Looking for an online/hybrid EdD Program

Hi! First time poster here.
A little educational background on me: BA in History, MA in History, and MAT in Secondary Education (in progress).
I just finished my second year of teaching and would like to pursue an EdD once the MAT is complete.
My career goal is to become a principal.
I am located in GA.
I’m trying to find an online or mostly online EdD. I’m open to a hybrid program, but I’d need it to be located in GA or one of the surrounding states. I look to apply for the 2020-2021 school year.
I’ve been thinking about curriculum or leadership as a focus.
Of course, I’d like the work load/rigor to be reasonable for someone working full time, but I’d also like it to be as cost efficient as possible.
Some programs I’ve found so far that I’m considering include:
- GA Southern, curriculum studies
- Lincoln Memorial University, curriculum and instruction (suggested by coworker)
- Morehead State, Administrative leadership
- Valdosta State, curriculum and instruction
- University of the Cumberlands, educational leadership
- Columbus state university, curriculum and leadership
- Baylor, learning and organizational change
- North Central University, curriculum and teaching
- “, general education
- “, instructional leadership

Does anyone have any insight on any of these programs? Or have suggestions that I do not have listed?

Has anyone completed an EdD and can tell me what the rigor is like? I’m really only familiar with academia in the history field.

 

Nice list. You are actually ready to start trimming it down. So, FWIW, here are my suggestions, which are, of course, positively brilliant. (Rule one: Never take me too seriously, nor any other expert wanna-be's around this joint).

• Strike out Northcentral University. Assuming you mean Northcentral (one word) in California, the former for-profit that is now part of the National University system, they’re mediocre at best and they have the for-profit historical baggage. Moreover, they would be suspect since they’re on the west coast and you’re in Georgia. It’s like screaming that your doctorate was earned online. If, on the other hand, you meant North Central (two words), the Assemblies of God-affiliated school in the midwest, they have a cleaner rep than one-word Northcentral but present the same geographical issues.
• Don’t even touch educational leadership as a major – the Ed.D. in E.L. is today’s one-size-fits-all doctorate du jour. Everybody is going for one, everybody has one, and your résumé will end up in the largest pile that goes into the circular file. You will want to cover leadership within your doctoral program, but stay away from it as a major. (A good reason to knock out U. of the Cumberlands.) Big time. Curriculum as a major? Not bad – it will actually set you apart from the competition in a good way. Educational administration? Ditto. But definitely not leadership as a major..

The type of Ed.D. you would like to pursue is the classic model used to prepare principals, school superintendents, and college presidents – and that is not what the one-size-fits-all Ed.D. in leadership is about today. The kind that everybody and their in-laws seem to be pursuing.

Hybrid? Great idea. Even limited residency programs are better than no-residency programs. They will make you feel less alone, provide some degree of networking opportunities, give you a chance to interact with both peers and faculty personally (or, as Sky Masterson said in Guys and Dolls, that means in person). And it will come with lots less stigma than a totally online program – yes, lots of folks (like, um, me) laugh our asses off at totally external graduate programs in the helping professions. It’s a competitive world, and you should do anything you can to help get your foot in the door. (Except sell your body – that would be gauche.)

Finally, don’t be in a rush – you have one master’s degree already and a second one on the way at the ripe young age of 26. Take your time and make your plans carefully so you don’t make the wrong decisions.

All that said, welcome to DegreeInfo.

 

First. Welcome.

Second. I've looked pretty heavily at Valdosta State in the past. First for a master's degree when I was looking 3 years ago and now that I'm looking for a doctorate. They were very high on my list. Program looks interesting, cost can't be beat, and legitimacy of state school won't be questioned. I ended up deciding against them mainly because they're a little far away from my current location and they're not well known here. My first three degrees were from very reputable but little known schools. Not too many people outside of Georgia have heard of Valdosta State. This wouldn't be a problem for you, but I wanted to make sure doctorate was from a school that everyone knew. I don't know too much about the other programs you listed, but without doing more research Valdosta State looks like a winner.

Third. I have a question for @Steve Levicoff. You've been very vocal about not getting degrees in leadership and I do agree with some of your reasons. In this case though, why would it be bad for the OP to get a degree in Educational Leadership if she wants a job as an educational leader? It it seems that this degree was made for this particular reason. Is it still just because everyone has one and it won't separate her resume from the crowd?

 

As I've written in the past, degrees in Leadership have been around for decades, specifically intended to prepare people to be leaders in secondary and higher education. It's only within the past decade that the Ed.D. in Leadership has become the doctorate du jour. But I honestly couldn't tell you whether today's Ed.D. has been significantly changed from what it was 20 or 30 years ago, whether or not it has been dumbed down (which would not surprise me), or whether it would be as theoretically useful today as it was decades back.

Precisely. The competitive pool out there is deeper and more filled with manure than ever. Imagine an initial review of résumés or CV's for a principal position . . .

"Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership. Ed.D. Leadership . . ."

"Just put them all in a pile."

"Wait. Here's one, an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction."

"Hmmmmm . . . Let's have a look."

'Nuff said?

FWIW, here's a very powerful tread on the uselessness of an Ed.D. in, in this case, organizational leadership: https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/if-i-could-live-my-life-over-again.53227/. This one should be required reading for anyone who is considering such a degree.

 

Thank you both for your replies!
I certainly noticed the amount of Leadership concentrations, but wasn’t aware of the stigma attached to it.
I definitely have a lot to consider!

Thank you for the welcome!