Quick Facts: 2-Year Ed.D. Programs
- Two years is an achievable goal for candidates who are entering an accelerated Ed.D. program with a master’s degree. However, you will need to commit to a full-time plan of study.
- Have you already completed an Ed.S. or doctoral level credits? Explore the low-cost and online All But Dissertation (ABD) degrees in our listings. Some of these degrees offer a Dissertation in Practice (DiP) as their final project.
- Within 2-3 years, you could qualify for a significant bump in salary after earning a Doctor of Education. According to Payscale, Ed.D. graduates were earning an average base salary of $92k in 2026. The average for school superintendents was $138,607.
What are the Fastest Ed.D. Programs?
The fastest online Ed.D. programs range from 18 months to just under 3 years. You won’t find anything quicker! We’ve provided a detailed description of all of them in our listings of 2-year Ed.D. programs. Examples include programs at NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Georgia. 2-year Ed.D. programs tend to fall into 3 broad categories:
- All But Dissertation (ABD) Completion Doctorates (~18 Months): ABD options are tailored to folks who already have an Ed.S., previous doctoral credits, work experience, and/or career achievements on their résumé. Typically, the university will conduct a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to determine how many credits will be left on your degree. So you may only have to complete a dissertation to graduate.
- Executive Doctorates (~2 Years): Executive Ed.D. programs are aimed at mid-level and senior-level professionals who want a 2-year plan. These doctorates often have a fair number of campus components (e.g. monthly weekend sessions); some will also include an international experience. You can learn more about these in our Executive Ed.D. Programs Guide.
- Accelerated Doctorates in Educational Leadership (~2-2.5 Years): Accelerated Ed.D. programs are similar to traditional doctorates in leadership, but with a fiercer schedule. Universities may try to pack 54-60 credits into a 2 or 2.5 year time span. It’s achievable on a full-time plan of study, but it will be challenging.
Compare 2-Year Ed.D. Programs
| Program Type | Typical Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ABD Completion | 18–24 months | Students with an Ed.S. or prior doctoral credits |
| Executive Ed.D. | 2 years | Senior-level professionals |
| Accelerated Ed.D. | 2–2.5 years | Educators with a master’s degree |
If you’re willing to stretch your timeline to 3-4 years, you’ll find more variation in Ed.D. majors and concentrations.
How Do 2-Year Ed.D. Programs Work?
Accelerated Ed.D. programs are often built for working professionals with a certain level of expertise—educators who want to take a leap up to the next level. That’s why you’ll see 2-year programs designed for aspiring college presidents (e.g. Executive Ed.D. programs), educators who want to become principals or superintendents (e.g. Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership), and students who just want to finish their dissertation (e.g. ABD).
- Admissions: Because they’re targeted at different crowds, each 2-year Ed.D. program will have a different threshold for admissions; we’ve included a link to requirements in our listings of accelerated Ed.D. degrees so you can assess your chances. Some schools, such as NYU, will expect you to talk about your capstone or dissertation goals. A number of schools will still wish to see GRE or GMAT scores.
- Curriculum: For the most part, the curriculum for an accelerated Ed.D. is going to be similar to a regular Ed.D., albeit in a condensed timeframe. But you may notice more high-level elements (e.g. roundtable discussions) and one-on-one attention (e.g. mentorship).
- Specializations: 2-year Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership usually make room for electives or focus areas; some will even help you toward certification in your state. Executive Ed.D. programs will be more rigid in structure. ABD Options are straightforward—you’ll be expected to focus on your dissertation.
- Dissertation vs. Capstone: Check the descriptions and the curriculum link under each profile to learn what’s expected. A number of universities still favor a traditional dissertation for 2-year Ed.D. programs. This dissertation is usually prepared for in the first year and written in the second. But others have gone the way of research-based capstone projects.
Are 2-Year Ed.D. Programs Offered Online?
The majority of fast-track Ed.D. programs in our listings are online, with either zero or minimal on-campus requirements (e.g. 2 weekend residencies). To give you the full range of options, we’ve also included details on hybrid programs and Executive Ed.D. programs with monthly attendance requirements.
