A master’s degree in education allows candidates to acquire classroom skills and teaching strategies that they can use to offer an amazing learning experience to children. On the other hand, an Educational Leadership Doctorate (EdD) focuses on teaching candidates leadership skills that can be used inside the classroom and in administrative roles.

 

The curriculum for an Educational Leadership Doctorate can vary based on the program and educational institution you choose. Programs can also differ based on specialization and whether you opt for online doctorate of education programs or a conventional degree. If you want to know more about the EdD curriculum and possible career paths, this guide shall cover both in detail to enable you to make the right choice.

 

 

An EdD (Doctor of Education) is an advanced degree geared toward professionals that wish to attain leadership qualities. The doctorate combines application and research so graduates can be apt for various industries. The result is highly qualified professionals that can induce effective change in an educational institution. Most programs can be completed in two years, while some institutions may offer a three to five-year part-time degree. An EdD also requires a residency.

 

While program curriculum can vary by institution and specialization, most will cover the following key courses:

 

Educational leaders can work alongside state/local politicians to deduce the effects of implemented federal policies. This allows leaders to see what new policies are suitable and which of the old ones need to be eliminated. The course places a major focus on:

● Local and federal policies and navigation

● Education policy analysis

● Social justice in educational policies

● Advocacy in educational administration

 

Equity and anti-racist education are integral pillars in most leadership programs. This subject focuses on:

● Culturally sustainable education

● Equitable hiring

● Promoting growth culture

● Systems thinking

● Teacher training

● Classroom inclusion

 

Both Ph.D. and EdD programs focus on research. However, a Ph.D. focuses on this subject in greater detail. An EdD program covers the following research topics:

● Academic writing

● Inequity and social change research

● Learning technologies

● Enacting critical research

● Qualitative and quantitative research methods

● Reading and acting on educational research

 

An EdD is focused on allowing students to apply their research in real-life situations. The curriculum covers the theory of excellent leadership and logistics in detail. This course covers:

● Athletic administration

● Grant writing

● Conscious leadership

● Creating a trauma-sensitive school

● Communication skills in administration

● Socio-emotional leadership tactics

 

Even if graduates do not wish to pursue a career in the classroom, understanding teaching methods is key to being a successful leader. The syllabus often covers teaching strategies used globally and techniques that are used on a specific set of students. This course includes:

● Innovation thinking in the classroom

● International approaches to education

● Language and literacy teaching tactics

● Nursing education

● Social and emotional learning

● Special education topics

 

Most curriculums are also split between synchronous and asynchronous learning, which allows professionals to teach students through an online portal while they complete their education.

 

Tough competition in the educational administration, principal, directorship, and superintendent positions calls for candidates to acquire a doctorate. The EdD is versatile and allows graduates to pursue various career options. Let’s look at these below:

 

A principal is responsible for staff management, budgeting, and curriculum in an educational institution. They may require age-specific and modern policy training. The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) reports that the average annual salary of a principal is $98,420.

 

Both these individuals oversee grades and administrator assignments. Superintendents work in a public school district alongside a school board, while a headmaster works in a private school with secular campuses.

 

Both jobs require extensive knowledge of educational policies so that these individuals can work easily with staffing, budgeting, communication, and general pre-K to 12th-grade school direction. Superintendents earn $173,009 on average every year, whereas headmasters make $114,900 per year. The salary can vary based on the educational institution.

 

A curriculum director works with the school principal to help design a suitable curriculum for every grade and individual subject. Subject teachers may also work with the curriculum director for a certain department. Curriculum directors may be referred to as curriculum specialists or instructional coordinators in certain schools. The average annual salary of a curriculum director is $63,740. Directors may get paid more at private institutions.

 

 

A Doctorate in Educational Leadership is worth it if you wish to land a better career with superb payouts. Most programs also allow students to work alongside, and you can do so by opting for a part-time or online program. This way, you can study and work together to reduce financial burdens.