This discussion was created from comments split from: Ed.D vs. Ph.D.
<p>Resurrecting beyond the halfway mark of 2014… :)</p>
<p>Vacillating here between what I’ve gathered as “practice vs. theory” and “lightweight vs. heavyweight” (which entertainingly enough has led to the intellectual conclusion? “bang for the buck vs. prestige”). </p>
<p>My question now, will I be highly respected in the present time with an EdD similarly as I would if I were to hold a PhD? </p>
<p>Yes. I am going for prestige (while WHY NOT! going for the lightweight with heavier pockets).</p>
<p>It depends a lot on where you got the EdD from - these things aren’t viewed in a vacuum. One of the most prominent professors in my department - a school of public health - has an EdD, I think in health education, but he got it from Teachers College at Columbia University. He also spent many years making a name for himself in research, so at this point nobody is like “Oh, but he has an EdD.”</p>
<p>Some schools only offer an EdD, but their EdD program is similar or identical to a PhD program. Others may offer you the choice to do an EdD and a PhD, but the EdD is more practice-oriented. The real answer is to select a program that offers you what you want and need. If you want to do research, go to a program that will allow you to develop your skills as a researcher and where professors have networks with other academics and researchers, but don’t worry about the letters so much - ask about placement rates. What do students do after graduating? If everyone is going on to teach at schools of education and that’s what you want to do, it doesn’t matter what the letters are. They’re getting people faculty positions.</p>
<p>However, do know that the general perception of the EdD is that it is a practice degree designed to prepare educational leaders to apply research and higher-level knowledge to their management and administration of education. Things have changed, of course, and like I said - there are prominent people with EdDs doing all kinds of work. Some people will look down on you because you have an EdD instead of a PhD, but I don’t think it will be many, and they’ll be showing their ignorance. Others are going to let your credentials speak for themselves.</p>