The fastest online Ed.D. programs aren’t always the best—you should also consider the School or College of Education’s reputation, accreditation, and quality markers when you’re making your decision. We recommend that you speak with recent online Ed.D. alumni. They will tell you the good and the bad about the program and offer advice on making the most of distance learning.
Finally, if you’re considering any program with campus components, examine the tuition and fees section carefully. Some universities are happy to cover the cost of accommodation in tuition or program fees (e.g. Penn). However, they’re unlikely to compensate you for travel expenses to and from the campus.
Is a 2-Year Ed.D. Program Right for You?
Accelerated Ed.D. programs are—by their very nature—full-time and intense. You’ll be expected to take on a significant workload in two years. If you have a family and a job, it’s going to be quite a ride. Remember, too, that many programs have campus intensives or international trips built into the curriculum. You’ll need to allow for time away from home.
Having said that, if you’re an experienced professional with clear goals (e.g. superintendent certification, job promotion, executive-level position, etc.), a 2-year Ed.D. program may be right up your street. They are some highly respectable names in our listings of 2-year Ed.D. programs, including Penn, NYU Steinhardt, USC Rossier, and UGA. You don’t need to sacrifice quality for time.
All 2-Year Ed.D. Programs
Here are 23 schools that offer Ed.D. programs you can complete in as little as two years. Clicking a program name in the table will take you to its detailed profile below.
Read on to learn more about each school’s two-year Ed.D. programs.
Alverno College
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 33
Delivery: Online with 1 Weekend Residency
Alverno 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Alverno’s School of Education’s fastest online Ed.D. is the 33-credit All But Dissertation (ABD) Option. This allows students who have previous coursework & experience to transfer existing credits, complete a dissertation, and earn the Ed.D. with a concentration in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. The syllabus includes 7 dissertation courses and 3 concentration courses, with online coursework and 1 weekend residency in Milwaukee.
The majority of students in the accelerated ABD option finish in 6 semesters/2 years, but the total time will depend on how many previous credits you’ll be able to transfer in. If you don’t qualify for the doctoral completion pathway, you’re welcome to explore the other online Ed.D. programs at Alverno. Just keep in mind that these may take 3-4 years to complete.
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American International College
- Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration – Educational Leadership
- Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration – Higher Education
- Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration – Teaching and Learning
- Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration – Organizational Leadership and Development
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years & 3 Months
Credits: 51
Delivery: 100% Online
AIC 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
AIC is a regionally accredited college located in Springfield, Massachusetts. It offers a 100% Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration – Educational Leadership for K-12 administrators & leaders that takes 2 years & 3 months/7 terms to complete on a full-time plan of study. There no residencies or immersions. Applicants are expected to have a master’s degree in any discipline and a minimum 3.0 GPA. You can choose a capstone or a dissertation for your final project.
AIC offers a similarly structured online doctorate in Higher Education for postsecondary administrators; Teaching and Learning for scholar practitioners; and Organizational Leadership and Development. These 100% online doctorates have the same number of credit hours and price as the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. They can also be finished on the same schedule.
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Bay Path University
- Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: All But Dissertation (ABD) Option
- Online EdS/CAGS Completion Option
Fastest Ed.D. Length: Less than 2 Years/2 Years
Credits: 30/36
Delivery: 100% Online
Bay Path 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
For its Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Bay Path has a standard doctorate (less than 3 years), an accelerated 30-credit All But Dissertation (ABD) Option (less than 2 years), and a 36-credit EdS/CAGS Completion Option (2 years). This Ed.D. is available in Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies (HELOS) or Transformative School Leadership.
The ABD pathway is aimed at students who have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree, with the exception of a dissertation at an accredited institution of higher learning. The 2-year EdS/CAGS Completion Option is designed for applicants with an existing Ed.S. or CAGS degree and a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Brenau University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 27
Delivery: 100% Online
Brenau 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Brenau offers a 27-credit ABD option for 5 concentration areas within its Online Ed.D. You can choose from: Elementary Education; Middle Grades Education; Higher Education: Leadership; Higher Education: Teaching and Learning; and Special Education.
It’s a 2-year program with advanced coursework in your area of interest and dissertation support from day one. One course in the Leadership in Higher Education concentration will include a practicum.
