With an average of 857,600 job openings per year projected until at least 2032 in the field of educational instruction and library occupations, the field of education is bursting at the seams with opportunities for rewarding and fulfilling careers.
Graduates of Doctorate of Education degree programs obtain personally and financially satisfying positions both in and outside the classroom, including roles in research, leadership, and educational practice.
And before you assume there’s no money in education, elementary, middle, and high school principals make a median annual salary of $101,320, with the highest ten percent earning more than $158,770. Educational leadership positions can offer top-level financial stability.
To obtain these roles and salaries, candidates have years of study that come before — often turning to a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D), developing advanced skills in educational leadership, research and analysis, international education, dissertations, and more.
Today’s article will cover what students will learn throughout a Doctorate of Education degree program and what Doctorate of Education courses they can expect to take.
What is a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.)?
An Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a terminal degree that prepares candidates for academic and administrative roles in K-12 and higher education institutions.
These programs provide the tools and experience they need to become influential and visionary leaders, policymakers, and educational researchers who improve practices and develop new research. Graduates with Doctorate of Education degrees go on to establish schools, identify and fix problems, and keep school faculty motivated and on track.
Luckily, for busy professionals, colleges and universities often offer in-person, online, and hybrid programs to allow maximum flexibility and accommodate students’ specific needs and schedules.
For example, at University of Bridgeport, we offer a 62-credit, 66-credit, or 42-credit hybrid online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership with the following admission requirements:
- Application
- Official transcripts for the last degree earned
- Two letters of recommendation, one from a colleague and one from a supervisor
- Personal statement
- Writing sample
- Resume
- Official TOEFL scores for non-native speakers
- 62- and 66-credit options
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 42-credit option
- Certificate of advanced studies, education specialist (Ed.S.), or a sixth-year degree
Doctorates of Education typically take anywhere from two and a half to four years to complete, depending on the format, program requirements, and whether a student is enrolled full- or part-time.
Programs like this offer students the ability to complete their degree in as little as three years with all of their classes online, except for two one-week doctoral residences during the first two summers in the program.
Did you know that UB had the first Doctorate of Education program in CT? Learn more today!
What Doctorate of Education classes do I take?
Through their Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) classes and curriculum, students develop the skills and training needed to conduct research, write grants, evaluate educational programs, design and implement educational policy, and navigate the complexities of modern-day education systems.
Principles of Educational Leadership
This course involves an investigation of concepts, research findings, and practices focusing on the development and change of educational organizations in relation to relevant goals and objectives. Students learn about leadership theory and behavior, organizational climate, human relations and communications, and change strategies.
Organizational Theories, Management, and Behavior
Students are introduced to the theories and research used in the leadership of educational organizations. This Doctorate of Education course offers a historical overview of, and perspectives on, several organizational theories and ends with students defining and defending a personal philosophy of organizational leadership.
Curriculum Theory and Program Development and Design
Consisting of three to six credits, Curriculum Theory and Program Development provides both a historical overview of curricula theory and the current research and practice used today. Additionally, a particular emphasis is placed on understanding how social, cultural, and political circumstances shape educational thought, allowing them to impact different schools, organizations, and communities positively.
Students also gain understanding and knowledge through:
- Concept-based professional development goals and objectives
- Needs assessment
- Implementation strategies
- Evaluation techniques for conducting professional development initiatives that will improve organizations and personnel
Cognitive Development and Qualitative Research
In these courses, particular attention is given to interpretive, critical, and participatory research techniques, methodologies, and methods that can be used for their careers as school principals, admissions directors, curriculum specialists, and public policy consultants.
Students are introduced to semi-structured and open-ended interview questions, ways to record and analyze interviews, and how to use field notes when collecting observation data, as well as gain an understanding of the ramifications of purposeful sampling, forms of credibility, and other ethical dimensions.
Data Analysis Techniques
Today’s educational leaders must be able to perform, analyze, and critically interpret statistics, hence why many Educational Leadership Doctoral (Ed.D) programs offer courses in quantitative research to give doctoral students a fundamental understanding of the quantitative research methodology.
This understanding also enables students to describe, interpret, critique, and use descriptive and inferential statistics in their dissertation research and future careers.
Research Design and Implementation
To advance their research skills, students must have an in-depth understanding of research methodology and evaluation techniques to conduct qualitative, quantitative, action, and multi-method studies focused on leadership in the areas of curriculum design, teaching, and learning.
Research design and implementation courses, like Introduction to Research in Doctorate of Education online programs, introduce these fundamentals in leadership, curricula, program evaluation, teaching, and assessment.
As seen by the in-depth and varied courses, a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is a highly versatile degree that will develop the skills professionals need to positively impact their chosen field, whether in K-12 school administration or corporate leadership.
Take the next step in your educational leadership journey by earning a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) at University of Bridgeport, where you also have the option to pursue a 092 certification. Plus, you’ll be collaborating and communicating with expert faculty and peers from all over the world.