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Instructional leadership
Guide improvement in teaching and learning. Use evidence about educational practice to set priorities and support educators in their work.
Ph.D. / Ed.D. · Online
Develop as an educational leader who strengthens teaching and helps other educators lead. Use advanced research to evaluate improvement efforts and guide educational decisions.
For educators preparing for greater leadership responsibility in schools, districts, or higher education.
Developing leaders who develop others
Educational leaders create the conditions in which teaching and learning can improve. That responsibility includes developing colleagues who can lead improvement with them.
NMU’s Educational Leadership program develops your ability to lead educational organizations and mentor emerging leaders. Combine leadership study with research methods for evaluating practice and sustaining improvement.
Guide improvement in teaching and learning. Use evidence about educational practice to set priorities and support educators in their work.
Coach educators as they take on greater responsibility. Give useful feedback and help colleagues develop the judgment to lead their own teams.
Turn educational goals into a coherent improvement plan. Assess progress and adjust the approach as evidence develops.
Align staffing and resources with educational priorities. Clarify responsibilities so teams can carry improvement work through to completion.
Build productive relationships with families and the wider community. Explain decisions clearly and use their perspectives to understand educational needs.
Career evidence · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
These occupational figures provide context for two fields in which educational leadership skills are used.
| Occupation & source | Median annual pay |
Annual openings |
|---|---|---|
| School principals ↗ | $105,870 | 20,600 |
| Postsecondary administrators ↗ | $104,590 | 14,500 |
Pay: May 2025. Openings: projected annual averages for 2025–2035.
BLS projects little or no employment change for principals and 2% growth for postsecondary administrators. Most openings replace workers who change occupations or leave the workforce.
BLS lists a master’s degree as typical entry education for both occupations. These figures describe U.S. occupations, not NMU graduate outcomes.
Guide the work of a school and support its educators. Use evidence to establish priorities and assess progress toward learning goals.
Coordinate improvement across schools. Build leadership capacity and align support with the needs of individual schools.
Lead educator development and mentor colleagues preparing for leadership. Evaluate how professional learning changes practice.
Apply leadership and research skills within colleges or universities. Help academic teams evaluate educational practice and lead institutional improvement.
These are possible professional applications. Roles may require prior experience and separate administrative credentials; eligibility depends on employer and jurisdiction requirements.
Advanced research in practice
Examine the methods behind claims about educational practice. Assess whether the findings apply to the learners and conditions in your institution.
Use quantitative and qualitative evidence to assess what changed and why. Distinguish the results of an improvement effort from other influences on learning.
Evaluate whether mentoring and professional learning help educators lead more effectively. Look for changes in practice and explain the limits of the available evidence.
Learning Policy Institute’s 2026 synthesis links principals’ influence on learning largely to their support for teachers. It identifies teacher collaboration and shared instructional leadership as ways to strengthen instruction.
LPI’s 2022 review found that experienced mentors and coaches can strengthen leadership learning. This supports preparing leaders who can guide others into greater responsibility.
Ph.D. pathway
Conduct original research that contributes to understanding educational leadership and the organizations in which it is practiced.
Ed.D. pathway
Apply research to leadership challenges within educational organizations, producing findings that inform professional practice and institutional improvement.
Foundational coursework differs by pathway and develops the scholarly writing and ethical judgment needed for doctoral research.
Complete EDU720 and EDU721, Current Issues in Education Research I and II, for the Ph.D.; or EDD722 and EDD723, Current Issues in Education Practice I and II, for the Ed.D. These courses total six credits. Select another 12 elective credits with faculty and advisors.
Work with your committee to develop and defend a proposal. Complete the study and present your findings in a written dissertation and final oral defense.
Research involving human participants requires Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before data collection. Research also requires appropriate data access and protection of confidential information.
From coursework to defense
Coursework is online and asynchronous, with four instructional weeks in each monthly term. Students normally take one course per term.
An advisor helps you plan your studies from admission. Writing support and faculty office hours are available throughout your coursework.
After coursework, complete the candidacy examination and defend a proposal developed with your committee.
Obtain required ethics approval, carry out your research, and defend the completed dissertation before your committee.
Tuition
Per three-credit course for eligible geographic pricing zones. Additional fees apply.
Spread the cost of your doctorate across your studies. Pay for each course as you enroll, making tuition easier to manage.
The catalog lists a $20 application fee, $50 registration fee, and $200 graduation fee. Ask admissions for an itemized breakdown before enrolling.
Eligible first-time students receive a 50% tuition reduction on their first course, subject to catalog terms.
Rates are in USD. Source: NMU 2026–2027 catalog.
Your starting point
NMU reviews your academic preparation and readiness for doctoral study. Discuss how your education or leadership experience fits the program and which pathway supports your goals.
Before you decide
The doctorate does not replace principal or superintendent licensure. Check the requirements of your jurisdiction and confirm whether this program is accepted before enrolling for a role that requires a license.
Doctoral study adds advanced research methods and a dissertation to your graduate preparation. Develop the ability to evaluate educational evidence and conduct research that contributes to leadership scholarship or practice.
The Ph.D. emphasizes original research that contributes to education scholarship. The Ed.D. emphasizes applied research addressing leadership and improvement in educational organizations. Discuss your goals with admissions to choose the appropriate pathway.
The catalog allows up to six transfer credits, limited to approved electives. Courses are evaluated individually for equivalence. A prior master’s degree does not automatically shorten the program.
Asynchronous coursework lets you plan study around work, within published deadlines. Proposal and final oral defenses require scheduled participation. Completion depends on your progress through coursework and dissertation milestones; the catalog allows up to seven years from first enrollment.
The university catalog explains NMU’s status. NMU does not hold accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA. Check with an employer or receiving institution about acceptance for your intended use.
Educational Leadership · Ph.D. / Ed.D.
Speak with admissions about your qualifications and whether the program fits your goals.
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