Ed.D. Programs in Wyoming

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Wyoming

The only university to offer Wyoming doctoral programs in education is—you guessed it—the University of Wyoming. That’s not such a bad thing.

• UW is a public university with a community-focused College of Education.
• It’s participating in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).
• And it has a number of programs. See our school listings for details.

Even better, UW’s doctorates in education come with online components and the opportunity to tackle a doctoral research project in lieu of a dissertation. Some Ed.D. funding is available. And at least one of UW’s concentrations can help you earn the superintendent endorsement.

Trying to formulate a post-graduation plan? Check out the career section. It includes a discussion of relevant PK-20 administrative job data, links to salary resources, and annotated lists of WY administrator associations and educational leadership conferences.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Wyoming

Online Ed.D. Providers in Wyoming

1. University of Wyoming (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About Wyoming Online Ed.D. Programs

UW offers its online Ed.D. degrees through UW Distance. All programs are in the realm of 75-81 credits, but you’ll be allowed to transfer ~30 credits from your master’s, which will bring the doctoral component down to around 45-51 credits. What’s more, in-state residents pay less than out-of-state residents for UW tuition.

• For the Online Ed.D. in Learning, Design, and Technology, you can take all of the coursework online. But you will be expected to attend at least two on-campus orientation sessions. This Ed.D. also includes a practicum and an internship.
• For the Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration, all courses are delivered online or through a blended format (online and audio conferencing). There is a residency requirement—two annual meetings (1-2 days) in Laramie.
• For the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, coursework can be completed entirely at a distance. But students must visit the campus for the comprehensive exam and dissertation defense. This Ed.D. also includes an internship for the superintendent endorsement.
• For the Online/Hybrid Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, you’ll have to budget for some time on campus. Coursework is available through the Outreach School, either by video conference, audio conference, intensive weekends, web-based instruction, or a combo of these formats. This hybrid Ed.D. also includes a practicum/internship.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a complete list of online Ed.D. degrees in each state.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Wyoming

Doctoral Research Projects & Capstones

In recent years, UW has made changes to its Ed.D. degree requirements. These rule changes give doctoral students the opportunity to complete applied projects in lieu of dissertations. A few things to note about this opportunity:

• Applied projects should be problem-based and designed to advance knowledge in a specific field or setting.
• Project goals might include evaluating curriculum, designing & implementing professional development or training, and/or developing applications to be used in local settings.
• Capstone projects can be collaborative.

UW applied projects can be presented in many formats, including:

• A local case study
• A documentary on an educational issue
• A full-length research manuscript that’s designed for journal publication
• A program evaluation report

Before you commit to a particular degree, we recommend you talk to the Ed.D. program coordinator to establish how/when you can substitute a project for a dissertation.

Doctoral Education Funding in Wyoming

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

For this section, we’ve focused on institutional aid—internal scholarships & Ed.D. awards. The Office of Financial Aid will be able to provide advice on external funding (e.g. federal & private loans, national fellowships, etc.). You may also wish to talk to your employer about the possibility of tuition reimbursement.

University of Wyoming

Relevant awards are listed on each Ed.D. program page and in the College of Education’s section on Graduate Scholarships. Students in Educational Leadership, Higher Education, and Ed. Tech. can consider School of Counseling, Leadership, Advocacy, and Design (CLAD) Funding Opportunities such as travel awards.

UW has a separate section on Graduate Education: Financial Assistance, which has further details on general graduate awards, UW student employment, and external fellowships. UW also offers an alumni rate to graduate students.

As always, we recommend you chat to the Ed.D. program coordinator and ask how most doctoral students in the program pay for their degree.

School Administration Licensure Requirements in Wyoming

School Administrator Endorsements

The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) handles licensure for public school teachers & administrators. Educational leaders in Wyoming typically add an administrative endorsement to their existing educator license. Relevant endorsement areas in the School Administrator category include:

• Principal (K-6; 5-8; 6-12; K-12)
• Program Director (K-6; 5-8; 6-12; K-12)
• Superintendent (K-12)

We’ve provided a brief outline of general requirements below. The PTSB has more details on the application process. We also want to note that UW’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, which includes an internship, leads to the superintendent endorsement.

Note: PTSB has separate instructions for Out-of-State Applicants who wish to add additional endorsements when applying for their initial Wyoming license.

