Best Doctoral Degrees in Education

Universities across the U.S. have different requirements for entry into a doctoral program in education. Potential doctoral students should anticipate the following requirements:

• Undergraduate and graduate GPA requirements
• Undergraduate and/or graduate-level degrees in the field of education (or closely related field)
• GRE or GMAT graduate admissions tests

Entry into a doctoral program is often predicated on a candidate's demonstrated level of academic achievement, as well as the relevance of their past experience to the field of education. Potential doctoral students should expect programs to hold high standards for entry and should take great care in preparing any requested documents including the program application, required writing samples, research/practice portfolios, and other documentation asked for by the program.

In addition to rigorous academic standards, universities may require students to have career experience in education. Some universities require candidates in doctoral programs for education leadership to have prior experience or currently hold a job in school administration, for example. While not all doctoral programs in education require prior experience in education, it's important to carefully review admission requirements to programs on an individual basis. Even when a program doesn't require an education background, the program may require a master's degree in a related field, or ask candidates to earn a master's degree in education as part of their path to a doctoral degree. Students without these prerequisites may find their doctoral journey to be longer and therefore more costly.

As with any college or university program, accreditation is an important consideration for potential students. Potential doctoral students in the field of education must take into consideration both regional and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly NCATE and TEAC) accreditation for their program.

Regional accreditation bodies evaluate colleges and universities to ensure that those schools are providing an education of sufficient quality. This is important because it provides validity to the degrees awarded by these institutions, and sends a message to other schools and potential employers that the degree earned is of value.

Some degree programs, such as those in the field of education, also have specialized professional accreditation that further bolsters the degree's value. Regional accreditation in a degree program may not be enough to satisfy questions about a program's quality, so it is very important for potential students to check the CAEP status of the program for which they intend to apply. The CAEP stamp of approval lets schools and potential employers know that the degree earned is tailored to the needs of education professionals.

Earning a doctorate in education is a monumental undertaking. Doctoral programs may tell students to expect to spend 3-5 years in pursuing their doctorate depending on their program's requirements and whether the student attends full time or part-time. According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates, though, the average completion of a doctorate in education takes just under 6 years, with the caveat that this data purposefully includes the master's degree in this timeline if it was earned at the same institution where the candidate earned their doctorate. In keeping with that data, it's important to note that some universities allow students to earn a master's degree while working toward their doctorate, shortening the time needed to finish the program.

Other considerations, particularly for the Ed.D. option, include practical experience that may be required by a program. Doctoral work in leadership or administration, for example, may require students to log observation or practicum hours. Some doctoral programs limit the amount of time students may work toward their doctorates, but will often grant extensions if the student can show compelling evidence that their research remains relevant and they are making progress.

Doctoral coursework usually consists of education courses tailored to the concentration a student has chosen and incorporates courses intended to help students learn qualitative and quantitative research methods. Education coursework not focused on research may touch on curriculum and instruction, assessment, special education, higher education, education policy, leadership/administration in education, and special topical courses tackling current problems in education. This coursework is meant to develop students' knowledge in the field and prepare them for the doctoral capstone or dissertation process.

Ph.D. programs in education generally require a dissertation, a lengthy research-based document that helps fill a gap in current academic literature. The dissertation process is often considered to be the most difficult part of obtaining a doctoral degree in education, and this process alone can take years of independent work (in conjunction with university faculty) to complete.

The other option, which is found more commonly in Ed.D. programs, is the doctoral capstone. The capstone also represents a lengthy research project, but with an emphasis on practical application. In addition to the more traditional research components of the paper, a doctoral capstone will require students to craft a deliverable component, such as a professional development training plan, curriculum reform plan, or another document that has real-world applications meant to improve the practice of education.

Preparing Your Education Dissertation

The dissertation process comes at the end of the coursework component, but preparation often begins earlier in the doctoral program. During coursework students will be encouraged to track research trends that interest them, and look out for gaps in the research that could be filled with a novel study. Many schools encourage students to begin working with program faculty to feel out research options and develop preliminary research topics and questions as they complete their coursework.

