Differentiating the EdD and the PhD in Higher Education

• DOI: 10.5195/ie.2023.288
• Publication Date: 2023-02-27T15:02:44Z
• Authors: Holly A. Foster; Steven Chesnut; James Thomas; Courtney Robinson
• Keywords: CLARITY; Conflation

Purpose: Higher education, as a field of study, is one the few programmatic areas that offer two doctoral degrees: The Doctor Education (EdD) and Philosophy (PhD). In United States, degrees are often conflated. Conversations, to this point, have done more contribute theoretical debate than operationally distinguish between degree paths. Method: current study analyzed data collected from review 188 programs at 145 institutions listed with Association for Study (ASHE). Results: Results suggest while there shift toward operational differences EdD PhD in higher similarities entrance requirements, formats, research expectations, list few, still require further refinement reach clarity common many conversations about education doctorate.