principals and district personnel from each candidate’s school system, each degree candidate is assigned to a mentor working in a different capacity (early childhood/elementary, middle/secondary, district office) each term (EDUC 770 A,B,C).

Throughout this practicum experience, the candidate will complete projects related to each term’s coursework, as well as use the experience to develop the required portfolio. Candidates meet monthly in a professional seminar designed to enhance their experience. The seminar promotes reflection, in-depth discussion, and collaborative action research. Candidates will use the practicum experience to identify a real-world problem to be used as the basis for their dissertation. 

Affordable

Milligan’s program is one of the most economical education programs in our region and is even priced below the local state university rate. Students in this program are eligible to apply for state and federal tuition assistance programs and for employer reimbursement when applicable.

• See how our costs compare to other similar institutions and programs »
• Read more about cost and financial aid here »

Also, the state of Tennessee offers several scholarship and grant programs for undergraduate and graduate students (Tennessee residents). Visit https://www.tn.gov/collegepays/topic/loan-forgiveness-programs to learn more.

Caring Faculty & Personal Attention

At Milligan, graduate courses are taught by professors with doctorates in education or related fields who have a wide variety of experiences in education in both urban and rural settings. Graduate courses at Milligan are small, allowing professors to interact closely with students for individual attention and supervision throughout their program. Our faculty are role models and mentors, and they will challenge you and stretch your mind and spirit.

Teaching you is more than a job to our faculty — it’s a mission. They are dedicated teachers, experienced professionals, and trusted mentors who invest time, energy, and ideas to inspire you and help you reach your highest potential. It’s not just a degree. It’s your future.

Christian Worldview

Today’s schools are challenged as never before. Faced with increasingly diverse student bodies and phenomenal technological change, contemporary schools need to provide quality services for all children. Now more than ever, children need teachers who are committed to excellence in the classroom and to Jesus Christ. It is our belief educators prepared in such a way will make a difference in the school and community where they live and serve.

“Caring and Reflective Teacher,” the theme of our department, is interwoven throughout our program. Our primary goal is to produce caring and reflective professional educators who will affect the lives of children in a markedly positive manner.

Accreditation

The teacher education program at Milligan is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) (2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-466-7496). This accreditation covers initial teacher and advanced educator preparation programs. This accreditation means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized in Tennessee and the nation for its quality. We take great care in seeing you gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for success as a professional educator.

In 2013, NCATE and TEAC consolidated into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) as the new accrediting body for educator preparation.