PhD Advanced Education Studies – Instructional Design Crafting the Blueprint of Tomorrow’s Education

60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 39 credits
Go Beyond Your Doctor of Education in Liberty’s Instructional Design and Technology Program
Do you have your Doctor of Education (EdD), but you find yourself needing a degree that helps you move into the realm of research to make valuable contributions to your field? Liberty University has designed a unique opportunity for you to transfer in up to 39 credits of your conferred EdD credit into a PhD in Advanced Educational Studies – Instructional Design and Technology.
Our 100% online PhD in instructional design and technology (IDT) degree program will expand your knowledge, skills, and training in instructional design. You can learn through advanced course content and in-depth research on cognitive development, evaluation and assessment, and the design and implementation of distance learning programs and job aids.
With advanced insight into the ways students learn, you will develop new learning processes and products designed for student success. Throughout our PhD in instructional design and technology, you can learn how to effectively communicate with school administrators, teachers, and students through various mediums as you create effective and engaging learning programs. Use the valuable knowledge and insight you have already gained in your EdD to sharpen and refine your skills in research and publication.






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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s PhD in Advanced Educational Studies Degree Focusing on Instructional Design and Technology?
Because your time is valuable, we have created this degree to give graduates from EdD programs the opportunity to add a specialization and pursue a PhD degree without starting at the beginning of a doctoral program. Start Liberty’s PhD in Advanced Educational Studies – Instructional Design and Technology online degree today to expand on your EdD research or capstone project by focusing a PhD dissertation on a similar research topic.
Furthermore, the PhD in instructional design and technology is 100% online, which means you are not required to attend courses on campus at any time as you pursue your degree. We are committed to helping you obtain your degree in a way that is most convenient for you. You will also receive training and instruction from professors who are grounded in their Christian faith and ready to equip you to utilize biblical principles in the education field.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s PhD in Instructional Design and Technology?
Liberty University’s IDT courses seek to enhance your knowledge of instructional design so you can develop support products and processes needed to enhance the efficiency of learning. Our instructional design and technology courses provide training on how to develop web-based courses for online learning as well as printed educational aids for use in both the classroom and the workplace.
As you begin our PhD in education technology degree online, you will improve your knowledge of the various styles of learning and how instructional design and technology play a part in reaching the unique needs of students and teachers. From there, you can learn advanced techniques using existing technologies for web-based learning as well as new developments in technology and their possible implications for the future.
In addition, you will be conducting research and working on your dissertation to contribute to the field of instructional design and technology. This shift in course emphasis will allow you to take what you’ve gained in your professional degree and apply it to a more focused, research-based doctorate.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Academic dean
- Chief learning officer
- Director of e-learning
- Distance learning senior director
- Educational researcher
- Educational technology director
- Military education specialist
- Professor (higher education)
- Provost
- Researcher (IDT)
- Senior instructional design specialist
- Senior training specialist
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under our School of Education.
- View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
- An extensive final dissertation project is required.
Degree Completion Plan

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Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Online PhD in Advanced Educational Studies – Instructional Design and Technology
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited EdD or PhD in Education with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your PhD degree after the last day of class for your EdD or PhD in Education degree.
- Complete a Doctoral Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 9 credit hours of completion for an EdD or PhD in Education program.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this degree require any culminating project?
You will complete your PhD with an integrated dissertation, giving you a terminal educational credential that shows employers you have reached the pinnacle of your field’s achievement.
Does this program allow transfer credit?
Our PhD online allows you to transfer in up to 39 credit hours so you can turn your EdD into a PhD quickly – depending on your transfer credit.
What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this?
Our Doctor of Philosophy in Advanced Educational Studies program will allow you to develop educational management skills and foster leadership in teachers and students. Additionally, you can learn how to create and administer effective education environments.
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