An EdD graduate can choose to work in many different complex organizations that serve various industries. They will usually occupy a role that’s focused on management, be it in terms of strategy, leadership, or resources. From the higher levels of administration to college principal posts and policy development work, with an EdD, people can pursue a range of professional roles that are not exclusively academic. While they are earning their EdD, students also acquire a range of skills and experience that may also be useful if they plan to carry out academic research.
Working towards an EdD qualification
Although many people who take an EdD will move on to occupy one of the many leadership roles in education, the settings they eventually choose to work in may be very different. These doctorates prepare graduates from the fields of education, health care, and business for senior roles in their industry. Despite the benefits to their career, people who are already managing a demanding job may wonder if they have enough time to work as well as study. However, to accommodate their needs, universities like Rockhurst are now offering remote learning opportunities.
For people wondering, “what is an online Ed.D. degree”, and, “can it offer flexible learning”, Rockhurst University offers four distinct specialties when students enroll. Each route takes two years to complete and can be finished without the need for campus visits – plus there is no dissertation requirement. Once they graduate, students are ready to identify problems in an organization and consider operating issues from a range of perspectives. They can provide insights drawn from their learning, which lead to practical, effective solutions. Therefore this is a doctorate which will impress employers from several industries. Some of the settings in which Ed.D. graduates might work include the following.
Part of the leadership team in schools
School principals may have a reputation among pupils for keeping order, but they are often responsible for almost every aspect of running the facility. People who have gained an Ed.D. are ready to manage the budget of a school, evaluate the work of teachers, ensure pupils are receiving an optimal education, and provide the chance students need to excel. They will also be involved with managing and allocating the school budget. Their work ensures that a school can meet all the objectives it has around student wellbeing, teaching, and achievement.
Working closely with schools, superintendents are usually people with educational experience and an Ed.D. They are often selected by the district’s school board leadership team. They are among the top policymakers in the area and manage the budget of the entire district. These professionals ensure that infrastructure, staff levels, and spending are all maintained efficiently. Although they may work in a private office, a superintendent will cooperate with local school boards to design and oversee programs that help the district meet its educational aims. Furthermore, they will distribute human resources and funding in a way that supports the goals of their district.
Working in local colleges, education administrators sometimes have slightly different titles, but their key role is to keep their facility running smoothly. Ed.D. graduates who take this career route will offer administrative support to the teaching staff and will interact with the facility’s governing body. They also supervise the journey of the student population, from when they register for a course to their graduation day. Along with designing and clarifying the college’s regulations in times of uncertainty, they will handle queries from students and other bodies as well as managing the complaints procedure.
Informing educational policies in research organizations
Working within a range of different research organizations and universities, an educational researcher focuses on exploring the process of learning. To do so, they will develop and roll out studies as well as conduct various experiments, which are usually observational in nature. The idea is to find out how organizations can improve the educational outcomes for a specific cohort group – for example, students from a certain socioeconomic group, age range, or aptitude level. They may lecture at industry events, write books that describe their findings, and submit research papers. Frequently, their findings can influence educational policy at state and national levels, and they can influence school curriculums as well.
Driving business success
Organizational leadership, in its various forms, is another route that Ed.D. graduates can pursue. Their advanced skills in management and headship allow them to plan and implement business strategies that can lead employees through periods of growth, change, and crisis. To ensure that the resources of an organization are maximized, they use problem-solving skills and forward planning. They evaluate the position of their company at the present time and compare this to where it is planning to get to in the coming years.
Through creating new training programs and updating the existing professional development schedule, they will also ensure that employees reach their full potential. As part of this, an organizational leader will be directly involved in staff training programs and working with the team to ensure these are having the desired effect. In this sense, organizational leadership is one of the most hands-on roles that a Doctor of Education can choose.
Nurturing change and improvement in healthcare
In healthcare education, graduates with a Doctor of Education degree are always in demand when it comes to filling specialist posts. Depending on their previous professional experience and training in healthcare, an Ed.D. graduate could select roles in healthcare management or consultancy. As there is a national shortage of healthcare workers at the moment, there is a continued demand for managers who can innovate and inspire their colleagues.
They will also help to manage the administration of their hospital or clinic, working on the business rather than the medicinal side of the organization. However, managers will collaborate closely with clinicians and other members of the medical team to oversee the facility’s strategic planning initiatives, ensure the budget remains on track, and set agendas for key meetings. They also work with other members of the executive team on policy-making and the creation of training programs that support professional development.
