Best EdD in Curriculum & Instruction Degree Programs

Admission into an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program is a rigorous process. While the precise requirements vary from school to school, students interested in earning this degree might anticipate the following:

• Requests for previous transcripts
• High GPA requirements (3.0+)
• Meeting benchmark scores on the GRE, GMAT, or similar entrance exams
• Writing samples and/or entrance essays
• Portfolios or other practical demonstrations of proficiency in education work
• Professional references
• Master's degree in education or a closely related field

Due to the rigorous nature of admission requirements into EdD programs, potential applicants should take considerable care in preparing any requested materials, and thoroughly acquaint themselves with admissions policies and procedures for any program to which they choose to apply.

One requirement that separates the EdD from other doctoral programs is that many institutions ask that their EdD candidates have previous experience working in education. Candidates may even be required to maintain employment in the field of education while working toward their degree. These requirements are tied to the EdD's status as a professional degree and the fact that some institutions require students to complete practical/competency-based assessments and projects on their path to earning an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction. One ancillary effect of these employment requirements is that applicants may need to hold a valid teaching license and/or administrative license even if such licensure is not communicated as a direct requirement by the university to which they apply.

It is also common for EdD programs to ask that applicants either hold a master's degree in education or a closely related field. Sometimes schools will offer students the opportunity to earn a master's degree or even an Ed.S. degree on their path to completion of their doctoral requirements, though note that starting a doctoral program without first earning a master's degree may prolong your time in the program, and may also impact the overall cost of earning the degree.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDE) both evaluate the quality of accrediting bodies in the United States. Regional accreditation through a USDE or CHEA-approved accrediting organization signals that the school to which you apply has a high standard of quality and that the degree earned will hold credibility with employers. It is very important for prospective students to check their school's regional accreditation status before applying.

Additionally, prospective students will want to ensure that education-specific degree programs like the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP utilizes a set of standards specifically tailored to educator preparation programs and is approved by CHEA. CAEP standards have fully replaced NCATE and TEAC standards that were previously used to evaluate the quality of education programs. Degrees conferred by CAEP approved institutions are generally held in higher esteem by both academic institutions and potential employers.

The EdD is a rigorous degree that requires significant coursework and successful completion of either a doctoral capstone or dissertation. It is not uncommon for students in these programs to take one or two years of preparatory coursework, and then several more additional years in preparing their capstone/dissertation. Universities offer different timetables for how long it will take to earn a doctorate in education, with 3-5 years from entry into the program being a fairly common proposed timetable for completion. According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates (2019), the average time candidates spent earning their doctorates in education was 5.7 years from the time that they entered the doctoral program.

The EdD in Curriculum and Instruction includes a significant coursework component. Students can anticipate the need to take dozens of credit hours in coursework over one or more years while in the program. Coursework is targeted toward students' fields of concentration. Courses vary by institution but expect courses in instructional design, pedagogy, differentiation, curriculum assessment, professional development, and other related subjects.

Additionally, students should expect to take several research-based courses that teach advanced methods in qualitative and quantitative education. Both the doctoral capstone and dissertation are research-heavy projects, and doctoral candidates must have a good grasp of research methodologies in order to complete the research component of their degree with competency.

Preparing Your Curriculum & Instruction Dissertation

EdD programs may require either a dissertation or doctoral capstone. Both are intense, rigorous, research-based projects that start in earnest after the completion of your doctoral coursework. Some foundational work in either of these projects is likely to start at some time during the coursework component of your degree. Examples of preliminary work include choosing a research field/topic, choosing or being assigned faculty research mentors, and collecting academic literature pertinent to your topic.

The dissertation is a lengthy, academic research document. The dissertation topic chosen by the student should fill a gap in existing research. This means the research fills a niche that is otherwise not adequately addressed by existing research in the field.

The doctoral capstone resembles the dissertation in some ways but culminates in the creation of a deliverable report or plan that has practical implications in the field of education. Students who choose (or are otherwise required to do) this option may couple extensive research with the creation of a curriculum plan, professional development regime, or another practically applicable deliverable.

Universities may view curriculum and instruction as the primary or, rarely, the only area of concentration in their EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program, but it is common for students in an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction program to be asked to choose a further area of concentration and choose elective courses based on their concentration. Concentrations vary from university to university and are sometimes discipline-specific, such as art, music, or social studies education. At times the concentration may be more aligned with a grade level, such as middle school education or elementary education. Some popular concentrations are focused on a specific facet of curriculum instruction independent of grade level or subject area, such as instructional technologies or international education.

