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[autie13]

Okay, so despite what I have heard, I'm still undecided.  I've been accepted AND I got an assistantship (tuition, stipend and health benefits).

Do I do this?


Here's my original thread if you want some background on the situation:
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,46534.0.html

[zharkov]

If you are getting funded and the EdD will help get you a job in academic administration, why not?

[autie13]

Well, it seems that there are some clear boundaries with the EdD- as far as acceptability/validity as a doctoral degree and peer respect are concerned.

I read Levine's article, talked to some people who have EdD's talked to PhD's in my own department......searched the Dept of Education web site to find out job prospects.....but I just don't know.  I mean Levine's article is good, but that is ONE person- one person's opinion.  Apparently that article has caused a lot of discussion at Higher Ed conferences.

I checked out a book from the library on doing a dissertation and looked at some dissertations and resumes of individuals who have graduated from the same program I was accepted to.  I think the dissertation is doable.  The resumes were good- I saw a lot of published articles from their grad school experience and a lot of involvement in professional organizations.

Part of me says to hold my  breath and jump right in.  The other part of me says not to.

[zharkov]

Well, it seems that there are some clear boundaries with the EdD- as far as acceptability/validity as a doctoral degree and peer respect are concerned.

Look at it this way:  A PhD is a research degree.  Where research is important, the PhD matters most.  Getting a faculty job at an R1 or a high end SLAC or a comprehensive will be very difficult with an EdD. 

But getting a teaching job at a middlin' 4 year school or a CC?  Or an admin job?  IMHO, a different story.  In such cases, the EdD is acceptable.

[imawakenow]

Well, it seems that there are some clear boundaries with the EdD- as far as acceptability/validity as a doctoral degree and peer respect are concerned.

To add to zharkov's comments, it really comes down to what you want to do when you finish.

Identify 4-5 institutions where you would like to work after you finish your degree and then look at the academic pedigree of your would-be peers. If they have Ed.Ds from similar institutions, then you can safely assume that you'll be competitive for those jobs upon completion.

As far as "acceptability" and "peer respect" are concerned, always remember this--academia is very hierarchical. Thus, there will always be some people who automatically think that an Ed.D. is inferior than a Ph.D. Similarly, there will always be some people who think that an Ivy League Ph.D. is de facto better than a non-Ivy (or any Big Ten degree is better than an SEC or ACC degree), etc.

You're never going to make people like that happy anyway, so my advice is not to worry about it. Instead, find a school and pursue a degree that will help you reach your career goals.

[dr_prephd]

To echo the others, there will always be snobs who will look down upon your decision to get the EdD. The question is, will the EdD allow you have the career you want while staying as far away as possible from the snobs?

[njs213]

I'm curious if the perception of the EdD (Higher Education Administration) as a lesser degree is still held if that EdD is from an Ivy League.

[zharkov]

I'm curious if the perception of the EdD (Higher Education Administration) as a lesser degree is still held if that EdD is from an Ivy League.

I think Harvard is the only Ivy League school with an EdD, but might be wrong.  (And to be sure, the Ivy League consists of exactly eight schools.)

My view, an EdD from Harvard beats just about any PhD from any school, assuming naturally that the person with that Harvard EdD is going for a job in which EdDs are typically hired.  (Not non-educational research at an R1.)  But we are talking about less than 1 pct of all EdDs awarded in the US, even if a couple of the other ivies offer the degree.

[neutralname]

I'm curious if the perception of the EdD (Higher Education Administration) as a lesser degree is still held if that EdD is from an Ivy League.

I think Harvard is the only Ivy League school with an EdD, but might be wrong.  (And to be sure, the Ivy League consists of exactly eight schools.)

My view, an EdD from Harvard beats just about any PhD from any school, assuming naturally that the person with that Harvard EdD is going for a job in which EdDs are typically hired.  (Not non-educational research at an R1.)  But we are talking about less than 1 pct of all EdDs awarded in the US, even if a couple of the other ivies offer the degree.

Columbia Teachers College (which is Ivy League) has a dual degree, EdD and MBA
http://www.tc.edu/o&l/ed-leadership/concentrations.asp?id=130

I'd imagine that Harvard and other Ivy Leagues have less need to use an EdD program as a cash cow, and they have the ability to attract the best people in the field.  But the more you focus on particular cases, the more you are likely to focus on the person in question rather than where they got their degree. 

[njs213]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking abou the EdD at Teachers College/Columbia University when I posed the question.

[larryc]

I am not going back to reread the previous thread, but here is my brief take on it. Many and perhaps most folks with PhDs are going to consider an EdD a lesser degree, something between an MA and a PhD. If you care what other people think, this is a consideration. A PhD will give you more options than an EdD. It is also usually more difficult, often takes longer, and has a higher dropout rate.

On the other hand, an EdD is a perfectly acceptable credential for many jobs and it might get you where you want to go. Look at a large sampling of people who have the job that you want--what kind of degree do they have? There is your answer.