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[autie13]

Howdy,

Am debating between applying to an EdD program (Doctorate of Education in Higher Ed) or a PhD in Education.  Is one degree better or more reputable/credible than the other?

Thoughts?

[minor_t]

We've had several discussions about this topic.  Check out these threads:

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,42721.0.html

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,38602.0.html

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,41662.0.html

and if your questions aren't answered, please repost and I'm sure someone will chime in.

[dr_prephd]

Howdy,

Am debating between applying to an EdD program (Doctorate of Education in Higher Ed) or a PhD in Education.  Is one degree better or more reputable/credible than the other?

Thoughts?

Oh, god, here we go again. Before the EdD bashing begins, let me say that the overwhelming consensus on these boards is that the EdD is a watered-down degree. However, it seems to me that the overwhelming number of posters on this board are actually bitter, unemployed humanities people (who was it who said 40% of the posts come from people in MLA fields, and another 40% come from a guy named Harvey with 564 accounts?).

Anyhow, that's sort of true. Because so many posters on these fora bash education majors, I get the feeling that the posters who are education majors tend to hide. Not to go on and on about a personal pet peeve of mine... however, take the advice you get here with a grain of salt, or two, since it's hardly a representative sample. Just because some bitter humanities post-doc martyr doesn't see the value in an EdD, it doesn't mean that it can't be valuable for you.

Now for your question: Is one degree more reputable / credible that the other?

I think, like anything, it depends on the purpose of your degree. Some people can't see the purpose of getting the EdD, since it's a practitioner's degree. Those who are practitioners think that it can be quite valuable. There are EdD programs that are every bit as rigorous in research as PhD programs. And, of course, a PhD from Walden University isn't going to be nearly as valuable as an EdD from Columbia Teachers' College.

Find the program and the degree that make the most sense for your life and future goals, and don't let some bitter forumite tell you that the EdD is worthless if that's the route you decide to go.

[august_leo]

the EdD is a watered-down degree

I know in other fields the Field.D is considered watered-down, e.g., PsyD versus PhD. I think it comes down to how much research you want and if you ever want to teach at a University.

[helpful]

I did some graduate work in Education. A Ph.D. in education involves a dissertation and research focus and leads you to a tenure track research position; a ED.D generally is for practitioners as most of those degrees do not involve a dissertation.

[autie13]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts- esp the person who directed me to those links- very helpful indeed.

I think the EdD is more my route.  I want to be hands on and work with students--I am capable of conducting research but a tenure track position isn't really my goal.

[dr_prephd]

the EdD is a watered-down degree

I know in other fields the Field.D is considered watered-down, e.g., PsyD versus PhD. I think it comes down to how much research you want and if you ever want to teach at a University.

In education, practical experience is highly valued. Of course there are EdDs doing research and teaching at universities! Here's a list from Boston University--check out how many professors in their Ed. school have EdDs:  http://www.bu.edu/bulletins/und/item18e4.html (they were the first school that popped up when I googled "EdD faculty university college education"). The EdD is a valuable, practical degree in an education department. The thing about EdDs is that they actually like working with (children, high schoolers, fill-in-the-blank), and they don't want to lose touch with that.

I did some graduate work in Education. A Ph.D. in education involves a dissertation and research focus and leads you to a tenure track research position; a ED.D generally is for practitioners as most of those degrees do not involve a dissertation.

Many EdD programs involve a dissertation.

Here's a relevant study you can find on Eric:
ED364580
Title: Content Analysis of the Ph.D vs. Ed.D. Dissertation.
Authors: Coorough, Calleen; Nelson, Jack
Abstract: Typically, the Ph.D. degree is said to be more research-oriented, whereas the Ed.D. degree is aimed more at the educational practitioner. The two degrees were compared with regard to research design, statistics, target populations for inference of findings, and other characteristics. A sample of 1,007 Ph.D. and 960 Ed.D dissertations was selected from "Dissertation Abstracts International" from 1950-90. It was found that the percentage of Ph.D. dissertations is increasing and is higher for women. The Ph.D. dissertation uses more multivariate statistics and has wider generalizability, and is also more prevalent in certain majors. The Ed.D. dissertation does more survey research and is most prevalent in administration. No differences were found in basic versus applied science, or in the significance of findings.

