Doctor of Education - D.Ed.

The Online Doctor of Education program at Monarch represents the pinnacle of academic achievement for educators who aspire to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving world of online teaching. This program is meticulously crafted to prepare you for the highest levels of responsibility in educational leadership, whether that be in academia, instructional design, or educational consultancy. With a curriculum that blends cutting-edge research, advanced pedagogical theories, and practical application, you will gain the expertise necessary to transform online education. This doctoral program empowers you to become a thought leader who can shape educational policies, design innovative curricula, and implement effective online teaching strategies that can make a lasting impact on learners around the globe.

Enrolling in this program is a decisive step toward becoming a leader in the field of education, fully equipped to meet the demands of an increasingly digital world. The program includes a critical teaching practicum that allows you to gain real-world experience by teaching within Monarch’s Bachelor program, ensuring that you graduate not only with theoretical knowledge but with the practical skills needed to excel in a virtual environment. As the highest degree for educators, the Doctor of Education opens doors to a wide array of career opportunities, from top-tier academic positions to influential roles in educational policy and administration. Now is the time to elevate your career and influence the future of online education. Join us and become a driving force in the transformation of how education is delivered and experienced worldwide.

“By pursuing the Online Doctor of Education at Monarch, you’ll not only reach the highest academic achievement in the field of education, but you’ll also gain invaluable hands-on experience through our unique online practicum, teaching Bachelor-level students in real time. This program equips you with the expertise to lead and innovate in online education, opening doors to top-tier academic and leadership roles. It’s your opportunity to make a profound impact on the future of education while advancing your career to its highest potential.”

Dr. Miray Barsoum - Director of the Education Programs

D.Ed. Module Sequence & Progression

The candidate begins their journey of learning by completing a set of core courses focusing on the principles of teaching pedagogy and teaching philosophy. The core-courses provide the candidate with a solid foundation upon which to develop a scholarly yet applied manuscript within the field of education.  The core-course modules specifically covered include: teaching pedagogy, online teaching , career progression and developing case studies.  Within the first 6 months, the candidate will also begin a 12 to 24 month practicum that includes teaching a course within the Monarch Bachelor program. The practicum typically spans two to four semesters of the Bachelor program.

The research skills 1 and research skills 2 courses help to lay the foundations for the understanding of research methods at the doctoral level. The research skills modules are followed by the research proposal perfecting module where the candidate will fashion a 25 page research proposal in cooperation with the supervisor of the program to provide a roadmap for the contemplated research along with a clear research objective and statement. Once the research proposal is approved the candidate moves into the writing portion of the thesis stage and completes the manuscript. The D.Ed. manuscript must be defended in front of the Committee in the form of a defense (viva voce). Online defenses are possible. 

Completion Requirements

The fully online M.Ed. program is designed around a set of core courses that introduce the graduate student to teaching philosophy, its concepts and implementation. Research concepts, in particular, literature research methodologies are covered within the research portion of the program. The program requires the completion of two research skills courses, a 10 to 15 page research plan, and the final M.Ed. thesis work. During the program the candidate will also complete a 12 month teaching practicum within the Bachelor program at Monarch in order to obtain real world teaching experience. 

Module Duration & Descriptions

The D.Ed. program is designed for working professionals who wish to acquire core-teaching skills along with an integrated review of the scholarly material within the education field. There is no group work in the program. There are no exams. The D.Ed. research includes field work and interviewing. The manuscript  focuses on the integration of practical skills combined with a review of scholarly material. As. doctoral program the candidate must make a clear contribution to the advancement of theory or applied knowledge. Assessment in the D.Ed. program is completed by way of the completion of course modules, practicum completion, and the submission of the research plan and final doctoral manuscript. The standard duration of the program is 36 (3 years) or 60 months (5 years) extended.

