Featured School

University of Phoenix More Info

Educating the next generation of citizens, thinkers, and innovators is one of society’s most important tasks. For those who love education but want to expand their reach beyond a single classroom, an online PhD in Education may be a great fit. Online PhD education prepares students for careers as educational theorists and researchers, policy makers, professors, administrators, and teachers. Students who pursue online doctoral degrees in Education learn the history, theory, policy, and practice of education and use this knowledge to effect positive change from the smallest rural classroom to the political halls of Washington.

Online PhD in Education Requirements

Online Education PhD students should have a passion for teaching and learning. Students should desire to improve education at all levels through research, teaching, and outreach. Online doctoral programs in Education require excellent communication skills, strong analytical skills, and organizational and leadership abilities. An online Education doctorate will make use of and develop these qualities to produce effective researchers and educators.

Several online doctorate programs in Education require applicants to have a Master’s degree in education, though some programs will accept any Master’s degree as long as it was earned at an accredited university. This is especially beneficial for those who desire to begin a second career in an education PhD program.

Many students seeking an Education PhD Online come from a background in teaching, either at the primary or secondary level. (Indeed, some schools require applicants to have experience in an educational institution.) Other applicants may be former school staff, tutors, or even students fresh out of undergraduate studies. Many other professionals in unrelated fields also leverage an Online PhD in Education into a second career.

Online PhD in Education Education

The best online doctorate degrees in Education require extensive coursework, exams, and a dissertation. Students will learn in seminars, one-on-one interaction with an advisor, independent research, and field work. Students will be required to pass competency exams after coursework has been completed; often these exams include portfolio, oral, and written components. Candidates must write and defend an original, well-researched dissertation to prove mastery of the field.

Information on Education Courses

Online PhD Education courses will begin with theory, focusing on the fundamental principles of learning and the historical, social, and cultural aspects of education. Students will become familiar with the relevant academic and professional literatures. Doctoral candidates will learn the relevant language, questions, and paradigms of their discipline. This theory is then put into practice in later courses that emphasize teaching skills and research methods. The ultimate aim of coursework is to prepare students to develop, initiate, and write up an original contribution to the education literature. Core courses include:

• Educational Psychology and Epistemology
  This course deals with foundational educational theory: what is learning, and what factors lead to the best pedagogical outcomes?
• Education in Social, Political, and Cultural Context
  Students learn how race, gender, socio-economic status, and culture affect educational outcomes.
• The Art of Teaching
  This Online Education PhD course helps students understand the development of teaching practice and develop their teaching abilities. This course often requires field observation.
• Qualitative Research Methods in Education
  Students learn how to conduct and interpret interview, ethnography, and field research data. This course may require a final “mini” research project.
• Quantitative Research Methods in Education
  This course enables students to collect and mathematically analyze numerical data obtained from surveys, longitudinal studies, and other quantitative research methods. This course may require a final “mini” research project.

Specializations and Concentrations

Online PhD programs in Education often allow candidates to specialize in a specific domain. Specializing in certain fields further opens up future career and research opportunities. Often the specialization is closely related to the dissertation topic. These specializations include:

• Early Childhood Education
• Education Policy
• Science Education
• Special Education
• Teaching and Teacher Education

Careers in Education

Recipients of an online doctorate in Education are in high demand in public and private schools, government institutions, think tanks, and universities. Graduates from top online PhD programs in Education may pursue more “hands-on” careers within school districts and systems, while others focus on elaborating educational theory and praxis. Some of the more common jobs include:

• Teacher
  Some graduates take their Online PhD degrees in Education and enter or return to the classroom. Job prospects for teachers vary depending on grade level, geographical area, and subject, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics teaching jobs will grow (on average) by 13% between 2008 and 2018. Teachers can expect to earn between $47,100 and $51,180.
• University Professor
  Some students stay in academia after completing their online doctorate in Education. These educational researchers teach college students while continuing to publish their own work. Academic job markets can be tough, but professors can expect to earn between $41,600 and $83,960.
• Consultant (Public and Private)
  Some PhDs consult for think tanks, government organizations, and schools. They may perform independent research or solve a particular problem or question for an organization. Job prospects are very strong for consultants, and they can expect to earn $60 an hour or more.
• Administrator
  Other students return to schools as administrators, shaping educational policy in school districts around the country. Job prospects for administrators are expected to grow 8% from 2008 to 2018. Salaries for administrators depend on the geographical area and school, and can range from $39,940 to $83,880.
• Researchers and Policy Analysts
  Those interested in policy may conduct policy research for governments, think tanks, and other educational organizations. Pay will depend on the organization, geographic area, and specialty. Researchers for government, for example, can expect to earn $80,000 on average.

Online doctoral programs in education are perfect for those who want to make a difference in the lives of children and contribute to the general welfare of the country. Those who love to teach and want to enroll in online PhD programs would find this course of study personally and professionally beneficial.