Advanced degrees in education can be beneficial for many reasons. After obtaining a master’s degree, more and more teachers are looking for a doctoral program to continue their educational journey and open doors to more career opportunities. Choosing the right program is critical in this journey to an advanced degree.
So, how should you go about narrowing down the best doctoral programs for you?
What Do Doctoral Programs in Education Focus On?
The focus of any doctorate program is to surround students with scholars and practitioners from their field. Students are then prepared academically for a career in K-12 or higher education either as an educator or an administrator. These programs will consist of classes on topics specific to the program focus and in-depth classes on statistics and research. The most significant amount of time and energy in a doctoral program will be focused on writing a dissertation.
This dissertation can take place over several months to a few years and will end with the defense of the research results to a board of professors considered experts in the field. This can be a very grueling process and intimidating to the point of discouragement to many. However, professors are often eager to help and invested in their students’ success. Teachers interested in becoming lead teachers, curriculum specialists, principals, instructional coaches, etc., would all need a doctoral degree to be qualified for such positions.
How Did COVID Impact Doctoral Programs?
The COVID pandemic certainly has impacted doctoral programs, both positively and negatively. First of all, it is essential to note that the educational crisis created by the pandemic has undoubtedly increased the overall need for doctoral degrees in education.
As districts all over the country deal with learning loss caused by school closures, more specialized programs have been specifically addressing those issues. These programs require teachers with advanced degrees to implement and oversee.
One negative effect COVID has had on doctoral programs is that empirical research has been hindered or limited. Most doctoral students must implement their ideas and programs in actual classroom settings to determine their efficacy. School closing due to COVID made this very difficult.
Even after returning to school, many schools seriously limited the number of people allowed in the building. Schools also restricted the movement within the building, leaving students in their self-contained classroom for the entire day. This certainly prevented flexibility within the schools which prohibited research and data collection. Also, when returning to school, teachers may have been reluctant to participate in research due to the pressure of learning loss.
However, there are positive effects that COVID has had on these programs as well. One such effect is that there have been an increased number of doctorate programs online. This has made these degrees more of a realistic possibility for many that may not otherwise be able to work out.
This also allows for people from all over the country to work together in cohorts and share ideas, increasing diversity in thought. Overall, this makes obtaining a doctoral degree more of a possibility for most.
Choosing Your Best Doctoral Program
Format
As many teachers are working full-time in teaching positions while also pursuing their education doctorate degree, finding the right format is crucial. Programs are in-person, online, or a combination of both. Often, programs will be offered in a local area with teachers from the same district in a cohort together.
These can be very beneficial as you work closely with people in your area. Also, be sure to check the internship or practicum requirements within the program. Sometimes students in these programs are required to take time off from their jobs to fulfill those requirements.
Career Goals
Consider the ultimate goal. There are doctoral programs for curriculum and instruction, reading specialists, school-level administrators, district/state level administrators, special education, etc. It is important to know what positions you might be interested in before choosing that program.
For example, if you want to be a lead teacher, instructional coach, or curriculum specialist, a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction would be needed. Educational leadership would be necessary for administrators, both school-level and district-level. There are also many more specific degrees that students may choose to pursue, such as special education or content-specific doctoral programs for secondary education.
Programs and Institutions
Educators seeking a doctoral degree will also want to consider cost. Cost of the degree and the duration of the program will depend and vary from state to state and institution to institution. Prospective doctoral students need to make sure to find a program that will fit into their budget and their schedule.
Faculty
Educators seeking a doctoral program also need to put in the time needed to research the faculty of the program that they are considering. It is very important, especially for teachers who are continuing to work full-time while working on their degree, that a program with understanding professors is chosen.
Also, institutions or programs with an excellent student-to-faculty ratio will be best. This way professors will have the time needed to help you through the process. Many times the small programs at smaller institutions will be best for this type of experience.
Seek Advice
Seeking advice from colleagues or friends that have already completed a doctoral program can also help you decide which program is best for you. Those individuals will be able to tell you what to expect from a program such as the one they experienced. Some may have completed an online program, others may have completed a face-to-face program, or even a hybrid type of doctoral program. Asking others what worked for them may help you get a better understanding of what you can expect from various programs that are available.
Pursuing an advanced graduate degree in education opens so many opportunities for teachers. A doctoral degree can lead to many career advancements. When educators invest the time needed in finding the right doctoral program, it can be an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience and open doors for advancement in your career.
Ready to advance your career? Check out our available education doctoral programs and get started today!