It is a good idea to enter the program with some general research ideas in mind. Students interested in a doctorate in education may want to attend a university where faculty are conducting research on topics similar to that which they are interested in so that they maximize faculty/student relationships, research assistant opportunities, and take advantage of available research resources.

Areas of concentration for Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs in education vary from school to school, but some are fairly common, such as curriculum and instruction, early childhood education, adult education, special education, or leadership in education.

Schools offer their own spin on these concentrations. For example, some might combine educational leadership and policy into a single concentration. Some schools branch out to offer even more specialized doctoral concentrations, such as a doctorate in music education, mathematics education, or social studies education. These programs often have different admission requirements catering to their highly specialized nature.

Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction is a common concentration, and one that emphasizes coursework that studies the classroom environment, how students learn, and the nature of curriculum planning. Students choosing Curriculum and Instruction will follow trends in education, study pedagogical techniques, and examine the theoretical foundations of historical and modern education systems. Coursework in this field sometimes takes a broad view of education and may involve coursework in international education. It is not uncommon for Curriculum and Instruction students to also study the sociological and psychological underpinnings of education, along with in-depth evaluations of key figures in the history of education. This concentration is a good choice for candidates interested in education as a process and understanding best practices for school systems, individual schools, and classrooms. Related concentrations include instructional design and instructional technology.

Education Leadership

Education Leadership concentrations may cover some of the same ground as Curriculum and Instruction programs, but deviate by emphasizing learning about the administrative aspect of the education experience. These programs are designed for people interested in working in administration, whether at the school building level or in middle or upper management positions within school districts. These programs will look at aspects of education that may be overlooked by other concentrations, such as budgeting, maintenance of school facilities, and the implementation of policy from state and local lawmakers. Students in these programs are more interested in how education works at a macro level than what happens in individual classrooms.

Special Education

Special Education concentrations blend aspects of Education Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction by taking a broad look at education as it concerns special needs students. Students studying special education while pursuing their doctoral degree will learn about pedagogy, curriculum, and best practices for teachers, schools, and classrooms, but will also study education policy relating to special education in considerable depth. Policy considerations at the federal and state levels inform how schools must service their special needs students. Students in these programs may look at policy comparatively across state lines but may choose to focus more intently on specific state policies or practices regarding special education in the dissertation/capstone portion of their doctoral experience.

In addition to doctoral degrees in education, there are several other types of degrees in education that students may choose to pursue. Some doctoral programs may even require students to have a background in education, and earning a bachelor's degree or master's degree in education is a common step in earning and/or maintaining teaching licensure. Degrees in education include the associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, and the Education Specialist (Ed.S.), as well as specialized graduate certificates.

Education Associate Degrees

Education associate degrees are two-year degrees offered by both community and four-year colleges that are meant to prepare people for work in the field of education. These degrees do not lead to licensure, but may be an important step in obtaining licensure. Associate degrees may be an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science. In many cases, these degrees represent a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree in education, but can also be used by parties interested in working in schools in a non-teacher role, such as classroom aides or other paraprofessionals.

Education Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees in education are usually available as either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS). Whether these degrees get the BA or BS designation is sometimes associated with content, with the BA being more closely associated with humanities and social sciences, whereas the BS is more likely to be found among the hard sciences, math, and more technically involved programs like music education. Both the BA and BS can be used to obtain certification to teach in all 50 states. For this reason, a bachelor's in education could be considered the primary degree for prospective educators and administrators, as many administrative jobs require applicants to hold a teaching license.

Education Master's Degrees

Master's degrees in education may be a Master of Education, the Master of Arts in Teaching or a Master of Science in Education. What these degrees are called is decided largely based on the preferences of the institutions awarding them, as well as the content of the degrees (similar to that of bachelor's degrees in education). Most states do not require a master's degree to receive or maintain certification. However, many states do allow teachers who earn a master's degree to earn supplemental pay according to their degree level. This means that the master's degree may be beneficial for classroom teachers or administrators looking to permanently boost their salaries. Additionally, master's degrees may help pad an applicant's resume when applying for jobs in the education field. Some jobs in education, particularly those in administration, can require at least a master's degree.

