Doctoral Degree in Education Coming Soon!
Professionals will soon have a new path to advance their careers as West Liberty University prepares to announce its first doctoral degree this spring.
The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Instructional Leadership, Management and Innovation was approved recently by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and is now in the process of gaining the seal of approval from WLU’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
“This degree has been much anticipated and it is our hope that the HLC will approve the program this April so we can welcome our first cohort in May 2023,” said Dr. Cathy Monteroso, WLU’s interim president.
Monteroso is a former dean of the College of Education and Human Performance and was instrumental in developing the doctoral degree.
The HLC visit takes place over several days and will include rigorous discussions with the team who designed the degree and close examination of the program.
This accelerated degree program consists of both online and hybrid classes, along with two seminars, during the course of the 60-credit hour, three-year program.
“Much of the degree work will be online but some courses will meet on Zoom, plus there will be two on-campus seminars in year two and three of the program,” said Dr. Richard Whitehead, interim chair of graduate teaching and learning.
Whitehead has been with the College of Education and Human Performance since 2022 and is an assistant professor.
“The reason behind this particular concentration of instructional leadership, management and innovation is that we are aware of our regional needs and know that this concentration offers a versatile doctoral degree that covers business, health care and education. It is tailored to more than K – 12 teachers. It is a doctoral degree that will be attractive to many professionals in a variety of fields,” Whitehead explained.
West Liberty University is the first public college or university of its size in the state to offer a doctoral in education degree and tuition is planned to be the same for both in and out-of-state students.
For more information on the planned doctoral degree program and to stay informed of its final approval by the HLC, please email richard.whitehead@westliberty.edu or you may reach him by phone at 304.336.8486.
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