Education professionals earning a Doctor of Education can pursue a variety of specialization options to match their personal career goals. With a doctorate in a concentrated area of the field, educators can prepare for positions in and out of a classroom.
Cultural Studies in Education
A cultural studies in education doctorate is a research-based theoretical exploration of topics in education such as race and ethnicity, gender, social class, and economic disparity. These topics are explored to understand issues that affect the ability of students, communities, and districts to provide quality education, driving the formation of the critical thinking, decision making, and analysis required to formulate and implement effective educational policies. Course work is likely to include ethnography, globalization in education, and social foundations of education.
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Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology Design
In a curriculum, instruction, and technology doctoral program, education professionals focus on the methods and techniques that are required for facilitation, planning, and development of materials to best instruct students of all grade levels. Course work that is often completed in this specialization includes perspectives in policies of teacher education, learning to teach, qualitative research methods, and contemporary discourses in education.
Educational Leadership
In this specialization, education professionals gain skills and an advanced understanding of the techniques necessary to lead an educational organization in meeting its vision, mission, and goals. Emphasis is placed on understanding the ways in which to train and promote professionals in their development as well as making decisions for an overall program or organization. Classes in this specialization include innovation in education, leadership in education, educational reform strategies, and finance and budgeting in education.
Educational Psychology
With a doctorate in educational psychology, graduates are well-qualified for positions in the leadership of counseling and social work programs within a school district. Course work is likely to focus on developmental psychology, social psychology, behavioral science evaluation, and learning theories.
Language and Literacy
After completing courses in youth language and literacy, literacy education in an urban context, semiotics and literacy, and social and cultural contexts in literacy education, doctoral graduates in language and literacy have a number of options for pursuing careers in educational organization. This course work helps education professionals to prepare for careers in leading literacy programs and teaching in early childhood education to post-secondary classrooms.
Special Education
In these programs, educators gain knowledge in specific areas of teaching and program development and curriculum. The focus of these programs emphasizes techniques and methods for specific student populations. Education professionals are also likely to have options to further concentrate in a specific area such as early childhood development, visual impairment, and autism.
Careers after Degree Conferral
Graduates might pursue positions in school districts, universities and colleges, educational research and materials development firms, and government agencies. Position opportunities can include everything from principal and superintendent to director of curriculum and policy advocate. Additional information can be found at the American Association of School Administrators.
With each of these specializations, education professionals are able to tailor course work and focus their research on a specific area of education. Finding the right specialization with a Doctor of Education degree prepares graduates for a variety of rewarding positions in the field.
For more information on pursuing an advanced degree in educational, please see: Top 15 Best and Most Affordable Graduate Educational Leadership Programs.