New England College Announces First Doctoral Program

The Doctor of Education degree, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, features two concentrations: K-12 Leadership; and Higher Education Administration. The College has begun accepting students into its inaugural cohort and the program will begin with an on-campus orientation in August.

The Doctor of Education degree is the capstone in the College’s comprehensive offerings in the field of education,” notes Dr. Perkins. “New England College has long been recognized for the quality of our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in education and for our outstanding faculty. That recognition has played an important role in our students’ ability to secure meaningful careers in their chosen field.”

The new Doctor of Education program is structured around a three-year course of study and a series of low residency learning experiences on the New England College campus in Henniker, New Hampshire. According to Dr. Perkins, the structure of NEC’s Doctor of Education program allows students to integrate their learning with their work while they continue to build their careers. “The low residency model is one that we have incorporated into several of our programs and found to provide the optimal learning environment for our students,” continued Dr. Perkins. “The combination of independent on-line study and face-to-face contact allows our students to develop leadership qualities in a supportive environment.” In addition, the program incorporates a student’s dissertation work into their coursework rather than to isolate that educational experience at the end of the program as more traditional models do.

Students in the Doctor of Education program will have the opportunity to choose between two concentrations designed to allow them to have an immediate impact on the quality of education in their specific career tracks. The K-12 Leadership concentration develops expertise in classroom leadership, administration, student support and guidance, and in areas affecting educational policy. The Higher Education Administration concentration provides students with an opportunity to develop leadership skills in organizational theory, innovative practice, and change management. “The two concentrations offered through the Doctor of Education program address the dominant trends in education today,” notes Dr. Perkins. “The demand for dynamic educational leaders can be felt in schools and colleges across the nation and is critical to our future success in a competitive, entrepreneurial, and global culture.”

For information on the New England College Doctor of Education program, click here or contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at 603-428-2252.