Throughout the United States, the demand for leaders in the education community continues to grow. It’s no longer important for individuals to teach people what’s listed on a curriculum, but to guide and nurture them toward a brighter future.
By earning your doctorate of education leadership online, you become part of a specialized group of individuals who possess the skills needed to provide significant, positive change and solve problems in various learning situations.
While many individuals attribute this to the PreK-12 education system, a doctorate in education leadership is related to much more. In fact, those who complete this degree program have the ability to work in higher education institutions, and even in military training or corporate settings.
Wherever you feel your skills will fit best, you have the freedom to take them to whatever field or industry you desire and impart your knowledge and wisdom to those who are willing to learn.
There are two types of educational leadership doctorate degrees you could earn, either the PhD or the EdD. Generally speaking, the EdD (Doctor of Education) is geared toward practitioners, while the PhD degree is designed for scholars and researchers.
An EdD program focuses primarily on skills you’ll use in administration or a classroom. Throughout the program, students learn how to take educational theory and apply it to real-world situations. When students graduate from this program, they typically pursue a career as an administrator or teacher.
A PhD degree program trains students to conduct their own research and contribute to their field of educational theory. Compared to EdD programs, these typically require more credits to complete. Graduates who complete a PhD program in educational leadership can work in classrooms as a teacher. However, they also have the opportunity to work for government agencies, public institutions, and even nonprofit organizations.
Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Structure
It takes anywhere from 40 to more than 70 credits to complete your educational leadership doctorate program and earn your degree. Typically, these programs last anywhere from three to five years. However, most students take even longer to complete their program. It’s not uncommon for a student to take over five years to complete either educational leadership program in its entirety.
Requirements
The requirements to enroll in an online doctorate in educational leadership program varies from school to school. To enter a program, students must already possess their master’s degree. Some schools require a minimum GPA and others state that your master’s degree must be in a related field in order to be accepted.
In addition to these requirements, many colleges and universities require you to submit your MAT or GRE scores. There are situations where this particular requirement is waived for students who have a particularly high GPA.
Most schools also require students to submit a writing sample, which could either be a personal essay, graduate-level academic paper, or even a statement of purpose. Finally, some schools may ask that you have a certain number of years of work experience to be admitted into the program.
Coursework
Throughout an online educational leadership degree program, students gain skills in communication with learners and parents, how to serve diverse populations, evaluate faculty and schools, and integrate new technologies and techniques into various educational environments.
The result of completing these programs is that students are fully prepared for various leadership and administrative roles where they can implement new strategies and technologies into an educational environment for better results.
Due to the fact that many graduates from these programs find positions as a superintendent or administrator, it’s vital for them to understand aspects of resource allocation and budgeting. This is a significant responsibility for superintendents and their district. Students must also learn about educational costs, such as external trends and their sources of revenue.
Other courses that are foundational to educational leadership programs are those based on leadership theory. Those who participate in these courses learn the various techniques needed to motivate others, assess their weaknesses and strengths, as well as how to communicate effectively and make decisions. These courses are particularly vital for leaders who work in diverse environments.
Concentration
Depending on your career goals, you can choose a concentration. There are various concentrations, also referred to as tracks, that students choose from. Some of these concentrations focus on leadership in PreK-12 or higher education schools.
No matter what concentration an individual chooses, they’ll most likely cover topics in law and communications, finance, and more. There are also specialized courses dedicated to each track. Depending on your chosen track, you may take courses in international education, creativity, learning technologies, and innovation.
Educational Leadership Doctorate Careers
There are various job titles associated with an educational leadership degree. No matter what degree type you receive, the opportunity for you to earn upwards of well over $100,000 is available. Below is a list of some of the careers available to you in this field.
Elementary and Secondary School Administrator
These individuals are tasked with managing expenditures, academic programs, staffing of educational facilities within their district, and much more. On average, these individuals earn around $98,000 per year.
Chief Learning or Chief Academic Officer
This is a senior position for professionals who develop and drive strategies designed to help organizations meet business goals. These individuals earn an average of $104,980 per year for their efforts.
Postsecondary Administrator
A post-secondary administrator works in universities or colleges. Their efforts are geared toward overseeing student affairs or the research conducted by faculty. Some job titles that fall within this category involve positions such as vice president, president, dean, and provost. Depending on the position, a post-secondary education administrator earns an average of around $94,000 per year.
