A doctoral degree in education takes professors and administrative professionals to fantastic new heights within their career. Depending on your individual goals within discipline, you can either pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) or a Doctorate in Education (EdD). The PhD will make you more skilled in the role of a teacher or professor, instilling stronger techniques in the classroom with students, and as a researcher. The EdD is more connected to positions of administration and management that help run a school system. Both areas are crucially important to educational institutions and organizations across the world, and there are a great many areas that you can work in with this type of degree.
A PhD in Education positively effects your relationships with the school or educational institution with which your are employed or applying to. With this degree you will be able to work in K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and research facilities. You will have an understanding of how to build stronger curriculum, working and communicating with students, and broadening their understanding of their area of study through research and publication. In classrooms and in private offices you work closely with your students, and, in some cases, out in the field. If your particular discipline is in forestry or geology, for example, a significant amount of your career will be spent outdoors collecting specimens and teaching classes. In research projects and sabbaticals, these professionals can be found all across the world completing passionate projects and writing books associated with their area of study. In this way, there are a huge number of environments that you will find yourself with this degree.
With an EdD, you will also have a broad range of work environments that include classrooms, dean and superintendent’s offices, executive businesses, private firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more. Many different areas require educational and training components that necessitate the employment of professionals with an in-depth understanding of educational platforms. There are also discipline-specific areas and positions that strongly benefit from a Doctorate in Education, such as nursing or counseling education, which can take them to healthcare facilities rather than schools. These individuals will often have concentrated skills, such as curriculum design, in which they will work in an administrative environments and create curriculum schedules for an entire school, for example. These professionals might also design training programs to teach productivity or ethics in executive environments.
As you can see, there are a huge variety of work environments associated with a doctoral degree in education. Depending on your particular area of study or pursuits within the industry, you could end up in an executive office, on a board of directors, in a classroom, in a lab, and more! The career path allows you to focus your studies and your work to center around your personal interests, which will put you in environments that are inspiring and nurturing to your career goals. However, it’s equally important to be vigilant and determine if a workplace is hostile, ensuring that your chosen path aligns with a positive and supportive professional atmosphere.
For more information about doctoral degrees in education, navigate to our list of the Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Education!