Education Specialist Degrees

The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is a professional degree resting firmly between the master's degree and doctoral degree. The Ed.S. may be earned on the path to a doctorate at some institutions, but as a degree, it is meant to provide additional coursework and training for education professionals that elevates their level of expertise. These degrees are considered a terminal degree in the field but do not require a dissertation or doctoral capstone. The Education Specialist Degree can be earned through coursework, though there may be practical or research requirements depending on the institution offering the degree. While the Ed.S. may help recipients qualify for certain jobs in the field of education and make them more competitive in the workforce, it is not always viewed similarly to a doctoral degree by potential employers and most of the time cannot be used in lieu of a doctorate to obtain employment that requires a doctoral degree for consideration.

Education Graduate Certificates

Education graduate certificates are certificates acknowledging that the recipient has completed additional coursework in a specified field. These certificates vary in content, but each program will have a particular focus, such as special education or reading specialization. These certificates can be used to demonstrate knowledge in a field when applying for employment, or in some instances to aid in attaining additional teaching certifications (when a teaching certificate in a field is already held). Earning these certificates is usually based solely on coursework and certificate programs do not generally require a practical or research component.

Education is typically an area of consistent growth in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shifts in population are spurring an uptick in the number of available jobs in the field of education. The BLS suggests that, between 2019 and 2029, 441,000 new jobs in education will become available in the United States. Tens of thousands of these jobs will require a graduate degree and are slated to be high paying education jobs that exceed the average national per capita income in the United States.

There are many careers available to recipients of a doctoral degree in education. Whether a doctorate in education is a good decision for any candidate should be based on the trade-off between cost of the program and career opportunity. Employment opportunities exist in the public and private K-12 school systems as well as in public and private higher education systems. Jobs available include, but are not limited to, classroom teachers, school administrators, district-level administrators, curriculum specialists, professors, and researchers.

It's also worth noting that jobs in education are increasingly shifting to an online environment, making it much easier to find work as an introvert in the field of education. One important thing to note about the doctoral degree in education is that it is often awarded to people who already have career-specific degrees that help qualify them for jobs in the field of teaching or as school administrators. Job candidates with a doctoral degree are sometimes better compensated for jobs in teaching or administration, but most often recipients of doctoral degrees work in education in roles outside the classroom.

Become a Curriculum Specialist

Curriculum specialists, also referred to as instructional specialists or curriculum developers, are highly trained educators that hold at least a master's degree in their field. Curriculum specialists may work at the school, district, county, or state level, or even for private schools or private education companies. Using research to maintain an understanding of best practices in education, these professionals help shape the curriculum by making decisions about content, recommended instructional strategies, and education materials for school systems. Curriculum specialists may be asked to create new curriculums or act within existing policies to modify or evaluate existing curriculums. While these jobs may exist outside the classroom they are a fundamentally important part of the modern education system, and are well compensated, with the median income for curriculum specialists according to the BLS being $66,970, as of 2020.

Become a School Principal

According to 2020 numbers from the BLS, the median income for school principals is $98,490, which comes in on the higher end for most education jobs and may help balance the high costs of a doctoral program with a significant return on investment. Requirements to become a principal vary, and while a doctorate is not required to become a building-level administrator, candidates with a doctoral degree have a distinctive advantage, especially if they have chosen an administration-centered concentration in their doctoral program. Principals are administrators over elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. They are responsible for overseeing classroom instruction, personnel matters, school safety, staff training, building maintenance, budgeting, curriculum implementation, student discipline, ensuring school adherence to policy, and virtually every other aspect of the day-to-day operations of a school building. These employees typically work year-round and are expected to be present during after-school hours and special events.

