Ed.D. Programs in West Virginia

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in West Virginia

A couple of big public universities in West Virginia have come up with doctoral programs in education—namely, Marshall and WVU. You’ll find their Ed.D. offerings in our school listings, alongside curricula and cost info.

There’s a fair amount of possibility lurking in those two names. Both universities have decided to develop online Ed.D. programs. Both have doctoral funding opportunities. And both have concentrations that are tailor-made for leadership jobs. None of them—as far as we could determine—were designed to help with administrative certification, but you can check with the Ed.D. program coordinator.

Preparing for a professional change? Have a look at the career section. Here you’ll find an analysis of PK-20 administrative job & salary data and ideas for job hunting. To assist with your networking goals, we’ve also listed links to West Virginia educational leadership associations and conferences & training programs.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in West Virginia

Online Ed.D. Providers in West Virginia

1. Marshall University (CAEP-accredited)
2. West Virginia University (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About West Virginia Online Ed.D. Programs

If you’re looking for an “all-rounder,” Marshall’s 45-credit Online Ed.D. in Leadership Studies is offered through MU Online. It’s a broad-based doctorate in education that’s designed for leaders in schools, universities, non-profits, government organizations, NGOs, the military, and the like.

Here’s the short & sweet on this option—you’ll be able to take all courses online right up until the time when you have to defend your dissertation. Students are admitted on a rolling basis and may begin the program in any term. And distance tuition rates are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents.

In contrast, WVU’s 72-credit Online Ed.D. in Instructional Design & Technology (~42 credits once you apply your master’s degree) is much more focused. WVU points out that it’s especially suited to professionals teaching and conducting research in a university environment. A few more salient points about this offering:

• It’s 100% online, but West Virginia residents pay significantly less in tuition than non-residents.
• The curriculum focuses on three key competencies: interconnectivity, instructional design, and software & multimedia.
• Local students have the opportunity to work with faculty members, teach in the CEHS Teaching and Learning Technologies Center, and participate in internships in corporate settings in the Morgantown/Fairmont area.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a comprehensive listing of online Ed.D. options in every state.

Doctoral Education Funding in West Virginia

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

To save you time, we’ve highlighted sources of institutional aid at each university (e.g. internal Ed.D. scholarships, graduate assistantships, etc.). The Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School can offer advice on federal & private loans and national fellowships.

Marshall University

The College of Education and Professional Development (COEPD) maintains a list of COEPD Scholarships for undergraduates & graduates. It also provides info on Doctoral Graduate Assistantships. In the doctoral handbook, Marshall states that students pursuing dissertation research may be eligible for modest awards (e.g. $500).

In addition, the Graduate College has general advice on How to Finance Your Graduate Education. Employees of Marshall University (but not their dependents) are eligible for a Tuition Waiver.

West Virginia University

The College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) has instructions on applying for CEHS Scholarships. In addition, CEHS offers Student Research Funding Opportunities such as research awards and travel grants. According to the program page, Ed.D. students in Higher Education are also welcome to apply for CEHS Graduate Assistantship Positions.

Graduate Education has further advice on Funding & Cost. In the section on Graduate Fellowships and Scholarships, you’ll find a variety of doctoral awards. We recommend you ask the Ed.D. program coordinator if you’ll be eligible to apply for any of them. Tuition Waivers may also be available.

School Administration Certification Requirements in West Virginia

Administrative Certificate & Endorsements

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and its Office of Certification & Professional Preparation (CAPP) handle certification/licensure for public school educators. Educational leaders typically apply for an Initial Professional Administrative Certificate in an administrative endorsement such as:

• Principal
• Superintendent
• Supervisor of Instruction

The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) posts a complete list of rules & requirements for all certificates in WVBE Policy 5202; the Administrative Certificate is located in section 10.4. WVDE also supplies certification application forms.

Considering your education options? WVDE has a list of state-approved educator preparation programs sorted by endorsement or institution. Most administrative certificate programs are offered in the form of a master’s degree or post-master’s certificate.

Initial Professional Administrative Certificate

The Initial Professional Administrative Certificate is valid for five school years. To earn it, you must:

• Hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Complete a state-approved educational leadership program at a regionally accredited institution, achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA, and receive institutional recommendation.
• Have three years of management level or teaching experience.
• Complete the Comprehensive Evaluation Leadership Institute (ELI) in evaluation skills offered through WVDE or the equivalent training approved by WVBE.
• Receive a passing score on the Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision test.

Note: Section 10.4a of WVBE Policy 5202 contains notes on instructions on earning the Provisional Administrative Certificate. Section 10.4b lists requirements for out-of-state licensure candidates.

Educational Leadership Jobs in West Virginia

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. We particularly like the state maps on these pages. Hover over an area to see the actual data points.

West Virginia isn’t a highly populated state, so it makes sense that employment numbers for K-12 administrators are relatively low when compared to WV neighbors. Jobs are naturally more plentiful in the north and west.

Want to dig deeper into K-12 schools and districts? WVDE’s ZoomWV Data Dashboard contains links to enrollment numbers, state assessment results, and more. The annual reports in School Finance Data also list administrative headcounts (e.g. superintendent, director, school business official, etc.). As you might expect, Berkeley and Kanawha Counties employ a great deal of school administrators.

