LMU’s online Ed.D. program allows you to explore aspects of leadership as they intersect with issues of social justice in classrooms and communities. Designed for working professionals, it is structured to allow you to complete all degree requirements, including your dissertation, in three years. While only 40 percent of Ed.D. candidates nationally complete their dissertations, 97 percent of LMU’s candidates do so.
Below is a summary of the courses you’ll take during each year of the program. For more information, you can read full course descriptions in LMU’s Bulletin.
Students take two courses per term in the first two years, followed by one course per term as they advance into the dissertation. This structure supports a strong social justice foundation while supporting a gradual transition from coursework to dissertation research. Course sequencing is subject to slight modifications.
Year 1
- EDLA 7001 - Leadership for Social Justice in Education
- EDLA 7007 - Using Research for Educational Improvement and Equity
- EDLA 7004 - Transforming Educational Organizations for Sustainable & Just Futures
- EDLA 7041 - Transformative Leadership in Diverse Learning Communities
- EDLA 7022 - Qualitative Research in Education
- EDLA 7003 - Critical Foundations & Praxis of Social Justice in Education
Year 2
- EDLA 7043 - Legal and Policy Issues in Education
- EDLA 7021 - Quantitative Research in Education
- EDLA 7045 - Transformational Leadership for Student Achievement
- EDLA 7050 - Critical Topics in Education
- EDLA 7020 - Situated Inquiry in Education
- EDLA 7940 - Preliminary Review
- EDLA 7950 - Dissertation Research Community I
Year 3
- EDLA 7051 - Dissertation Research Community II
- EDLA 7049 - Research Seminar
- EDLA 7023 - Doctoral Colloquia
- EDLA 7952 - Dissertation Research Community III
- EDLA 7953 - Dissertation Research Community IV
Throughout the three-year program, students also complete the following program benchmarks, in collaboration with the program directors, doctoral faculty, and their dissertation chair and committee members:
- Preliminary Review (Benchmark #1)
- Dissertation Proposal Defense (Chapters 1-3), Advancement to Candidacy and LMU Institutional Review Board (Benchmark #2)
- Final Dissertation Defense (Benchmark #3)
Online Ed.D.
- 3-year program
- 1:1 student to dissertation chair ratio
- 30-32 students per cohort, with a class size of 15-16 students
- 46 credits
- $2,270 per credit (to see the Cost of Attendance (COA) by program, please visit the Financial Aid website here.)
- Generous merit-based and need-based Doctoral scholarships for admitted students
- Fully online (synchronous/asynchronous)
- Opportunities for in-person engagement
- Entry Term: Spring (January 2027)
- 24/7 access to over 53,000 Journals & 300+ databases via LMU Hannon Library
- Application deadline: September 1, 2026
Admission Deadlines
Online Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership for Social Justice (synchronous/asynchronous)
- Entry Term: Spring 2027 (January 11, 2027)
- Application Deadline: September 1, 2026
- Application Fee: $0 (fee will be waived upon submission)
Note: Loyola Marymount University adheres to the state regulations for each state and has received authorization, exemption, or does not fall within the jurisdiction for authorization to offer online educational offerings in the following states. If your current state of residence is not listed, LMU can not accept you into the Online Ed.D. Program at this time. As LMU obtains clearance from additional states, they will be added to the State Authorization page. International candidates are exempted.
Click here to learn more about our fully online program and to request information. If you have additional questions, please contact us at doctoral@lmu.edu.