Most educators start their teaching careers with a bachelor’s degree in education. But completing an advanced degree, like a Doctor of Education (EdD) can take you out of the classroom and put you in a higher education leadership role in education. By advancing your education with this degree, many potential career paths in the education industry become available to you.
What Does an EdD Cover and How Does It Differ from a PhD?
A question many educators have when pursuing their career is should I pursue a PhD or a Doctor of Education Degree (EdD)? A common misconception is that both degrees have similar courses and career paths. However, the syllabus for each degree is very different from one another. A Doctor of Education degree equips you with more advanced skills and knowledge that you can apply to higher education leadership roles, while a PhD tends to be more research focused.
In an in-person or online Doctor of Education degree, the syllabus includes classes like Educational Leadership and Curriculum Instruction. These classes help to prepare educators to move on to higher education leadership roles. A PhD course syllabus consists of more research-specific classes such as PhD in Chemistry or PhD in psychology. These classes give students a deep and thorough knowledge of a specific topic through research-based studies.
Here Are 8 Careers in Education You Can Get with a Doctor of Education (EdD)
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School Principal
Becoming a school principal of an elementary, middle, or high school is one of the many careers you can have after receiving your Doctor of Education degree. A school principal oversees the everyday functions of the school, hiring staff, budget decisions, and enforcing disciplinary action when needed. Typically, a school principal’s salary ranges from $80,000-$120,000 a year depending on the level.
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Academic Dean
Academic Deans oversee specific departments within a university. For example, a Dean of Admissions or Dean of Advancement are both possible roles that a school may have. As an Academic Dean, you oversee the department which includes faculty and staff, budget, planning, and student development. According to Comparably, the average salary for an Academic Dean is around $88,000.
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College President
A College President develops a strategic plan and makes sure it is executed successfully throughout the year. They also lead fundraising for the school, present speeches, and work with faculty and staff to improve the school. The average salary for a College President is around $150,000, according to PayScale.
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Provost
Like a College President, a college or University Provost is also a higher education leadership role you can obtain with a Doctor of Education degree. The provost is typically second in charge, after the College President, and assists them in their responsibilities. The average yearly salary of a Provost is $124,000 to $190,000.
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School District Superintendent
A School District Superintendent oversees the entire district of a school. A district is typically made up of an elementary, middle, and high school. The Superintendent is responsible for overseeing the district budget, faculty and staffing, goals, and planning. Find the average salary for School District Superintendent’s by state.
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Curriculum Specialist
A Curriculum Specialist creates academic curriculum for schools for teachers to follow and educate their students. They also analyze student performance within the curriculum to address any problems and adjust and improve for the future. Learn more about how to become a curriculum specialist and the average salary for the position.
With a Doctor of Education degree, you don’t need to remain within the academic sector. You can move into the corporate, non-profit or government sectors, with jobs such as:
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Corporate Trainer
Corporate Trainers are typically part of larger companies and organizations. Their main responsibility is to educate their employees on company policies and goals. They work within the Human Resources department and perform tasks like leading training sessions, implementing new learning programs, and new hire training. Learn more about the role of a Corporate Trainer within the workforce.
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Education Policy Analyst
Education Policy Analysts are commonly associated with working in a school system. However, you can work as an Education Policy Analyst within the government or non-profit sectors as well. An Education Policy Analyst research education policies, analyzes the effects, and reports data to their organization. Learn more about the different potential career opportunities you can have as an Education Policy Analyst.
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Director of Education
A Director of Education oversees all daily logistics and makes decisions with input from the Board of Directors. Common tasks for the Director of Education are hiring staff, overseeing the budget, and monitoring any volunteers. Learn more about the types of companies and organizations that typically have a Director of Education role.
