You are an educator and thinking about getting a doctorate degree but cannot decide which is the better option for you, EdD or Phd. In this post, I will break down the biggest differences between the two and why I decided to pursue a PhD.
What is an EdD?
An EdD, a doctorate in education, a professional degree often designed for practitioners, or individuals who will be working within schools and organizations that want to produce and implement educational change. According to Northeastern University, an EdD can yield careers such as educational administrators or top-level executives. In other words, you can be making good coins!
What is a PhD?
A Doctorate of Philosophy in Education is another option to consider. This is a terminal degree for individuals who want to be in academia. In layman terms, that is being a professor, researcher, or, in more modern times, public intellectual (think Roxane Gay or Brittney Cooper).
How the two degrees are similar yet different?
An EdD is more practitioner based
Individuals who currently work and want to continue working in PK-12 get an EdD. If you are currently considering topics that you will study, and they may involve that population, an EdD is something to consider. Additionally, consider what you will do following the degree. If you want to continue working in PK-12, an EdD is probably your better option.
PhD is research based
If you find joy in reading, writing, statistics, interviewing, and reporting, a PhD might just be for you! PhDs are for the persons who want to continue pushing practice forward through research. After all the reading and writing that you will do to obtain a PhD, you will be crowned an expert in the field.
Time, time, time
Time is the biggest difference between the two. Doctorate programs are fully-funded meaning they will essentially pay for you to be in their program but you will be expected to be a full-time student and teach. On the other hand, EdD programs are designed for working professionals and will, more than likely, work around typical schedules.
It is also possible to complete an EdD program in three years, whereas a PhD program is going to be 4 to 6 years.
You will be called a doctor regardless of the degree!
Why did I choose a PhD?
I applied to only a handful of programs that were all PhD programs because I knew that I did not want to be in PK-12 forever. I knew that I wanted to eventually get to higher education and continue research. EdD programs can be very flexible.
In my personal opinion, I believe that you make these degrees do what they need to do. Literally, what you put into it, you will get out of it. But the most important thing is to know what you want.
My PhD journey has not been an easy one, however I have been able to find my groove. It is a lot of writing, a lot of reading, and many years dedicated to one research project. I would not change it for the world. I can’t wait to reap ALL the benefits when I am PHinisheD.
