Ed.D with no teaching background...

Okay guys here is another question for the members. I have noticed many members are seeking some type of Educational Doctorate. How does that work for people with no educational background, no teaching background?

(I did not see any other posts about this)

 

Several associates at my prior employer (aerospace company) were taking this Ed.D. from Pepperdine (not DL but one night a week in a satellite campus)
Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership | Executive-Nonprofit-National Policy-Education Leadership | Professional Administrative Services Credential | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University
They had no teaching background but of course as a manager one often has to train/educate new hires and organize and lead other employees.

 

Interesting...

 

Seems like a good career-change degree

An EdD seems like a way for midlifers to get a credential to help them pass on what they know...consulting, training, writing and so on.

 

I know two people who have EdD degrees. They are both school psychologists and have never been teachers.

 

Teaching is just one aspect of education.

 

Thank you for writing what I was just thinking!

You can pursue an EdD in many areas unrelated to teaching (at least at the K-12 level). Not all are available via DL, but most are. Here are some examples:

• Counseling Education
• School Psychology
• Psychology
• Administration
• Instructional Design
• Instructional Technology
• Organizational Leadership

A background in teaching is usually not required for these programs. In certain cases, one must have an appropriate background in the subject (e.g. a masters or EdS in School Psychology).

 

Makes since. How about Instructional Design? That seems fairly easy.

 

So people use a EdD to teach Writing?

This is all new to me guys, so bear with me, as I am a tutor, and do not work in the tradition educational realm as most of you guys do.

 

My point was that if you're accomplished in one field (business, law, technology and so on), then an EdD would give you the "Dr." title and make you more qualified to pass on your skill set through training, writing, teaching consulting and so on...which are all means of educating people.

 

Whoa! Makes complete sense. So now I see why people do it. Thanks

 

If you're already accomplished in your field, then you might consider just publishing workbooks, training materials, and books, etc. The longer you delay, the less relevant you are to your craft.

 

A doctorate might increase the chances of getting published and being taken seriously. You can always do more than one thing at time. During your doctoral studies you could use assignments to create marketable products related to your field.

 

You guys give great advice! Tony, that sounds like sound advice.

 

I'm aiming for a MSc in astronomy, but it's not a research program, rather a taught one. I don't want a PhD in astronomy; I don't want to be a researcher; I just want to be really good at what I do (telescope operator, for which I only need the GradCert I already have) and able to converse meaningfully with the PhD sorts and explain things to the public.

If I stop at the MSc, I might someday transition from science operations to science education or public outreach. I've considered pursuing a doctorate in education about 10 years after the MSc, to make more or better jobs in education available.