Best Online Doctorate in Educational Technology Programs

With an online doctorate in educational technology, graduates will not only gain advanced technical knowledge but be prepared for employment in a leading position, such as an instructional design specialist, instructional medial developer, or training and development manager in k-12 education, postsecondary education, or corporate companies. According to Payscale.com, the average base salary for instructional designers is $64,127 and for training and development managers the average is $77,635. Furthermore, the employment of these occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average. The U.S. Bureau of Labors Statistics (BLS) reports that the employment of instructional coordinators will grow by 6% and training and development managers by 7% from 2019-2029. Completing an online doctoral degree program in educational technology can allow you to pursue these career paths with a more flexible format than traditional campus-based programs .

Required admissions documents for an online doctorate degree in educational technology vary depending on a school and its program, but most institutions require prospective students to have a completed master's degree in education or a similar field from an accredited institution. Other admissions documents include a statement of purpose, 2-3 recommendation letters, and standardized test scores, such as the GRE or GMAT and TOEFL for international students. However, due to pandemic concerns, many programs have waived the requirement for GRE scores for 2021-2022 admission. Some programs require additional supporting documents, such as academic transcripts, a certain grade point average, writing samples (e.g. a research paper, essay, or a report), and an interview.

Typically, an educational technology program starts with courses to develop foundational knowledge in education, technology, and research to prepare for a dissertational study, and this process will likely take at least two years to complete. While taking the foundational courses, students will outline their professional goals, specify the area of specialization, and choose a faculty member to work with on their dissertation. Depending on the program, students may be required to take a comprehensive or qualifying exam prior to beginning a dissertational study.

A class size is relatively small, which helps students get to know their cohorts and faculty members. Students will work closely with a faculty member on their dissertational research. The cost of a credit hour is around $474-$550 (for residents and non-residents, respectively), which would amount to up to $49,500 for a 90-credit program. Scholarships and financial aid are available in most programs, which can help alleviate much of the cost of a degree program. Unlike resident doctoral students, teaching assistantships are not available for online doctoral students.

For a full-time student, it will generally take at least 3 years to complete an online doctoral degree in educational technology program, similar to a doctoral degree in education program. It will take much longer for part-time students. Most programs are constituted of 60-90 credit hours to graduate, and some of the credits from previous graduate studies may transfer up to 30 credits.

In most online doctoral programs in educational technology, students will develop their foundational knowledge in instructional design and technology, online teaching, and research methodology. Students from educational or non-educational backgrounds will be able to scaffold and advance their knowledge in pedagogy and instructional technology. While taking common courses, students can get to know their cohort and each faculty member of the program and decipher their desired area of specialization. While taking some research methodology courses, students then start creating a roadmap for their dissertation. Typically, students spend 9-12 credit hours on their dissertational study. In addition to common courses, most programs require students to take electives in order to meet the graduation requirements.

Application of Instructional Design

Instructional design courses teach students how to create effective instructional materials and delivery of the subject to specific groups of people by assessing the materials, technological tools, and learning processes and outcomes. Students in this course will likely work on a specific case to assess learning needs and then formulate teaching strategies and design instructional materials tailored to the specific audience.

Instructional Technology

Similar to an instructional design course, students in an instructional technology course will learn about types of technologies and tools that will enhance the quality of instruction and delivery. Supported by theoretical knowledge in communication, media design, and instructional studies, students taking this course will engage in the application of theories and gain hands-on experience in various tools and technologies.

Introduction to Online Teaching

Students taking this course will typically learn about pedagogical theory and methods tailored to online instruction and management of an online learning environment. Students will be introduced to unique issues involved in online learning and will discuss strategic approaches and strategies to facilitate online teaching.

Research Methodology

A research methodology course will prepare students for their dissertation. Typically, in this course, students will be introduced to various research methods, designs, data collection, and analysis that will help them start creating a framework for their dissertational research. This course will also cover technical writing, such as an Institutional Research Board (IRB) review for students conducting human-subject research.

There are similar overlaps between software engineering programs, doctoral programs in education, and doctoral programs in instructional design and technology. In fact, educational technology is often already a specialized discipline within broader doctoral programs, such as an Ed.D. in Leadership with an educational technology emphasis. However, some educational technology programs do offer specializations, such as in STEM, primary and secondary education, language learning, special education or literacy studies. Generally, a specialized area of study helps students decide on or narrow down a topic for their dissertation, get to know faculty members with a similar research interest, and assist the students to become an expert in the subject after completion of the program.