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Clark Atlanta University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 60
Delivery: Online with Orientation Residency & Summer Residency
CAU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
CAU’s accelerated Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership takes 2 years to complete. It features asynchronous & synchronous online coursework, an orientation residency, and a week-long summer residency. Applicants must have a master’s degree and professional experience in an educational or non-profit setting. 3+ years experience at the Director level or higher plus a strong academic background is preferred.
CAU’s doctorate would be a good fit for professionals who work in colleges and universities, or those who aspire to educational leadership roles in foundations, think tanks, governmental agencies, and consultancies. Since CAU is a Carnegie R2 HBCU in Atlanta, this accelerated online Ed.D. is particularly relevant to anyone serving in an HBCU or Minority-Serving Institution.
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Edgewood University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 18-24 Months
Credits: 30
Delivery: 100% Online
Edgewood’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Edgewood’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Completion Program is an All-But-Dissertation (ABD) doctorate that takes 18-24 months to complete. You must have 24 post master’s degree credits with a 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply. And these doctoral-level credits must have been earned within the past 20 years.
Successful Ed.D. applicants will be able to tackle 30 credits at Edgewood, including a starting class in Ed Leadership Foundations & Ethics, 18 credits of research/dissertation-process courses, and the final dissertation.
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Gwynedd Mercy University
- Online Accelerated All But Dissertation (ABD) Ed.D (Multiple Concentrations)
- Online Accelerated Executive Ed.D. in Education: Leadership or Teaching & Learning in Higher Education
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 1.5 Years (ABD): Less Than 3 Years (Executive)
Credits: 27/54
Delivery: Online with Weekend Residencies
GMercyU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
GMercyU’s fastest online Ed.D. is the All But Dissertation (ABD) option. This 18-month accelerated Ed.D. is tailored to students can provide proof of ABD or Advanced to Doctoral Candidacy or equivalent status from a regionally accredited institution. Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll be required to take 27 credits at GMercyU, but you’ll be able to choose from 4 concentration areas, with options for certification. Coursework is online, with one mandatory weekend residency.
If you don’t have any previous coursework, take a look at GMercy U’s Online Accelerated Executive Ed.D. in Education. This is a full-bore, 54-credit online doctorate that takes 2 years and 8 months to complete. It includes online coursework, a field experience, two on-campus residencies, and one international residency (travel costs are included in tuition). Plus administrators and principals with at least 3 years of experience have the option to earn a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility in Pennsylvania.
Indiana Wesleyan University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 20 Months
Credits: 30
Delivery: 100% Online
IWU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
IWU’s Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is a 100% online program that takes 20 months to complete. Candidates for this program must have earned 30 doctoral-level credits or hold a doctoral-level Ed.S. and have a minimum of three years of experience at an educational organization or related field. This doctorate can be applied to PK-20 contexts or fields such as educational policy & research.
The 10 courses in the ABD program are focused on action research and dissertation completion. IWU is a a Christian university, so courses will be taught with a biblical worldview.
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Lipscomb University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 54
Delivery: Hybrid or 100% Online
Lipscomb 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Lipscomb’s accelerated Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Strategic Change is the brainchild of the College of Education. It’s 2-year, Christian-based Ed.D. that’s offered in two formats: a hybrid program with on-campus sessions, online coursework, and occasional live Zoom sessions; or a self-paced 100% online version with asynchronous coursework.
Ed.D. students at Lipscomb have the option to participate in a 10-day international experience in Europe; students who are unable to attend can select a non-travel section of the Comparative and International Education course. For the dissertation, you’ll have a choice of collaborative client-based research (team-based), collaborative research (team-based), or independent research (individual).
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Louisiana State University Shreveport
Fastest Ed.D. Length: Just Over 2 Years
Credits: 63
Delivery: 100% Online
LSUS’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
LSUS’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership Studies is not only short—it’s one of the most affordable doctorates in the country. Concentrations are offered in Leadership Studies, Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management, and Health Communication & Leadership. You don’t have to visit the campus for this 100% online program, but you should plan for weekly Zoom meetings. LSUS also encourages students to take advantage of opportunities for research and conference presentations.
