There are many ways to dedicate your career to the field of education, including by going beyond the classroom to work in administration, policy, and more. A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program can act as preparation for these career paths, allowing you to understand the field of learning as it exists today.
So exactly what can you do with a doctorate in education? There are many doctor of education jobs, spanning everything from administration to executive-level thought leadership. Each of these career paths provides a meaningful way to apply advanced educational principles to make practical improvements to a business or institution. By exploring a few of these roles, you can determine potential opportunities to make a lasting, positive impact on the educational landscape. An online Doctor of Education degree can provide the skills and knowledge needed to pursue any of these roles.
What Does Ed.D. Stand For?
The doctorate-level education degree is known as the Ed.D. (from the Latin Educationis Doctor). It’s considered a professional degree for those who wish to have more mission-driven or strategic leadership roles within an organization or institution.
The Ed.D. originated at Harvard University in 1921, and has become increasingly popular over the past century.. This degree is distinct from a Ph.D. in education. The Ed.D. is more practically focused than the Ph.D., with greater emphasis on leadership training and organizational impact. By contrast, the Ph.D. is more academically focused, primarily designed for those who wish to do research and teach teachers.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Doctorate in Education?
It’s natural for any aspiring Ed.D. student to wonder: How long does it take to get a doctorate in education?
While the timeline can vary from student to student, and from program to program, the Ed.D. program typically takes between 36 and 48 months to complete. This is different from the Ph.D. in education, which tends to have a more open-ended timeline.
What Are the Most Common Doctorate in Education Jobs?
The following are a few of the paths you can follow using the knowledge and experience gained while earning an Ed.D. These doctorate in education jobs span higher education, the public sector, and the corporate world. Because of the level of education and training involved in an Ed.D., many of these roles come with generous salaries.
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Higher Education Administrator
There are ways to thrive at a public or private college or university even if you are not a member of the faculty, including as an administrator. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains that these opportunities span admissions, financial aid, student affairs, the registrar’s office, and more. By taking such a leadership role, you can have a material impact on the learning environment and help students excel.
The most recent BLS data, reflecting surveys from 2021, reveals the median salary for postsecondary education administrators was $96,910. This is higher than a typical management salary and reflects the specialized knowledge it takes to thrive in a college or university setting.
Chief Learning Officer
If you are interested in taking control of educational policy and direction in the corporate world, you can pursue a chief learning officer position. The concepts behind modern, tech-driven instruction have been adopted by large organizations of all kinds, and companies need experienced employees to steer their learning and development programs.
According to current Payscale data, as of March 2022, the median salary for chief learning officers was approximately $152,700, with a salary range between $97,000 and $207,000, meaning the vast majority of CLOs earned six figures. Companies need C-suite officers they can trust who are well-versed in modern educational practices.
Education Policy Analyst
Using the knowledge gained in an Ed.D. program to become an education policy analyst is a way to impart change on modern learning at the highest levels. Whether you’re working directly for a government agency or employed by a third-party group or a school, policy matters bring you close to the decisions shaping the educational landscape.
Payscale indicates policy analysts should have a strong understanding of the processes of government, as well as their field of choice. In the case of education, this means knowing how different jurisdictions control educational policy and the impact of political considerations on educational norms. The median annual salary for policy analysts was approximately $61,000, per Payscale’s May 2022 data.
Is a Doctorate in Education the Right Path for You?
Enrolling in the online Ed.D. degree program at Bradley University is a way to update and deepen your knowledge of the inner workings of the educational field. The flexible digital learning model allows you to keep your current full-time position while you study.
Whether your interest in education centers on the administration of colleges and universities, the application of learning in the corporate world, the creation of policies and law, or any other corner of the field, there are valid career paths to seek out. Earning a doctorate is a way to prove you have the background for one of these unique and engaging educational leadership roles.
Visit the program page to learn more about the online Ed.D.
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Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postsecondary Education Administrators