Instructional Coordinator
An instructional coordinator manages and creates curricula for educational materials. These individuals help teachers put classroom learning strategies into practise and determine their effectiveness. The average annual salary for this position is around $64,000.
Training and Development Manager
A training and development manager is tasked with ensuring that employees are productive throughout all aspects of their training and assessments. These managers also handle various forms of reward and recognition programs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median pay for this position is well over $100,000 per year. The position also has a 10 percent expected growth rate, which is higher than most other positions.
Community and Social Services Manager
A community and social service manager coordinates, plans, and supervises activities associated with social service organization and community outreach programs. The median salary for this position is around $48,700.
Survey Researcher
A survey researcher conducts research, analyzes data, and designs surveys. These individuals don’t work much in a teaching environment, but rather for nonprofits, colleges or universities, research firms, government agencies, and polling organizations. The median pay for this position is around $54,000 a year.
Top Educational Leadership Doctorate Programs Online
Thanks to distance learning, there are several colleges and universities that offer an online doctorate in educational leadership programs for those who want to earn their degree online. Below is a list of some of the highest-rated programs and a look at their curriculums.
Monmouth University
This university offers a 54-credit program that lasts for two years. The program is designed to encourage students to think about new ways of educational leadership and how to handle problems in education. The school has its own cohort-style program, which offers a flexible format where students have the ability to sit in on live sessions remotely. These programs start each fall and spring.
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The program is accredited and applicants must already possess their master’s degree in business, education, or a related field before being considered. Other requirements for the program include a minimum of 3.25 GPA, GMAT or GRE scores, a CV or resume, transcripts, and at least two letters of recommendation. Along with this, applicants must submit a writing sample and personal statement. Some applicants may receive a request for an interview by the advisory board.
Andrews University
This university offers an online doctorate in educational leadership in both PhD and EdD. Students in the program take five years to complete it. Students participating in the accredited program take courses in foundations of curriculum studies, technology for leaders, improving instruction, and more.
The university accepts applications in the fall, spring, and summer. Students must earn their master’s degree from an accredited university and have a graduating GPA of 3.0 in order to be considered. Along with meeting those requirements, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a resume, and a statement of purpose.
Florida State University
Florida State University offers an online EdD program in educational leadership for qualified graduates. The course is designed to train students to become post-secondary education administrators and principals. The program consists of a great deal of coursework. Students must also take part in a three-day professional learning seminar.
The program is 33 credits long and requires various core courses, such as data-driven school improvement, resource management for education leaders, and leadership development. Some classes even have a field experience component, which gives students hands-on training.
Admission into the program requires a graduate degree with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Applicants must also submit their GRE scores, transcripts from all prior universities or colleges, and letters of recommendation. The program also requires students to submit a research statement and a statement of purpose. Applicants have the ability to request a GRE waiver if they have a master’s degree with a 3.75 GPA or higher, or 10 years of professional experience in education.
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University offers a 60-credit program in educational leadership online. The program develops student’s leadership skills in administration, research, and teaching. It’s designed for professionals who want to make a difference in the education system.
Some of the things the degree program provides include training on effective, sustainable schools and how to make schools more equitable. Graduates typically hold titles such as chancellor, provost, dean, or department chair.
Applicants to the program must have a mater’s degree from an accredited college or university. In order to be considered, applicants must also submit their GRE scores, a resume, a letter of intent, four references, and their transcripts. They must also complete an interview either in-person or on the phone with the director of the program. Some concentrations have even more requirements.
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University has one of the best programs in EdD in the country. Its global campus offers a program with concentrations in K-12 and higher education leadership. Students participate in the cohort-style program that starts every August.
The 63-credit program takes place primarily online. Students attend two meetings in-person. Throughout the program, students take courses in educational policy analysis, instructional supervision and leadership, higher education policy, and educational research design.
Applicants to the program must possess a master’s degree from an accredited university and meet a GPA requirement of 3.5 or more. They must also possess at least three years of professional experience in education. The program is preferable for those with leadership experience. Applicants must also provide three letters of recommendation, a current resume, GRE scores, and an official transcript.
Conclusion
If you want to spur positive change in the education industry, then earning your doctorate in educational leadership is an excellent step in the right direction. The training received in these programs is significant and they allow you to work in some of the highest positions in the education industry.
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