Terminal degrees in the education discipline have evolved beyond the standard Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) pathway. The Doctor in Education (EdD) has emerged as a viable alternative.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on many people’s careers, and with trends like the great resignation kicking in, people had time to reconsider and reevaluate their career trajectories. During this time of introspection, many professionals decided to go back to university and pursue a doctorate.
Currently, there are two main options—the classic PhD and an emergent EdD.
What is an EdD?
An EdD is a professional doctorate focused on leadership and real-world problem-solving. The core purpose of this advanced degree is to prepare students for leadership roles in higher education and beyond in areas like non-profits and policy-making. Its focus is on application rather than research, unlike a PhD.
The cohort of students is also usually made up of working professionals who have on-the-job exposure. With interest rising in this degree, there are plenty of 2 year Ed.D programs online available in the US for students choosing to go down this path.
What is a PhD?
A PhD is a research-focused doctorate emphasizing theory and academia. This degree focuses on a deep dive into a particular abstract concept, theoretical framework, or, in some cases, a real-world phenomenon. The core aim of a PhD is to advance education through scholarly contributions. Students can opt for a PhD right after their Master’s degree, so working experience is not usually mandatory for prospective students.
What are the key differences?
1. Suitability
Both degrees are designed for different sets of students. For an illustrious career in academia and research, a PhD is the better option for people aspiring to:
- Contribute to scholarly work and academic progress.
- Teach at universities.
- Work in educational policy and think tanks.
- Engage in a very advanced level of curriculum development and instructional design.
On the other hand, an EdD is a better fit for students who aim to:
- Work in an administrative capacity in education in roles like school principal and district administrator.
- Impact non-profits through education-driven initiatives.
- Join the corporate world in job functions related to workforce development and training management.
- Start a career in policymaking through government agencies or think tanks.
2. Core focus
While both are doctorate-level programs, that’s where the similarities end. The core focus area of an EdD is around evidence-based decision-making, organizational leadership, and policy implementation. A PhD focuses more on areas like educational pedagogy, knowledge creation, theoretical research, and policy analysis.
Due to this difference in focus, both also demand their own unique set of skills. EdD programs would be more suitable for seasoned professionals who are adept at strategic planning, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, analysis, and communication. A PhD could be pursued by anyone proficient in statistical analysis, advanced research, grant writing, and framework analysis.
3. Research Approach
To continue on a similar tangent to the previous point of differentiation, both these degrees also have a contrasting approach to research. A PhD student would delve longer into the theoretical aspects with the ultimate aim of advancing academic knowledge. Conversely, an EdD student would have action-oriented research with the intent of solving a real-world problem.
To drive home this point, let’s explore how both students would react to a common problem statement: “Improve falling student engagement in STEM subjects”. A PhD student would first look to establish the factors that influence student engagement, develop a theoretical model based on existing literature, design a longitudinal study, and collect data over a relatively longer duration of time.
After attaining conclusive proof, the aim would be to conclude the study and contribute to the academic understanding of student engagement, thus influencing future studies and policy decisions. On the contrary, an EdD student would tackle the problem by conducting interviews, suggesting interventions, finding ways to track engagement in real-time, and tracking the progress of the intervention.
The end result in this would be a set of actionable insights that educators and administrators can implement to positively influence student engagement. While the outcome is different, both are contributing to the problem in their own ways.
4. Duration and employment
A PhD typically lasts longer, for 4-6 years, and is often full-time. An EdD has a shorter duration of 2-3 years with the added flexibility of allowing work or other employment. However, an important caveat is the fact that quite a few PhD programs are fully funded with a stipend, and work as faculty associate or tutor is available.
The research intensity is also relatively high for a PhD, allowing limited time to pursue any other employment. At the end of the day, the degree someone chooses will be the one that aligns better with an individual’s career goals, core skillsets, and interests and is the one more suited to their needs.
An EdD is ideal for working professionals who wish to have administrative and leadership roles in the field of education, with the promise of real-world impact. A PhD, meanwhile, is a better fit for individuals who are intrigued by intense research in a particular field and who wish to advance their academic vigor and scholarly knowledge in the same.