The job story for West Virginia postsecondary education administrators is a little intriguing. The state is often in the second lowest employment bracket for this category, but it has a particularly high concentration of jobs, especially around Charleston. WVSU and the University of Charleston may have something to do with this statistic.

If you’re thinking of applying for a job in a WV public institution, have a look at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) and its Data and Public Center. The Explorer Data Portal has an entire area devoted to Human Resources Data. WVU is far and away the biggest public employer of higher education administrators.

Educational Leadership Salaries

Annual mean wages for four types of education administrator, including preschool, are posted in the BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for West Virginia.

Generally speaking, wages for West Virginia K-12 administrators tend to be low when compared to the rest of the region (e.g. Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio). Charleston usually comes up with the best mean wages in the state. The WVDE’s annual School Finance Data reports contain Average Contracted Salaries (organized by district) for all kinds of school administrators. WVEA also posts Salary Schedules.

Overall, wages for West Virginia postsecondary education administrators are very similar to Ohio—okay, but not stellar. Interestingly, mean wages are often better in the southwest and Charleston than they are in Huntington or the north.

• You can view individual salaries at West Virginia public institutions by using Transparency WV’s section on State Employees Total Compensation or the more detailed Employee Salary Snapshot in the Human Resources Data section of the Explorer Data Portal. Explorer lists each person’s title.
• In addition, the Chronicle of Higher Education posts annual summaries of West Virginia Faculty Salaries at public & private universities. For the most part, WVU, WVUIT, and Marshall tend to come up trumps.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Familiar job sites (e.g. Indeed, SchoolSpring, HigherEdJobs, etc.) will contain postings for West Virginia PK-20 administrators and educational leaders. You may also wish to try a couple of state-specific job boards.

• WVDE has developed a West Virginia K-12 Education Job Bank where you can search by county and job category (i.e. administration).
• WVHEPC has a section on Career Opportunities that contains links to job postings in West Virginia public universities & colleges and statewide higher education opportunities.

Educational Leadership Organizations in West Virginia

Educational Leadership Associations

• West Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (WVACTE): WVACTE exists to serve West Virginia career & technical educators, including secondary and middle school CTE teachers & administrators and postsecondary CTE instructors, faculty, administrators and deans. It’s a state affiliate of ACTE.
• West Virginia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (WVAESP): WV Principals bills itself as the largest association of administrators in the state. Members include middle school and elementary principals, assistant principals, curriculum specialists, central office administrators, and aspiring principals. It’s a state affiliate of NAESP.
• West Virginia Association of School Administrators (WVASA): WVASA represents West Virginia county superintendents, state superintendents, county directors, state directors, professors of educational administration, and other county- and state-level administrators. It’s a state affiliate of AASA.
• West Virginia Association of School Business Officials (WVASBO): WVASBO promotes the professional growth and welfare of business officials in West Virginia public schools and supports continuing progress in the conduct of business affairs. It’s a state affiliate of ASBO International.
• West Virginia Association of School Facilities Administrators (WVASFA): WVASFA provides school facility directors, administrators, and staff members with a statewide network of resources related to the daily management of facilities and grounds.
• West Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (WVASSP): WVASSP acts as a voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from West Virginia. It’s a state affiliate of NASSP.
• West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WVASFAA): WVASFAA represents professionals who are involved in the administration of student financial aid at postsecondary institutions in West Virginia. It’s a state affiliate of NASFAA.
• West Virginia Association of Student Personnel Administrators (WVASPA): WVASPA represents student personnel administrators who serve in West Virginia’s public and private colleges & universities.
• West Virginia Education Association (WVEA): WVEA is the state’s largest teacher organization (~15,000 members). It represents licensed public educators and education support professionals and it’s a state affiliate of the NEA.
• West Virginia School Board Association (WVSBA): WVSBA is the state’s official association for school board members.

Note: State and national educator organizations often have funds & scholarships available for continuing education (e.g. Ed.D.). Check the website and ask about opportunities.

Educational Leadership Events in West Virginia

Educational Leadership Conferences

• WVAEMSP/WVASSP Leaders of Education Conference: This annual three-day event in December is open to all school administrators, central office personnel, superintendents, WVDE officials, aspiring administrators, and anyone interested in preserving and supporting public education.
• WVASA Summer Conference: WVASA’s annual three-day conference for West Virginia superintendents, school administrators, and educational leaders takes place in June.
• WVASBO Spring Conference: This annual event for West Virginia school business officials is held over three days in May.
• WVASPA Annual Conference: This two-day conference for West Virginia student personnel administrators in higher education usually occurs in November.
• WVASFA Annual Conference & Trade Show: This two-day event for West Virginia superintendents, assistant superintendents, facilities directors, and maintenance and custodial managers attracts ~500 attendees. It takes place in July.
• WVASFAA Spring Conference: West Virginia financial aid administrators can attend this three-day conference in late March.
• WVSBA Conferences: WVSBA hosts an annual conference in September and a Winter Conference in February.

Educational Leadership Training

• WVASA Training: In addition to its summer conference, WVASA organizes seminars (e.g. Legal & Current Issues), county meetings, and a New and Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Academy.
• WVDE Upcoming Events: WVDE posts professional development opportunities for both teachers & administrators in this section (e.g. Communities in Schools Summer Institute, Career & Technical Education Administrators Conferences, etc.).