How to Decide Which to Pursue: a Ph.D. or D.Ed.?

For many students, the choice between a Doctor of Philosophy and a Doctor of Education seems almost equal. Unfortunately, the choice becomes clear only after investing years of course work, tens of thousands of dollars and years of political maneuvering. But there are some early signs that can assist an individual in making a better choice BEFORE applying to and beginning a program.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Access to a computer
• Telephone with hands-free speaker phone capabilities
• Recording device
• Two pads of paper
• Pen

1. Surf the Internet to locate 10 Ph.D. in Education programs and 10 Doctor of Education Programs. Make the search close to your intended state or region of planned attendance.
2. Call the head of the department of each of the programs and ask if you can speak to a program advisor. Indicate that you are trying to make a choice between a Doctor of Philosophy in Education and a Doctorate in Education program.
3. Using the speaker phone mode, call each of the advisors and inform them that you are recording the call so that you can go back and listen to the conversation again and again for clarity. Turn on the recording device. If an advisor objects to the recording, mark him off your list and use another advisor.
4. Ask advisors which program they earned their degree in and which program they are an advisor for. Then ask them what, exactly, they see as the difference in the two types of programs. Inquire specifically about the capstone course, paper, dissertation, or thesis. This is often where the major differences occur. Also ask them about the program completion rates at the school.
5. After making all the calls and recording all the interviews, use two tablets of paper. Mark at the top of one Ph.D. and at the top of the other Doctor of Education. As you listen to each recording, over and over, make notes on either pad as appropriate listing the differences, advantages and unique characteristics of each.
6. For each item marked on each pad of paper, write one or two sentences of how that item may or may not match your learning style, capabilities, desired academic outcomes and career ambitions. By the time you write your final statement to the final element of the final interview, you will have done more to understand which program is best for you than 99% of the students in doctoral programs today.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the advisor you are interviewing to do 98% of the talking. This is a time to actively listen, not share your own views, likes or dislikes.
• Always inform the other party that you are recording the call. It is more of an issue of ethics than of law.
• Do not take short cuts and call less than the total 20 advisors.
• If you cannot complete this how to from beginning to end, it is a clear sign that you will never complete a doctoral degree.

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