Instructional Technology

Instructional Technology is a concentration commonly found in curriculum and instruction-based EdD programs. The coursework offered for this concentration may focus on modern technologies used to create curriculum, the use of technology in education, or the role of technology in the growing field of online education. This concentration may be of interest to students interested in working with the technological tools that make education possible at all levels in an online or in-person setting. There is a tremendous amount of latitude in choosing what to study in regard to Instructional Technology, and the constant flow of new technologies into the education sector means that candidates for this concentration need to be adaptable and open to change.

Early Childhood and Elementary Education

An EdD in Curriculum and Instruction concentrating on Early Childhood and Elementary Education prepares students to better understand the changing world surrounding education spanning the Pre-K to late elementary years. As a result of the breadth of this particular concentration, there is considerable leeway to choose research topics and coursework that emphasizes different age groups. For example, students working under this concentration could focus their research on Pre-K, primary grades, or older elementary school students to help understand and establish best instructional practices in the field. This concentration demands that candidates understand the nature of human development in early life, as well as strategies to craft a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and adaptable based on new research.

Reading and Literacy

Students choosing a reading and literacy concentration should expect coursework tailored to improving reading skills through direct instruction, curriculum design, professional development for teachers, and research leading to the creation and support of best practices for the instruction of reading and literacy. Students interested in this concentration have a chance to learn about reading and literacy instruction in a broad context but also delve more deeply into current reading and literacy-based research used to support students from Pre-K - Adulthood. Other areas of emphasis may be reading instruction for people with learning disabilities, or strategies to help teachers and school districts better serve students for whom English is not their first language.

The EdD in Curriculum and Instruction is a terminal degree. It represents, alongside the PhD, the highest earnable degree level in the field. However, there are several other types of degrees in curriculum and instruction that serve as stepping stones on the path to a doctorate. It is not uncommon for some EdD programs to require students to have a background in education and hold at least one prerequisite degree in the field of education. Other types of degrees in curriculum and instruction include the associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and the Education Specialist (Ed.S.), as well as specialized graduate certificates.

Curriculum & Instruction Associate Degrees

Associate degrees are two-year degrees most commonly offered at community colleges. These degrees may serve as an intermediary degree for students who eventually want to work toward a bachelor's degree in the field of education, but can also be valuable assets for aspiring education workers that do not wish to teach, such as classroom aides or other paraprofessionals. It is not common for associate degrees to be offered specifically in curriculum and instruction, but the associate degree in education is nevertheless useful in working toward other degrees in the field.

Curriculum & Instruction Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree in education is the primary degree in the field of education. In all 50 states, the bachelor's degree is an accepted step in the process of earning teacher licensure, with most states overtly requiring a bachelor's degree at minimum to become a classroom teacher. Based on the content of the degree, a bachelor's degree in education may be a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree; both are accepted by teacher certification programs. It is rare for curriculum and instruction to be offered as a specific bachelor's degree in education, as the bachelor's in education tends to favor subject-specific content needed to earn licensure.

Curriculum & Instruction Master's Degrees

Whereas the bachelor's degree often caters to subject-specific needs directly linked to classroom instruction, master's degree programs offer students the opportunity to branch out and study a number of topics that are relevant to education that both builds upon and transcends the knowledge gained in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. These degrees require one or two years of graduate-level coursework and are often followed by a thesis or other research-based project. Unlike the associate's and bachelor's degrees, the master's degree in education is often offered specifically in the field of curriculum and instruction.

Curriculum & Instruction Education Specialist Degrees

The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is considered a terminal degree in the field of education, and like the master's degree, is widely offered with a concentration in curriculum and instruction. While the EdD, Ph.D., and Ed.S. are all terminal degrees, the Ed.S. can be considered as a degree that occupies a space between the master's degree and two available doctoral degrees in education. This degree is most often associated with coursework but stops short of the inclusion of a dissertation process or a capstone project as time-consuming and rigorous as those associated with doctoral degrees. Many universities that offer an Ed.S. degree in Curriculum and Instruction will allow students to earn the degree on route to earning their doctorate. Students earning the Ed.S. during their doctoral journey may qualify for jobs that they otherwise would not have been able to get, such as when job listings only call for a terminal degree rather than explicitly stating that a doctorate is necessary. Increasingly, students will find Ed.S. programs online.

Curriculum & Instruction Graduate Certificates

Curriculum and instruction graduate certificates are special certificates offered to students who complete a set number of course-hours in curriculum and instruction. Completing a graduate certificate program does not confer a degree, but is still useful because it demonstrates to employers and academic institutions that the recipient is well versed in the field of curriculum and instruction. One key advantage to earning a graduate certificate is that it can usually be completed in a very short time period, as most programs only require 12-15 credit hours.