Our “just over 2 years” estimate is based on a full-time plan of study. This schedule would involve taking 2 courses per 7-week session for 8 sessions/4 semesters. There are multiple start dates throughout the year, so when you finish is up to you. A part-time plan of a study, with 1 course per session, would take 3.5 years.
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Manhattanville University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 20
Delivery: 100% Online
Manhattanville 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Manhattanville’s Online Dissertation Completion Pathway is 2-year ABD program. You can transfer up to 39 doctoral credits from an accredited program toward the 59-credit requirement. It’s a 100% online program with synchronous sessions that meet once per week via Zoom on Monday evenings (EST). In addition, there are two virtual residencies in July and October.
The plan of study is outlined on the program page. In a 2-year schedule, you’ll be expected to take at least one course per term (summer/fall/winter/spring) and conduct your proposal defense after the first year. The second year will be dominated by the dissertation. If you’re finding 2 years is too fast, you have up to 4 years to complete the program.
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Milligan University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 57
Delivery: Hybrid
Milligan 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Milligan’s full-time, cohort-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a 2-year accelerated doctorate that prepares Tennessee educators for the Tennessee Instructional Leader License (ILL). Coursework is a blend of online learning, hybrid classes, and face-to-face experiences in Tennessee, including Saturday residencies.
If you put your head down, you can finish the entire program in 24 months. 45 credits are devoted to leadership classes; the remaining 12 credits are reserved for your dissertation. You’ll also be assigned a mentor who will guide you through practicum experiences, portfolio building, and research seminars.
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Monmouth University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 54
Delivery: Hybrid
Monmouth 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
The School of Education offers its cohort-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership a 2-year plan of study. This accelerated Ed.D. is available in a hybrid format. On-campus coursework in West Long Branch, New Jersey typically takes place on alternate Saturdays and selected Thursday nights.
Over the course of the 54-credit syllabus, you’ll tackle 5 learning strands, including a Transformative Leadership Project that will form the basis of your dissertation. Ed.D. students at Monmouth have the freedom to select elective courses in higher education or P-12.
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Nebraska Methodist College
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 44
Delivery: Online with 2 Campus Intensives
NMC’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aiming to work in academic and healthcare settings? NMC’s speedy Online Ed.D. in Healthcare Education & Leadership may fit the bill. On a full-time schedule, this specialist doctorate only takes 24 months to complete on a full-time schedule. You’ll start in the fall or spring and take 2-4 courses per term for 6 terms. A part-time, 3-year plan of a study is also available.
NMC keeps things efficient for busy professionals. The two intensive learning sessions on the Omaha campus are scheduled for the beginning of the program (orientation) and the summer between years 1 and 2. Work on the doctoral scholarly project occurs throughout the program, starting in the second term.
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New York University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 42
Delivery: Online with 3-Day Residency
NYU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
NYU Steinhardt has packed a lot into its fast Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation. Over the course of 2 years, you’ll be expected to tackle 17 courses and take part in a 3-day immersive residency. Candidates must have at least seven years of work experience in a leadership role to apply.
Like many universities, NYU has replaced the traditional Ed.D. dissertation with a capstone model. NYU Steinhardt calls this the Problem of Practice (POP) and it expects applicants to have a POP in mind when they apply for the program. Be sure to check out the Problem of Practice (POP) Guide in the Admissions section before you start crafting your application essay.
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Purdue Global
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 90 Quarter Hours
Delivery: 100% Online
Purdue Global’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Purdue Global states that students can finish its Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation in 2 years. The curriculum is based on quarter hours, not semester hours. So 60 hours of core coursework & dissertation study and 30 hours of electives won’t take as long as you think. For example, each core course is 5 credits.
This is a 100% online doctorate, with multiple start dates throughout the year. Sessions are 10 weeks long; full-time students take 2 courses per session. It’s a degree that can be applied to a wide variety of educational & workplace settings. Have look at the Graduate Catalog to learn more about the structure of the curriculum.
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Rockhurst University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 45
Delivery: 100% Online
Rockhurst’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
You can use Rockhurst’s accelerated Online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership to specialize in everything from K-12 Leadership or Higher Education to Health Care Education or Organizational Leadership. All of the concentrations are structured on the same principles: a 6-semester plan of study, a 100% online format, and a capstone project in lieu of a dissertation. There are 3 start dates per year.