School Administrator: Principal, Superintendent or Director Endorsement

To apply for an endorsement in any of Montana’s school administrator fields, you must:

• Hold Wyoming licensure in a teaching field.
• Complete an educational leadership program from a nationally or regionally accredited college/university that leads to an institutional recommendation in an endorsement area equivalent to the level you are seeking.

Educators with a current Wyoming Educator License must submit the Add Endorsement Application. Wyoming does not provide emergency or provisional licensure to folks who are currently enrolled in a program of study. But you may apply for the position of interest in an internship position.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Wyoming

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 job maps on each page, since they allow you to view potential hotspots. Data points for these maps are pulled from State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Wyoming.

Because of the state’s rural nature, employment numbers for Wyoming K-12 administrators are invariably some of the lowest—if not the lowest—in the country. You can dig deeper into the numbers by visiting the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE)’s sections on the State Report Card and School District Enrollment and Staffing Data. For example, Laramie #1, Natrona #1, and Campbell #1 county districts tend to employ a fair number of administrators.

It’s a similar employment story for Wyoming postsecondary education administrators. Because UW is the only big university in the state, job numbers for this category are extremely low. Community colleges, Wyoming Catholic College, and technical institutes make up the rest of the state’s higher education institutions.

Educational Leadership Salaries

There may not be many K-12 administrators in Wyoming, but their annual mean wages are remarkably good! The state often beats out Montana in the money stakes and can usually be found in the same high wage bracket as Utah and Colorado. Overall, folks in the western areas tend to earn more than those in the eastern areas. Annual K-12 salary reports for public educators can be found in WDE’s Enrollment and Staffing Data.

The news is even better for Wyoming postsecondary education administrators. The lucky few who find jobs in this category are paid some of the highest mean wages in the country. UW is responsible for most of this good fortune. See the Chronicle of Higher Education’s section on Wyoming Faculty Salaries and UW’s Budget Information for further proof.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Standard job sites (e.g. Indeed, SchoolSpring, HigherEdJobs, Glassdoor, etc.) will contain postings for Wyoming educational leaders. Or you can try a couple of state-specific job boards.

• WSBA conducts Superintendent Searches and lists Wyoming Job Vacancies for superintendents, administrative positions (e.g. business manager), and district positions (e.g. school counselor).
• UW Job Listings includes a category for administrative openings and instructions for executive-level positions. Executive jobs are filled with assistance from a Search Firm.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Wyoming

Educational Leadership Associations

• Wyoming Association for Career and Technical Education (WACTE): WACTE represents teachers, counselors, and administrators who are involved in career and technical education programs throughout the state.
• Wyoming Association of School Administrators (WASA): WASA supports Wyoming superintendents with leadership experiences and training and provides educational leaders with a network of collaboration. It’s a state affiliate of AASA.
• Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators (WASEA): WASEA members provide administrative leadership within the area of special education. It’s  affiliated with CASE and CEC.
• Wyoming Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WyASFAA): WyASFAA exists to create meaningful connections between financial aid staff, high school counselors, and affiliated groups and to increase knowledge about financial aid programs.
• Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP): WASSP’s 120+ members act as advocates for all issues concerning middle and secondary level education in Wyoming. It’s a state affiliate of NASSP. Check out the Aspiring Leader Scholarship.
• Wyoming Education Association (WEA): WEA is a professional organization representing ~6,300 Wyoming teachers and educators who provide a wide range of professional education services in communities throughout the state. It’s a state affiliate of the NEA.
• Wyoming School Board Association (WSBA): WSBA acts as the official voice of Wyoming local school boards.

Other relevant WY associations without websites include the Wyoming Association of School Business Officials (WYASBO) and Wyoming ASCD.

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 Wyoming

Educational Leadership Conferences

• WACTE Summer Conference: This three-day event in June is geared toward Wyoming educational leaders who are involved in career & technical education.
• WASA Spring Conference: This annual three-day event for Wyoming school superintendents and educational leaders takes place in April.
• WASEA Conferences: Special education administrators and leaders can attend WASEA’s Spring Conference or Fall Conference in October.
• WASSP Annual Winter Conference: This popular event for Wyoming secondary school principals and building-level leaders is held over three days in January.
• WDE Conferences: WDE organizes a number of events for educators & administrators, including the STEAM Conference in late July/early August, the Native American Education Conference in August, the S5S Superintendent’s Policy Summit in October, and the Wyoming Innovations in Learning Conference in November.
• WyASFAA Annual Conference: This three-day conference for Wyoming financial aid administrators and educational leaders occurs in April.