Doctoral programs have been on the rise in recent years, with a year-on-year growth rate of 5.2% across all disciplines. Many universities and colleges, whether public, private, or online, are continuing to adjust their offerings to meet these growing demands.
While online degrees can go all the way back to the 2000s, it has only been in recent years that online doctorate degrees have experienced a dramatic rise in popularity and accessibility. It has propelled a revolution in higher education. For example, many professionals who are looking to lead in education without leaving their current roles might often consider earning an online Doctor of Education to upskill or prepare for a future career role change. Let’s look at some of the ways the rise in online Doctorates in Education has created a quiet revolution in higher education for greater accessibility and career advancements for all professionals alike.
What Are Online Doctorates?
You may have heard the term ‘distance education’ before – online doctorates are essentially this form of learning, except for advanced doctorate degrees. They are programs completed either primarily or entirely online, which allows graduates to earn advanced doctoral degrees without needing to ever attend in-person, on-campus classes.
The process of these programs is usually delivered through electronic channels such as the internet, online video conferencing, webinars, or recorded lectures. Often, online doctorates either use or combine synchronous and asynchronous learning – the former referring to interactive learning that takes place where everyone is completing content in real time, and the latter referring to individualised learning where content is completed at different times.
From this, we can see that online doctorate degrees are specially designed for professionals who desire to pursue higher education, whether to increase opportunities, to upskill or prepare for a career change, while maintaining a balance with their current professional, personal, or caring commitments.
What is a Doctorate in Education?
A Doctorate, Doctoral, or Doctor in Education, EdD in short, is essentially a professional degree for working mid- to senior-level professionals who have a goal for leading and implementing organizational and institutional change. Often, they can serve as a terminal degree once you have earned a Master’s degree, such as a Master of Education (MeD).
As per its name, EdD candidates are generally aiming to advance positions in administrative, leadership, and policy advocacy roles in the field of education, but also in various other domains. EdDs emphasize research-based practice, requiring graduates to choose a specialized topic or field of study to develop more in-depth knowledge about that topic. From acquiring this advanced knowledge, graduates can further pursue key pathways relevant to that concentration. For example, if you are pursuing an EdD to work in education legislative drafting, you will most likely opt for a concentration on policy advocacy and regulation.
The exact requirements for EdD programs, including online ones, will depend greatly on the college, university, or institution you are seeking to apply to. Especially with online EdDs, however, it will make it possible for you to earn a credential more flexibly while continuing your current work.
How Do They Differ From a Doctorate in Philosophy?
We often hear more about PhDs (Doctorate, Doctoral, or Doctor in Philosophy) than we do about EdDs. Both of them are advanced degrees, but what are the differences between them in the first place?
The key differences between EdDs and PhDs can be thought of in this way: an EdD uses research-based teaching and knowledge for its eventual application in active clinical or professional practice, while a PhD uses research-based knowledge for the goal of becoming a researcher or research professor. Additionally, with the time required to complete each degree, an online, full-time EdD certificate can usually be earned at just within 3 years, while a PhD would require a minimum of 3-6 years with full-time study and research.
Whether you choose to complete an EdD or PhD largely depends on your individual circumstances, whether that be professional needs or financial state.
The Rise of Online EdDs: Revolution Abound
Online education is changing the academic landscape at every moment, and no aspect has been impacted as the pursuit of doctoral degrees like an EdD.
Flexibility in Learning and Work-Life-Study Balance
Flexibility has been one of the defining hallmarks of online advanced degree programs. The flexibility offered by EdD programs is the precise reason why they are so attractive for graduates and professionals. As opposed to traditional doctoral programs, which require students to have a physical presence on campus for extended periods, which can be a significant barrier for working professionals with family responsibilities, online EdDs provide highly flexible delivery modes where study can be done anytime at anywhere in the world. This flexibility may also extend to the pace of learning and the offering of part-time options to complete their degrees at a pace aligned and balanced with their schedules and work-life responsibilities.
Diverse Program Offerings
With flexibility comes diverse program offerings. Generally, doctoral programs are often concentrated in a few fields such as the sciences, law, or humanities – this is even reflected in the fact that the largest volume of doctoral program demand is concentrated in law and STEM.
With online EdDs, universities and colleges open up to a far broader spectrum of programs that cover various disciplines. Moreover, given the interdisciplinary nature of online EdD programs, it also encourages students to actively explore and bridge other fields. For example, if you are taking an EdD with a concentration on curriculum design and instruction, you might also want to take a course on special or multicultural education.
Global Collaboration and Networking
Naturally, online programs bring together people studying from all around the world. As such, it creates an international network that allows networking that transcends geographical regions – a global networking system. These spaces prioritise collaboration with others on research projects as well as gaining insight into the different cultural and professional perspectives from across the world, which can form an important part of refining future practice.
Resource and Support
The dissertation is an inescapable part of an EdD course. Online resources such as digital research tools, academic databases, and institutional resources ensure that you can access your institution’s library from the comfort of your own home or wherever. EdDs also incorporate structured dissertation support formulated by faculty and/or academic advisors, which can include workshops, writing seminars, and peer review sessions. Video conferencing platforms such as Zoom allow you to have regular consultations with faculty to ensure you are receiving adequate mentorship and feedback needed for big projects like a dissertation.