Rockhurst has recently become a CPED member, so it has packed its cohort-based program with engaging elements. In addition to the capstone project, you’ll have the option to complete a College Teaching Practicum. If you have time, you may also want to add a graduate certificate at no extra cost.
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Spalding University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 60
Delivery: Online
Spalding’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aspiring public & private sector leaders—here’s a hidden gem from a Catholic university. Spalding’s accelerated Online Ed.D. in Leadership is a 100% online program made up of 10 courses of 6 credits each. You only have to take one course per term in order to finish your doctorate in 2 years. And the program starts in the fall, spring, or summer.
The Graduate Catalog contains more details on the program delivery. All courses are delivered online over 8 weeks with weekly synchronous sessions. You’ll explore every aspect of leadership before focusing on a capstone project in the last two terms. This capstone can address a problem of practice in your own work or in a partnering organization.
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Union Institute & University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: Less than 3 Years
Credits: 66
Delivery: 100% Online
UIU’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
The speed of UIU’s Online Ed.D. will depend on how many master’s-level credits you can transfer into the program. Full-time students who transfer in 24 credits can complete the Ed.D. in 24 months/2 years. But you may be able to transfer more or less depending on your circumstances. See the section on Transfer Credit Criteria for details.
This 100% online doctorate bases its plan of study on traditional 16-week terms—you can start in the spring, summer, or fall. On a full-time schedule, you might take 3 courses per term for 6 terms and then work on your dissertation in the Term 7. A virtual residency is also held at the start of each term.
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University of Georgia
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 52
Delivery: On-Campus (Intensive Weekends; 2 Week-Long Study Trips)
UGA 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
If you’re interested in an accelerated Ed.D. with a global perspective, the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management at UGA’s Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education (IHE) is well-worth a look! It’s a fast-track, 2-year program with intensive weekend meetings in Atlanta and two week-long summer experiences in the Netherlands (first summer) and Washington, D.C. (second summer).
There are no electives in this cohort-based doctorate. Instead, the curriculum focuses on core concepts such as organization & governance, college access & success, and policy at the state and federal level. All of this work culminates in a dissertation. The tuition and program fee includes all meals, lodging, books and some international travel, but it does not include travel expenses to and from the program site.
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University of Louisiana Monroe
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 60
Delivery: 100% Online with Optional Campus Visits
ULM’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Explore ideas around school improvement and instruction with ULM’s convenient Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. With a little elbow grease, you can choose from one of 5 start dates and finish this 60-credit doctorate in 2 years. ULM’s program is 100% online, but students are welcome to visit the campus to meet professors in person.
All in all, the program contains 24 hours of core courses, 21 hours of concentration courses, and 15 hours of dissertation. Coursework is split into 8-week sessions and there are 5 sessions per year. So we’re estimating you might end up taking ~2 courses per session (10 courses per year).
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University of Pennsylvania
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 19 Course Units
Delivery: On-Campus (Monthly Course Sessions and 2-Week International Experience)
Penn 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aspiring Deans and Presidents take note—the 2-year Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is designed for seasoned, senior-level professionals. It’s a cohort-based Ed.D. with monthly course sessions and an intriguing global experience that takes place at the beginning of the second year.
The curriculum is a mix of research credits, high flying coursework (e.g. higher education finance, public policy, student and campus services, etc.), and dissertation work. Program fees are inclusive of all books, meals, on-campus hotel accommodations, and the majority of costs associated with the international trip. But you will need to budget for extra travel expenses to the program from your home.
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University of Southern California
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 25 Months
Credits: 50
Delivery: Hybrid
USC 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
USC’s high-level Global Executive Ed.D. is a 25-month program is open to applicants with 10 or more years of senior leadership experience in an educational institution, corporation, or organization. It’s delivered in a hybrid format, with self-paced online assignments, synchronous online classes, and 7 intensive sessions (1- to 2-weeks each) in locations around the world.
Make no mistake, this is an intensive program from the top-ranked USC Rossier School of Education. You’ll be completing 2-3 courses for most terms, committing to overseas travel, and tackling a Dissertation of Practice. Graduates go on to careers as Deans, Consultants, Executive VPs, and COOs.
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