In the admission application or in the beginning of the program, students are often asked to state their idea for a dissertation topic in the statement of purpose or specify while taking the foundational courses. Typically, after completing research methodology courses, students then choose a faculty member who has a similar research interest to guide them through the dissertation process. A faculty member who will advise dissertational students is usually a full-time professor and has experiences in online teaching and research in online education and instructional technology. Under the guidance of the faculty member, students will complete an Institutional Review Board (IRB), conduct their research, and then write their dissertation. Usually, there will be an exam and dissertation defense at the end of the program, and this whole process will take at least three years for full-time students.

Dissertation research topics in the realm of educational technology often deal with an integration of a specific technology into instruction and assess its effectiveness on students' learning. Another possible area of research might be the management of educational technology to provide a solution to existing problems. Graduates of this degree program recommend that prospective students start reading dissertations and published articles to generate ideas for their own dissertation. Most programs showcase graduates' dissertation topics on the department website so that prospective students can get an idea of the type of topics being studied within the program.

When choosing an online doctorate program in educational technology, you should consider the following key factors to determine which program is the right for you: the delivery structure of the program, cost, and research interests.

The delivery structure of the program plays a significant role in deciding which program will work the best for your schedule. There are several structures in online educational technology programs: 100 % online, mostly online but with some campus visit requirements, and hybrid, which means a mixture of physical and online attendance will be required during the course of the program. For students working fulltime or living in a different state, hybrid programs may not be the ideal structure.

Prospective students should determine their budget prior to applying to any programs. Most schools offer financial assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and scholarships, but scholarships tend to be highly competitive and limited in terms of the applicant's eligibility. Even though online programs allow students to enroll in programs from out-of-state, choosing an in-state program for lower tuition costs may be another important factor to consider.

Lastly, looking into faculty members' profiles, research interests, and publications will help students decide which program is the right fit for them. Typically, students seeking a doctoral degree have a specific research interest or area of study in mind, and many students choose a program based on faculty members who have a similar research interest or publication. Most programs list faculty and their contact information on their website so that students can reach out to faculty members and discuss their research interest with them.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a school is accreditation. Accreditation means that the quality of education is overseen by third-party agencies, which comes with a variety of benefits: financial aid assistance, the ability to transfer credits between accredited institutions, and well-supported and funded resources for students. Moreover, especially when certification or licensing is involved, related job positions usually require a degree from an accredited institution. Students can check the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to see if the program or institution they're interested in is accredited or not.

Since this doctoral degree in educational technology is much more specialized in academic settings, graduates often seek employment in K-12, higher education, and corporations affiliated with academic industries. Some of the career paths that graduates of an educational technology degree program may pursue include instructional coordinators or curriculum specialists, training and development specialists, college professors, or primary school principals.

Instructional Coordinators/Curriculum Specialists

Instructional coordinators, or curriculum specialists, work in an educational setting to design, deliver, and assess instructional materials and their effectiveness in learning. They oversee school curriculums and teaching standards and often provide workshops or teacher training to better the quality of education. Due to the rapid change in education and need for technology-assisted instruction, instructional designers for E-learning programs are especially in high-demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labors Statistics (BLS) reports that this occupation is projected to grow 6% from 2019-2029, and the median annual wage is $66,970 as of 2020.

Training and Development Specialists

Graduates with a doctoral degree in educational technology can seek employment as training and development specialists, who design and facilitate training for their clients to improve their skills and knowledge. To become a training and development specialist, relevant work experience is as important as the degree. According to the BLS, number of jobs within this occupation should increase by 9% from 2019-2029, which is much faster than the average. The median annual wage for this occupation is $62,700 as of 2020.

College Professors

A common exit opportunity after finishing a doctoral degree in educational technology is to teach at the postsecondary level. College professors not only develop curriculums and teach courses in their subject area, but they also serve academic and administrative committees that will ultimately shape the vision and structure of the school. The projected growth of this occupation is 9% from 2019-2029, and the median annual wage was $80,790 in 2020, according to the BLS.

Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

With a doctoral degree in educational technology, graduates can also lead an elementary, middle, or high school as a principal who oversees staff and operates school programs and activities. Similar to instructional coordinators, a school principal also executes the evaluation of curriculums and standards to improve the quality of education. The BLS predicts that this occupation will grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029, which is not as fast as other occupations, but the reported median annual wage is $98,490, which is much higher than other occupations.

Most doctoral programs have financial support systems in the form of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or scholarships. Typically, students seeking financial assistance start with filing an application at the Federal Student Aid website. Some universities have a variety of scholarships or grants, and applicants should have a strong academic background and a good grade point average (often 3.0 and higher) to be considered as a strong candidate. Scholarships most likely have additional eligibility requirements for applicants. For example, the Clarence Jayne Memorial Scholarship for doctoral students in the Learning, Design & Technology Program at the University of Wyoming asks a granted student to be from a low-income family and to be abstinent from tobacco and alcohol use. In order to apply for a scholarship, applicants usually submit an essay and CV or resume along with the application form.