What You Should Know About This Degree
A similar degree to a doctorate in educational administration is a doctorate in education. The main difference is that an educational administration program focuses on the systems of leadership within education and being able to support teachers, while a doctorate in education will focus more on theories of learning.
Regional accreditations are generally preferred by employers, so look for accreditations at the regional level, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The job outlook for educational administrators is good, with growth expected to be along the average range compared to all other occupations. This means it may be easier to find an open position.
Most employers at the K-12 level will be looking for you to be a licensed teacher in your state in addition to your doctorate degree. You may also need to get certified as a school administrator.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online doctorate in educational administration programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? To be eligible for a doctorate in educational administration program, you’ll need a master’s degree in a relevant field. You may also need a certain number of years of work experience and an active teaching license.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? The programs on our list range from 51 credits to 67 credits. For most people, this will take around two years of full-time study to complete. If a dissertation is required, this could increase the length of the program.
Another thing to keep in mind as you start the application process is that programs usually have very specific deadlines. You’ll have to provide documentation of your master’s degree, teaching license, and possibly some test scores, and that can take time to get together. If you want to do an assistantship or require loans to fund your doctorate program, you’ll also need to keep track of the deadlines for that.