Online Ed.D programs offer the perfect chance for people working full-time in the Education Sector to bolster their credentials. A blend of online interactions mixed with real-world experiences makes for top-notch coursework that helps you hone your leadership and research skills.
What is Ed.D?
Ed.D stands for Doctor of Education. An Ed.D is a professional doctorate pursued by experienced, mid-to senior-level working as Educators. It is a degree best suited to imbibe leadership and organizational change skills.
People with an Ed.D work in several fields of education – from K-12 to higher education, and from non-profits to healthcare. It is a perfect degree designed for those who wish to transform complex, critical issues that plague their everyday environment.
Unlike a Ph.D. that focuses on research, Ed.D students learn to develop skills needed to resolve problems of practice.
Top Reasons to Pursue Ed.D
1. Gain organizational skills – Helps you take the wheel in any modern-day educational institution
2. Develop tools requisite for administrators – Apply digital literacy and collaborative learning, fix gaps in the system
3. Boost your resume – Further your career and land a job in public education, government, or private sector. Online Ed.D programs help gain specific skill sets and stand out from the rest.
4. Leverage Technology to Teach – Learn how to incorporate technology into the existing instructional framework and overcome classroom challenges in innovative ways.
5. Access Senior Leadership Positions – All the top executive and post-secondary posts in education that are elite and high paying are possible to apply for only with a doctorate.
Online Ed.D Programs Logistics
- Credits Required: 60-66 Credits
- Tuition Cost: Ranges from $350-$775 per credit; Total Cost is between $21,000-$55,000
- Additional Fees: Webinars, Online Conferences, Professional Certificates
Working a full-time job helps you earn your degree without sacrificing healthcare, or 401k savings. The cost of living or transportation is no longer an issue, plus you can avail of the financial incentives offered by many employers to help employers advance their education. Make sure your program qualifies for tuition reimbursement.
The three key features of online Ed.D programs are
1. Learn to Develop Strategies
Students and educators caught amidst tough educational environments are taught the skill sets required to tackle social and technological challenges. Administrators need to be able to question critical ideas and investigate the well-established perspectives. A safe space to discuss ideas and spearhead discussions helps foster nationwide conversations about justice & activism in the sphere of education.
Apart from guiding students along their area of interest, a doctorate will teach you how to keep pace with the changing social atmosphere in the nation’s campuses. The prime focus is on the tough decisions that lead to the better harnessing of the technological advancements that ease learning, combat the risks to security while capitalizing its potential, adjust to strained budgets, and review student interaction post new technology investments.
2. Dissertation
Dissertations or Thesis – empirical and non-empirical ones – are meant for the student to demonstrate skills required in defining and outlining the research.
Research helps one to fully comprehend pressing issues that affect higher education, investigate the nuances of said problems, and come up with a dissertation that sheds light on the topics close to you as an educator. A Doctoral Dissertation lets you explore solutions beyond the norm, that are relevant and effective – something that can be put to practice by you later on in real life.
3. Stay Competitive
A complex education environment demands you remain a competitive spirit and a Doctoral program helps just that – let educators face challenges across Universities, attract the strongest of student bodies ready to collaborate on every subject, while fostering an entire community equipped with the means to reach their fullest academic potential.
Students seek out programs that help them get hired later on. Thus, they prefer campuses that offer amenities and extracurricular activities that help mold their personality. It’s a tall order for you – the educator to cater to these needs and provide them with challenging academic material. A strong college community under your leadership will eventually translate to engaged students, good campus reputation, and a global alumni network excelling in their careers. All this and more is made possible through rigorous training methods during your Doctoral days.
The Online Advantage
The classroom experience gets overhauled in an online degree program – the key difference that exists between traditional and online Ed.D programs. All you shall need to immerse completely into the curriculum are a built-in camera in your computer/tablet device, a microphone with clear audio, and a strong wi-fi connection 24/7.
Most Americans have access to these basic technologies and that’s all that is needed for you to cover your online classroom needs. The elements of an online educational Doctoral Program that serve as its advantages are as follows:
- Virtual Classes
Instead of a brick-and-mortar classroom where you had to be present physically – a constraint for a working student in this day and age – you can now interact with teachers and classmates in real-time, take part in classes, and participate in discussions. - Learning Management System
The LMS is a centralized platform where from Doctoral students can access course materials, and homework while also getting notified of live sessions, forums, or message boards. - Interactive Course Content
Online classrooms are incorporating mixed media, videos, Qn’A segments – all to bring alive the coursework. - Tech Support
A strong Tech Support team available 24/7 helps students complete tech-dependant assignments on time and without glitches. - Mobile Access
The biggest benefit of an online program is the ability to tune into classes from anywhere, anytime via multiple devices and platforms. With everyone glued to their mobile screens today, it makes for a great investment to use the time for an online program
Challenges of Going Online with Ed.D
Despite offline components like live sessions meant to mimic traditional classrooms, offline components similar to homework, discussions, and in-class activities – there’s an absence in face-to-face networking.
Solution: Many programs are trying to bridge the human gap through on-campus immersions for students to network with each other & teachers at regular intervals, work on group projects.
Post-Doctoral Career and Earnings
The Top professions after passing online Ed.D programs are as follows:
- Education Administrator – Elementary & Secondary Schools
Median Salary: $97,640 - Chief Academic Officer
Median Salary: $104,980 - Instructional Coordinators
Median Salary: $64,450 - Superintendent
Median Salary: $116,180 - Associate Professor
Median Salary: $75,200 - Provost
Median Salary: $147,100 - Academic Dean
Median Salary: $90,330 - Training and Development Manager
Median Salary: $108,250 - Social & Community Service Managers
Median Salary: $70,530
Conclusion
Online classrooms maintain a small student-to-teacher ratio of each class size that ensures a more concentrated experience, with extra attention paid to each student. Professors can focus on each student’s capabilities better, & guide them while establishing sound relationships with their peers.
For more information on an easy-to-understand, comprehensive guide to online Ed.D programs, just reach out to us with all your queries.