D.Ed. Core Course Modules

This 8-week course offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary teaching strategies, focusing on how educators can enhance their effectiveness in the classroom. It covers essential topics such as how knowledge is constructed, how learning works, and building rapport with students. Participants will also learn effective lesson planning and delivery, strategies for engaging students, and course and assignment design. Additionally, the course emphasizes using feedback to improve learning. The final project involves creating a comprehensive course plan that integrates these key strategies, ensuring participants can directly apply their learning to their teaching practice.

This 8-week course prepares educators to excel in online and blended learning environments. Participants will explore online and blended learning resources, apply the Community of Inquiry Model to their teaching, and draft learning goals for a personal project. The course emphasizes the importance of teaching presence and using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to create accessible and engaging online courses. Participants will also develop learning activities and assessments that integrate UDL principles, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive online course.

This 8-week course examines the role of teaching efficacy in academic career advancement, considering the varying expectations across universities. Participants will develop a teaching philosophy and a teaching portfolio that includes essential components like lesson plans and a syllabus. The course also introduces the Career Framework for University Teaching to help evaluate and advance academic careers.

This 8-week course equips educators with the skills to develop impactful teaching case studies, including creating compelling narratives and comprehensive teaching notes. Participants will learn to design case studies that foster critical thinking and engagement in the classroom. The final project involves developing a case study, complete with teaching notes, that will be added to the Monarch Business School Library, contributing valuable educational resources to the academic community.

D.Ed. Research Modules

The Research Skills 1 module introduces the candidate to the important concepts of knowledge and how to evaluate research papers available through various academic networks. Research integrity, reliability and quality are the focus of the module. Upon completion of the module Candidates will be able to discern good quality research from poor.  Candidates will be able to examine a chosen piece of research and critique the research based on the chosen method and methodology and whether the research achieved its stated goals and aims. 

This module builds on the knowledge gained in the Research Skills 1 module and introduces the candidate to the Monarch Standard Research Method. The candidate will further investigate the important differences between quantitative and qualitative research and their appropriateness for specific applications within business research. The module emphasizes the use of phenomenological research methods as applied to business research. The module covers the important concepts of Literature and Methodological triangulation and its importance in ensuring greater reliability of research results. At the completion of the module the candidate will be able to design a piece of research and execute the field research component to the satisfaction of a graduate level requirement. 

The research plan module focuses on the development of a 10 to 15 page research plan that outlines the intended research to be carried-out by the candidate. The research plan is developed with the assistance of the professor to ensure quality completion and understanding of the necessary components required of a graduate level academic research plan in business studies. Successful completion of the module is considered with the approval of the research plan by the Administration and the continuation of the program into the research phase.

The research phase of the D.Ed. portion begins with the successful completion of the research proposal module. At this stage, the candidate continues the research portion of the program by executing the authorized research proposal. The D.Ed. research manuscript is divided into five distinct sections that are developed as an integrated whole: 1. Introduction and Background of the Problem, 2. Literature Review and Critique, 3. Methodology 4. Data Presentation & Synthesis, and 5. Conclusion & Future Studies. The D.Ed. manuscript is a scholarly piece of research that focuses on the scholarship within the area of teaching. It should show mastery of the scholarly literature and an understanding of doctoral literature research methodology. Successful completion of the D.Ed. manuscript concludes the program and prepares the candidate for further academic or applied research within the educational field. The D.Ed. is the perfect stepping stone to a career in Education Management and Administration, Education Consultancy or various roles within a College or University environment.

D.Ed. Practicum

The 12- 24 month online teaching practicum at Monarch is a cornerstone of our Doctor of Education program, offering you the unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting. During this practicum, you will actively teach within our Bachelor program’s online courses, allowing you to develop, refine, and implement practical teaching strategies tailored specifically to the digital classroom. This immersive experience not only enhances your pedagogical skills but also provides invaluable insights into student engagement, assessment, and the nuances of virtual instruction. By the end of the practicum, you will have gained the confidence and expertise necessary to effectively lead and innovate in the rapidly expanding field of online education.