Job Market for EdD Specialities?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by shandon_lee, Mar 1, 2006.

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  1. shandon_lee

    shandon_lee New Member

    I’m wondering if someone can give me some advice. I’m a graduate of Cal State Hayward’s MS Ed in Online Teaching and Learning. I’d like to go on in my education (and considered an EdS in Education Technology-but decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and) do an EdD at NCU. I’m currently an ESL teacher in Korea and have taught ESL for the last 11 years. I’d like to make a career change and hope to do so in the next year or so. I plan go only take 1 class per semester at present. When I return home, I hope to find an employer who help me pay for tuition.

    They have several programs that look interesting to me, and I can see myself in one of several areas. But I’m unsure of the job market for these specialties and wonder if someone with some experience can give me a few comments about them? Here are the programs that look interesting:

    Training and Development Leadership

    Education Technology Management for Online Teaching and Learning

    Instructional and Curriculum Leadership

    Like I said, all three look interesting and I can see myself doing all three, but the Education Technology program is actually the most interesting to me. I’ve done much(!!!) curriculum design, and have done some online teaching for my students. But like I said, I don’t know the job market and what it’s currently like in the USA. I’ve been out of the country for the last 6 years without coming back once.

    What I’m really afraid of is going into a specialization that they are cranking them out like flies. I remember in the 1980’s, “Communication” was the “hot degree.” Then everyone got them and they were very common. It was the same with Aeronautical Engineering in the early 1970’s. I’m sort of wary that Education Technology is going the same way and being cranked out and I will end up with and EdD in a crowded field.

    Can someone comment, please? Thanks!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 1, 2006
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Right now, the EdD major that most often gets accused of being a dive straight for the bottom is Educational Leadership. But I would think that there would be demand for corporate trainers for some time to come, so the Training and Development major looks good. Also, and this may just be my personal bias, but since I think that distance learning is the way of the future, the Educational Technology for Online Teaching and Learning major looks good too, as traditional bricks and mortar universities are going to need distance learning experts to help design programs for them if they are to have any chance of surviving the adapt or die test. Just my 2c.
     
  3. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member


    It depends on your skills. Educational technologists are expected to have IT skills as web design and programming so if you like and know technology this is the way to go. If you are more of a management type then the leadership option might be a better fit. As for training, most of the trainers that I know are not education majors but people with experience in the field of training so I would think that having an EdD in training wouldn't be such an advantage unless you are planning to train in english as few would hire a trainer with little experience in the field of training.
     
  4. simon

    simon New Member

    Ted, what is the source of your statement above relating to the lack of credibility of an Ed.D in Educational Leadership? What about an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership? Same fate? Simon
     
  5. eckert16

    eckert16 New Member

    Recommend that since you are already bringing up changing you career, that you decide which career direction you want to pursue. Don't get the degree unless it is part of your new career pursuits. Some people appear to want to get a degree in 'whats hot', only to be dismayed that they can't get a job doing what they really want to do - even after getting a 'hot' degree since it had nothing to do with the true intents. Be true to yourself and find out what you want to do.
    If you're current employed, by all means search for your job now and get some offers or even a new job in the states before returning. People in your situation tend to drop their overseas job before becoming gainfully employed back in the states. You have a much better chance of getting a job offer if you already have a job. Something to do with the 'halo effect,' and if you're currently employed then someone thinks your worth something. If you drop your job first and then start searching once back in the states, you'll have a tougher time. Why would someone hire you when no-one else thinks your good enough to be employed.
    be true to what you want to do,.
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Sorry for waiting so long to get back to you. Do you remember way back when there was a thread here at degreeinfo that posted a weblink to an article where some Ivy League education prof was going on a rant about the EdD in Educational Leadership and called it "a dive straight for the bottom"?
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Interesting. I've vaguely heard of the EdD in Organizational Leadership and its half-sibling the EdD in Human Resources. The concept of these two being offered over in the schools of education was quite novel to me, as they are usually offered over in the schools of business as DBA/DM/PhD degrees. But I would think the EdD in Organizational Leadership might well be worth looking into. By the way, that Ivy League (Columbia?) ed prof that called the EdD in Educational Leadership a dive straight for the bottom may very well have been talking out the end that is supposed to be used for sitting on and removing waste.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 3, 2006
  8. thinktank

    thinktank Member

    Same degree/different take

    I also received my masters from CSU Hayward. I am currently a school adiminstrator and here is my take:

    Training and Development Leadership - Training from publishers and some companies that serve education

    Education Technology Management for Online Teaching and Learning - teach online for $1,000 - $2,000 a class.

    Instructional and Curriculum Leadership - Nothing

    I may suggest you look at NCU/Touro and go for the Phd. I am in the NCU system.
     

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