[helpful]

I have a Ph.D in Education I teach practical courses in the social sciences. One cannot generalize that an Ed.D is for people who work practically and the Ph.D is for research. A lot of research done in Education, and for Ph.D. degrees is, in fact, practical. Where do we get the idea that 'research' is not practical?

[imawakenow]

Where do we get the idea that 'research' is not practical?

Probably from the same people who think that "theory" isn't practical either.

[jonesey]

Here's a bit more from Teacher's College at Columbia:

What is the difference between the Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree?
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree emphasizes broad preparation for advanced professional responsibilities through a program based upon extensive study in a specialized branch of the field of education or in an area of instruction. The Ed.D requires a minimum of 90 points to complete the program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree emphasizes research and intensive specialization in an area of scholarship and is offered in selected fields of study at Teachers College through an arrangement with The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Columbia University. The Ph.D requires a minimum of 75 points to complete the program.

So, at TC, the Ed.D requires more credits to complete. 

[nomad]

Hi,

I am a PhD grad student.  I think the relevant question is not EdD or PhD. The question is which program offers what you want to learn.  I am in a PhD. program with an interest in program evaluation and quantitative research. My goal is to work in institutional research probably in higher education. 

So look for programs that interest you. Do you wish become a principal or other administrator in K-12? Are you interested in public policy? Are you interested in researching diversity issues and the achievement gap?  Do you want to study pedagogy? Do you want to do research in special education or GATE programming? Do you want to go into school psychology? What about technology? Once you answer these questions you can ask yourself which programs offer a path to the career of your choice upon graduation. Then look and see if they are PhDs or EdD programs.

Also notice that there are programs that are aimed at practitioners who are currently working and programs for full time students whose primary goal is to attend grad school and will leave to search out research and/or faculty positions.

Either direction you choose you will find that compared to so many other disciplines an education graduate with a doctorate has a multitude of opportunities when the program ends. The field is wide open, so worry less about which is better and concentrate on what is interesting. The rest will fall into place.

[helpful]

Where do we get the idea that 'research' is not practical?

Probably from the same people who think that "theory" isn't practical either.

Yes, sometimes I have heard of the 'lure of the practical' in graduate programs in teacher education.
Theorizing is a form of practice of course!

[autie13]

The field is wide open, so worry less about which is better and concentrate on what is interesting. The rest will fall into place.

Thanks Nomad- that is superb advice! 

[dr_prephd]

Also notice that there are programs that are aimed at practitioners who are currently working and programs for full time students whose primary goal is to attend grad school and will leave to search out research and/or faculty positions.

Do the two have to be mutually exclusive? Just a minor point, of course, I agree with everything else you said.

[nomad]

Also notice that there are programs that are aimed at practitioners who are currently working and programs for full time students whose primary goal is to attend grad school and will leave to search out research and/or faculty positions.

Do the two have to be mutually exclusive? Just a minor point, of course, I agree with everything else you said.

No it is just the trend as I noticed it.  I am in Southern California where education degrees are multiplying like bunnies.  EdD programs are starting to appear at a large number of the Cal States.  I think that in the next several years there will be about 4 CSU programs in my specific area all with different concentrations but all EdDs.  These programs are new.  USC has both options (PhD & EdD) as does UCLA. UC Irvine has both as well.  There is Pepperdine (EdD) and Claremont Grad School (PhD). Then add in schools like Argosy and several others and it is a education degree jamboree.  I think we may be looking at 15 universities or more in one concentrated location.

I may be wrong but I believe every single EdD program listed above is part time and aimed at working adults already in the field of education.  Most of these programs follow the three year plan.  Most have courses on weekends and evenings. The hard core PhD programs seem to be full time with the exception of CGU.

With many of the EdD programs, part time is the only option as the programs are designed to move at a specific speed with a cohort.  Now someone here will probably have more info on the trends of a specific program but in my unofficial observations this is what I have noticed. I did look at quite a few programs both EdD and PhD while applying.  California the land of higher education and hopefully good higher ed research jobs.