Interdisciplinary Leadership EdD Degree (Doctor of Education)
The online Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership (EdD) from Creighton University is an exceptional educational experience. The program is specially designed to help aspiring leaders affect lasting and meaningful change in their communities, workplaces and beyond.
Our online EdD program is leadership focused. It applies our Jesuit principles to develop ethical leaders who positively impact the world. We assemble professionals from a variety of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The interdisciplinary leadership faculty create a tightly knit cohort environment where you have the resources, support and flexibility to discover and achieve your true potential. Together with your cohort, you’ll master self-reflective practices, hone your perspectives and cultivate transformative leadership skills.
The rigorous, high-quality education received in this research-based program will provide you with adaptable knowledge and skills to pursue a successful career in education administration, business, health care, criminal justice, government—or any industry where talent and passion are needed.
A network of successful peers and faculty
You will thrive in your cohort community of a dozen or more leaders from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Students in our online EdD program come from all over the world. And we invite you to a residency on our Omaha campus twice during the program. Through the flexibility of online learning and the activation of the in-person component, you’ll grow into a close network developing solid relationships with students and faculty.
Current student and retired military veteran Driko Parsons says, "Within my cohort and other cohorts that I've had the opportunity to work with, these folks are superstars. They're phenomenal people. They're at the top of their industries, providing sage advice, wisdom and leadership across the board. And here I am, learning from them."
You’ll find this diverse academic unit comprised of different backgrounds and industries creates a rich learning community that shares perspectives and insight in a supportive learning environment. From faculty to technical support, you will have what you need to be successful. Together, we create an experience no other program can match.

Leah Georges, PhD | Associate Professor and Program Director, Graduate School
"What makes our program so unique isn't necessarily that it's online, but the support that's embedded in the online structure. Students never feel like they're on an island by themselves. There's a cohort with them. There’re teachers with them in the classrooms, guiding them along the way. We're known for our scholarship, research and teaching—but also for meeting students where they are, wherever they are in their dissertation and their research and education journeys.
Program Details
The Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership program is 60 credit hours. Online flexibility means you can focus on your education on your schedule to balance your education with your work and life. Creighton’s online experience includes minimal residency requirements. You’ll complete a selection of electives, research and dissertation courses, plus the Core Curriculum. Courses include Leadership Styles and Reflective Practice, Leadership and Applied Ethics, Social Justice and Leadership, Organizational Theory and Behavior, Administrative and Policy Issues and more.
View the program curriculum via Creighton’s academic catalog.
Students in the EdD program will also complete a dissertation in practice. They will select a real-world problem related to their field, collect and analyze data, summarize findings and draw conclusions. Students will also articulate a potential solution to the real-world problem they identified, with the expectation that they improve upon the challenge they identified. This culminates in a final dissertation in practice paper and oral defense.
What to Expect
Weekly
As we keep Cura Personalis of our students and faculty front and center in our program, we try to allow our community as much flexibility on the weekend as possible. We recognize family engagements and self-care are critical to the sustainability and prevention of burnout amongst our students and faculty. We acknowledged it and took the opportunity to meet our community where they are.
Initial discussion board posts are due on Sunday evening, allowing our working professional students to best utilize their time to read and prepare a high-quality initial post. Major course assignments such as papers, reflections, and other projects are due Wednesday evening. You come to value this cadence as it gets you into a predictable rhythm and flow.
Residency
For the first residency, we try to cover everything from introductions, student panels, faculty panels, and class resources that help you be successful, better understand the program and feel a part of the Creighton Community.
You’ll also come to campus halfway through your program. Past students say they built solid relationships during the first residency and like the opportunity to come back to campus to rekindle the cohort. The main goal of the second residency is getting students prepared for their dissertation. There will also be a service-learning component around a problem-based leadership practice.
Outcomes
The Creighton EdD program’s interdisciplinary cohort approach allows you to build relationships that last long after the program ends. As a result, you’ll receive a robust interdisciplinary education, expand your professional network with a thriving alumni community and boost your career advancement.
Nick Argento, EdD’20, says, “I'm forever grateful to the faculty and to my other classmates for the ideas that they exchanged. For the criticism. For the intention. For the care. I haven't seen that in other programs. And one of the best academic decisions I’ve ever made in my life was to enroll in this program.”
Learn more in our blog post “How a Doctorate in Leadership Can Help You Make a Difference in Any Industry.”

degrees conferred in 2021-2022

states and the District of Columbia represented in the program

countries represented in the program

students enrolled in the program in 2021-2022
EdD Program Mission Statement
The interdisciplinary leadership program is a challenging, practitioner- and research-based doctoral degree for professionals looking to make a change in themselves, their communities and the world.
The Creighton online Education Doctorate (EdD) in Interdisciplinary Leadership is committed to developing ethical leaders through a values-based, practitioner-led learning approach. As a result, you are equipped with the transformative skills and leadership approach to positively impact the world.
- We believe leadership is practiced in both obvious and subtle ways by anyone willing to help (Lowney, 2003; Wheatley, 2006).
- We believe in preparing individuals to work for and with others by fostering a rich interdisciplinary learning environment.
- We believe in preparing individuals to embrace complexity by practicing self-reflection, an openness to diversity, and the integration of Ignatian values.
- We are diverse in the life experiences, ways of thinking, and knowledge base that faculty, staff, and students bring to the program.
- We are reflective scholar-practitioners focused on modeling the leadership our communities and workplaces need today and in the future.
- Alongside critical thinking and social science methodologies, we use innovative, leading edge education approaches such as the emerging approach of interdisciplinary leadership, adult learning theory, and dissertations in practice to prepare individuals to work across differences to address complex problems.
Admission Requirements
- Application
- Personal statement
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all graduate-level coursework
- Master’s degree or equivalent professional degree
- Writing Sample (EdD Writing Exercise)
- Personal Interview (per request of admissions committee)
- Additional requirements for international students
Due to residency requirements, international students may face difficulties in this program, but are welcome to apply. Please work directly with your enrollment specialist to discuss your situation and how Creighton can support you.
International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements
Dates and Deadlines
The table below details the enrollment deadlines and starting dates of courses for the current academic year. If you have any questions about dates, deadlines, or application materials, please contact an enrollment specialist for personalized assistance.
ONLINE
START CLASSES IN | APPLY BY |
August | July 1 |
January | November 15 |



Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition rates change in the fall of each year. View the tuition and fees for this program.
Financial Aid
To help make your graduate studies at Creighton University more affordable, we encourage you to file the FAFSA to apply for financial assistance. We also encourage you to apply for available graduate student scholarships and fellowships.
Have questions? Email or call a friendly financial specialist at 402.280.2731.