It’s easy to look at a list of doctorate in education (Ed.D) degree programs and feel overwhelmed. After all, there are so many different career paths that you could take after graduating with your Dr.Ed, and many of them seem equally appealing. In 2020-21, 13,655 students earned a doctoral degree in education.
But you don’t have to choose just one. In fact, having different career options is the whole point. By pursuing an advanced degree in education, you’ll learn about how schools work and what makes students succeed, which can be applied anywhere from teaching at a high school to leading a non-profit organization or working as an administrator at a college or university.
How to Get a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) Degree
A Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) is a professional doctorate awarded to those who have completed a dissertation and coursework at the doctoral level. Ed.D programs are available in many fields, including education administration and supervision, curriculum development, school leadership, etc.
The great thing about Ed.D programs is that they’re offered by universities nationwide, including some online options, so there’s no excuse not to get started on yours today. The online doctorate programs can be helpful as you don’t have to work around your schedule for this.
There are many options; you can select any online doctorate in higher education program after comparing their educational materials, reviews, schedule, etc. Comparing the different programs thoroughly will enable you to choose the right one for your needs.
Career Options for Ed.D Graduates
Here are the most common career options available for Ed.D Graduates.
Secondary School Teacher
A secondary school teacher is a person who teaches in a secondary school. Secondary school teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree, and most often, they must also earn certification through their state’s Department of Education or Board of Education. They may teach any subject they wish, but they usually specialize in one or two specific subjects.
Teachers’ jobs vary depending on the grade level they teach. For instance, KG teachers will work with very small students, and primary and secondary school teachers will have to work with adolescents. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for KG and elementary school teachers is increasing at the rate of 4% till 2031.
College Professor
College professors are scholars who teach at colleges and universities. They are responsible for ensuring that students learn the material they need to know and helping them develop critical thinking skills and a love of learning. College professors’ three main areas of responsibility are teaching, research, and service.
Teaching is an essential part of being a college professor because it’s what you’re paid to do and how you get a promotion. Research is also very important because it helps you become more knowledgeable about your field to teach better classes.
This type of work also often leads to publications in journals or books that make other people want to come to hear your lectures about those things later on down the road when they come back as alumni visiting their alma mater after graduating from college themselves. Plus, if nobody reads anything written by me, then there wouldn’t be any reason why anyone would ever want me around here anyways.
Finally, there’s service which means organizing events related specifically to helping out other members of our community through volunteering time away from home while still maintaining the high standards expected within society today.
Higher Education Administrator
A higher education administrator manages and operates a college or university. This includes overseeing the daily operations, hiring faculty and staff members, developing curriculum and courses, and managing finances and resources.
This is a crucial role you can play as it will impact the educational level of our future generations. Rockhurst University states that higher education administrators can shape the future as education innovators and become a leader in society. Moreover, the salary is also quite lucrative, around $96,910 annually as per 2021 figures.
Higher education administrator job duties
- Planning: Developing long-term goals for their school, including hiring new faculty members based on student demand
- Operations: Managing day-to-day activities, such as ensuring that students receive proper instruction from instructors who are qualified to teach them.
Community College Director
Community college directors are responsible for the overall management of their colleges. They oversee all aspects of their institutions, including recruiting new faculty members and ensuring they have the resources to teach at their best.
Directors also work closely with other community college directors in their state to ensure that students can easily transfer between schools if needed, which is especially important given how competitive admission rates are within this higher education sector.
Education Program Evaluator
As a program evaluator, you’ll be responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs. This can include assessing whether students are learning what they need to know or if teachers are following curriculum guidelines. You may also evaluate the effectiveness of school districts and policies by looking at student test scores, graduation rates, and other statistics related to academic performance.
You may work with teachers during their training programs to determine whether they have acquired the skills needed for success in the classroom. Evaluators also study research articles written by researchers specializing in education studies. This helps them determine how effective certain teaching methods are when applied on a large scale.
Education Coordinator in NGOs
Coordinating the implementation of education programs is a critical job requiring patience and hard work. You must coordinate with government officials, NGOs, and community leaders to ensure your educational program is implemented successfully.
You will also need to work closely with teachers and students on the ground to ensure they understand how the program works, its goals, and how they can help achieve those goals.
You may also be required to research the effectiveness of your organization’s educational initiatives for them to make adjustments if needed. Also Read – How Pursuing Education Can Improve Your Life
Education Policy Advisor
Education policy advisors work in government agencies, state education departments, and national education organizations. They often have a doctorate in education.
Education policy advisors help to develop and implement education policies. They also monitor the effectiveness of these policies by analyzing data on student performance, school funding levels, and teacher salaries.
To be an effective educator, you must know how to create an effective lesson plan that meets the needs of every student in your class or classroom.
Conclusion
The education field is growing and exciting, with many opportunities for people with doctorate degrees in education. The best thing to do is talk to your advisor about what kind of work you want and what kinds of jobs might be available. Then start networking with people who can help you find an entry point into that world.
