If you’re considering studying for an Ed.D degree, you’ll undoubtedly have certain questions you want to be answered before you enroll. First, you’ll likely want to know - what exactly is an Ed.D. degree, and where can it get you professionally?
You may also be curious about the different areas of specialization you can focus on as part of your Ed.D degree. Whether you’re interested in curriculum programming, organizational change, entrepreneurial leadership, or global leadership in education, being informed about the many study disciplines available within the scope of an Ed.D degree will help you make the best decisions in terms of your educational pathway.
Let’s explore.
What is an Ed.D Degree?
Also known as a Doctorate of Education, an Ed.D degree is an essential stepping stone into the higher echelons of the educational sector. Choosing to complete an Ed.D degree arms graduates with the capabilities to serve in leadership, academic, and administrative roles in schools, colleges, universities, and other educational settings. To obtain a Doctorate of Education, the Ed.D candidate must first complete undergraduate and master’s degrees in education or other related disciplines. Note - to be considered as a candidate for an Ed.D degree, often, a student must meet requisite GPA scores to indicate their level of suitability for the course.
Perhaps most importantly, an Ed.D degree is extremely versatile, and individuals studying for this degree can choose to specialize in a variety of different concentrations within the education sector. By choosing to specialize in a certain area of concentration, an Ed.D graduate can pursue a career path in the area of education they are most passionate about. As such, there are many different types of Ed.D degrees, each focusing on different areas of specialization. Let’s explore these options further.
The Different Types of Ed.D Degrees
Some of the different types of concentrations that individuals studying for an Ed.D degree can choose to focus on include:
- Educational Leadership
If you are a student who plans to complete an Ed.D in Educational Leadership online, your areas of concentration will include study units that will help you prepare for a leadership role in a school, college, or university. Upon graduation, career prospects can include educational leadership roles such as a school principal, faculty head, or university professor, for example.
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
Ed.D students who choose to focus instead on entrepreneurial leadership in education will learn how to innovate and make transformative changes within the educational industry. This area of concentration is best suited to students who have an inventive, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Educational Technology
If you are a student of education studies with a particular interest in the technology sector, specializing in an Ed.D degree that focuses on educational technology can be especially appealing. Students of this concentration will learn all about emerging technologies in education - for example, upcoming developments in digital communication, and also, artificial intelligence.
- Curriculum and Instruction
As an Ed.D student who chooses to focus their studies on curriculum and instruction, you will learn how to develop, create, and manage course curriculums - including elements such as learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and study programs.
- Organizational Change in Education
As part of the Ed.D study disciplines that focus on learning about organizational change in education, students will discover how to enhance and improve existing educational processes to make them significantly better for students and educators alike.
- Global Leadership in Education
For particularly ambitious education students, a career in global leadership may be in their sights. If this is the case for you, focusing your Ed.D studies on the discipline of global leadership in education can open many doors for you - both internationally, and in your home state.
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Having completed your undergraduate and master’s degrees in education, you’re well on your way to being a candidate for a Doctorate of Education, if you so choose.
As mentioned, pursuing this educational pathway can open up many doors. Perhaps the hardest part? With so many areas of concentration available, students are spoilt for choice in terms of choosing which Ed.D study discipline to focus on.
