Doctorate in education

The Doctor of Education (EdD or DEd; Latin Educationis Doctor or Doctor Educationis) is a doctoral degree that has a research focus in the field of education. It prepares the holder for academic, research, administrative, clinical, or professional positions in educational, civil, private organizations, or public institutions.

When research universities were established in the late 19th century in the United States, they primarily awarded doctorates in the sciences and later the arts. By the early 20th century, these universities began to offer doctoral degrees in professional fields. The first professional degrees were awarded in medicine and law. Shortly thereafter, in response to the societal demand for expert practitioners, doctorates began to be awarded in education. The first Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the field of education was granted at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1893. The first Doctor of Education (EdD) degree was granted at Harvard University in 1921. The EdD degree was then added by Teachers College in 1934. Graduates of the EdD and PhD in Education programs receive equally rigorous scholarly training. Both reflect the interdisciplinary nature of education and expertise in the range of quantitative and qualitative methods needed to conduct high-quality research.

The EdD currently is awarded in several countries in addition to the United States (see below).

In Australia, entry requirements for the EdD are similar to the PhD except that the former requires a number of years professional experience in education or academia.

In Canada, the EdD tends to be granted by faculties of education at Universities and is a terminal degree in education. Much like the United States and Great Britain, some universities offer the EdD (Simon Fraser University), while others offer a PhD in education (McGill University, Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Manitoba, University of New Brunswick), and still others offer both (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, The University of Western Ontario, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of British Columbia). Much like the UK, in Canada, the EdD is a full academic doctorate which can only be granted by AUCC accredited institutions and shares equal parity with a PhD (Education).

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