Become a Post-Secondary Administrator

Post-secondary administrators are similar in some ways to principals in that they oversee all administrative responsibilities for a college or university. The same array of responsibilities are covered under this job title, including budgeting, personnel matters, school safety, building maintenance, and virtually all over tasks covered by principals at the K-12 level. What differs is that post-secondary administrators are also tasked with overseeing research conducted at the college or university, and understanding the nuance of higher education policy. Colleges range in size from small rural schools to larger research institutions with significant student populations, meaning that employment as a post-secondary administrator may involve a level of scale that would seem foreign to a building-level administrator in a K-12 school. Compensation is similar to building-level principals, with a median income coming in at $97,500, as of 2020.

There are a number of professional organizations dedicated to serving people who choose education as their career. Professional organizations are specialized groups that cater to the interests of people in a specific field or profession. There are usually membership requirements, and these organizations can offer helpful benefits to people that wish to join them, as well as opportunities for interaction and networking with other professionals in the specified field.

One of the largest education professional organizations is the National Education Association (NEA). The NEA is the country's largest labor union and is dedicated to both education workers' rights and social justice within schools. The organization's yearly Representative Assembly brings together thousands of education employees, chosen by local affiliates of the NEA, to democratically decide the NEA's goals and agenda for the upcoming year, giving educators a legitimate voice in the direction of the association.

Education professionals including administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, school service workers (custodians, cooks, bus drivers, etc.) and college faculty and staff can join the NEA by contacting local affiliates. Retirees are also permitted to retain membership and be active in NEA meetings and activities. Monthly dues, which vary from state to state, are required by members. Benefits for joining the NEA include everything from educator discounts on goods and services to legal protection in civil and criminal work-related court cases.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is another large labor union dedicated to education professionals and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Similar to the NEA, AFT hosts a yearly meeting that includes both elected union officials and delegates appointed within local chapters of the organization. The AFT is an active labor union that fights for educators' rights and better conditions in schools, and also provides legal services and labor dispute representation to members. Joining the AFT occurs through local or state affiliates, or in some cases joining directly at the national level if local sign-up is not available. Membership can cost between $70 and $132 per year, and those price tags come with different perks and protections. The $132 associate membership comes with generous funding for work-related civil and criminal litigation. Education workers in K-12 schools are eligible to join, as are college faculty and even hospital and government workers.

We won't sugarcoat it - doctoral programs are very expensive. Graduate credit hours range from a few hundred dollars per credit hour to $800-900 per credit hour. Course requirements for doctoral programs require multiple years of coursework. While it's difficult to nail down precise costs due to the significant difference in school costs based on geography and a school's status or size, students can expect to pay anywhere between $20,000 to $60,000 per year during their time as doctoral students. Programs could cost more or less depending on a multitude of factors, so it's important to shop around. Fortunately, there are a number of options available to help mitigate costs.

Students wishing to obtain loans through the federal government will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Unlike undergraduate programs where federal grants are readily available, graduate students can expect the most reliable form of federal aid to come in the form of loans. Direct unsubsidized loans, which are not needs-based, can be awarded to cover up to $20,500 of yearly graduate costs, while Direct PLUS Loans are also available to help cover the difference in costs. It is important to note that Direct PLUS Loans are subject to a credit check requirement.

Due to the highly specialized nature of graduate work and the high quality of students admitted into doctoral programs, many schools have programs meant to help students with the costs of their degrees. These programs may include internal/departmental scholarships, or opportunities to work as research assistants or teaching assistants.

Faculty working with doctoral students at many schools are active researchers. The burden of research work is sometimes shifted to doctoral students in exchange for tuition breaks, payment, or some combination thereof. These opportunities are competitive and may be awarded to promising new students or to students who have proven themselves during their time with their program.

Research assistants may collect data, do data entry, create and process surveys, or help design and implement experiments, among any number of other tasks. Teaching assistants may be less active in research, but help faculty by teaching or proctoring courses. Responsibilities may include leading classroom discussion and lecture, making presentations, grading student work, or other teaching-related responsibilities. It is important to check school websites for information about these opportunities and to bring them up when making contact with school faculty or recruiters to find out what options are available in a given program.