Education is a growth field in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that between 2019 and 2029 there will be 441,000 new jobs in education in the United States. Many of these new jobs will pay at rates higher than the national average, and thousands will require a graduate degree at a minimum.

There are many careers available with an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction, though it is important to consider the high cost and time commitment needed to earn an EdD. For students who feel the trade-off between cost, time, and eventual curriculum and instruction career outcomes are worthwhile, the EdD opens up opportunities to work in the public or private sector and at all levels of education from Pre-K through adult and higher education. Some jobs available to EdD in Curriculum and Instruction degree holders might be curriculum specialists, instructional media designers, building-level administrators, regional/system-level administrators, or assessment specialists. An increasing number of these jobs, such as those evaluating data, engaging in research, or even building curriculums are increasingly being made available for remote workers.

Become an Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators may also be referred to as curriculum planners, curriculum specialists, instructional design specialists or curriculum designers. These experts in their field oversee curriculum plans and education standards for schools and school districts. Instructional coordinators may be tasked with writing, revising, or assessing the curriculum for schools or school districts. While they may work directly with a school, they are education workers without teaching responsibilities aside from providing professional development sessions as needed. As of 2020, the median salary for instructional coordinators is $66,970, and the BLS anticipates an above-average 6% job growth in this field between 2019 and 2029.

Become a Postsecondary Education Administrator

Postsecondary Education Administrators are administrators that work in higher education and manage the overall operations of the institution that employs them. Job responsibilities vary, but postsecondary administrators hired to oversee curriculum may be tasked with helping maintain accreditation standards, evaluating existing programs, or managing the curriculum reform or writing process. While jobs in this field are considerable time commitments and require taking on significant responsibilities, 2020 numbers from the BLS place the median income for postsecondary education administrators in a range falling between $90,000 and $101,000. While the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction is not a doctorate in education administration, it's still a degree that can qualify education professionals for a number of administrative roles.

Become a Post-Secondary Teacher of Education

People who gravitate toward education as a field may want to continue teaching even after they have earned their doctorate. While some jobs listed throughout this article are conducted outside the classroom, there are still options for people who want to earn a doctorate and then continue teaching. Teacher training programs employ education faculty with both Ph.D. and EdD degrees. Teaching at the post-secondary level offers the chance to stay in the classroom working with students while getting the most out of your education and expertise in the field. People in post-secondary teacher preparation programs may teach directly, assess teacher work, guide research, or oversee practical aspects of the teacher training program such as student teaching. According to the BLS's 2020 data, the median income for post-secondary educators was $80,790 per year.

People who specialize in curriculum and instruction are likely to cross paths with many different people in the education field. Professional organizations exist to help bring these people together for a variety of purposes.

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) is a professional organization dedicated to helping educators create effective curriculum. Membership rates start at $59.00 annually, and anyone in the education field can join to access the 15,000 resources hosted by the ASCD. Unlike other organizations in education, the ASCD does not emphasize only one subject area or grade level. Instead, the information provided by the ASCD is available to a wide variety of interested education professionals. These resources range from white papers to books and even professional development opportunities. Membership also includes benefits less directly tied to education in the form of various discounts on goods and services, including insurance discounts through popular insurance providers.

Doctoral programs in education require years of intensive, and often expensive, study. Graduate credit hours vary from school to school but generally range between $300 per credit hour to $900 per credit hour. An annual price tag of between $20,000 to $60,000 should be expected, though it's worth noting there are a great many factors influencing overall program costs, including the size of the school, geographic location, and whether the school is public or private.

The first step for students interested in earning their doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction should be filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Direct unsubsidized loans are not need-based and can be awarded in amounts up to $20,500. Direct PLUS Loans are also available to help cover the difference in costs between the actual cost of the program and what is awarded through direct unsubsidized loans but are subject to credit check requirements.

Fortunately, many schools have established financial aid assistance programs meant to help attract and retain students, which may include internal/departmental scholarships, or opportunities to work as research assistants or teaching assistants. Doctoral students may be offered employment at their university of choice to offset the costs of their program by decreasing or eliminating tuition costs. Some of these assistance programs even pay students to work! Doctoral students may find themselves conducting research, engaging in data collection or entry, editing academic publications, grading student work, or even teaching classes. It is important to determine what options are available at the school and program level before applying, as well as what qualifications are needed to obtain these competitive positions.