Below are a comparison of the requirements for an Ed.D., Ph.D. in education, and the Ph.D. in natural resources & environmental sciences form the University of Illinois. I got these from U of I because as an AAU member it is among the elite of universities and because I knew it had all three degrees offered, and that they were recognized as very good degrees. so, in comparing the three degrees, you will notice some very specific differences. This info was lifted directly from the official websites. You will notice that these three degrees have very different purposes. The Ed.D. is a degree to practice education. The Ph.D. in education is for someone interested in researching education. The Ph.D. in NRES is a degree for someone interested in researching natural resources and environmental sciences. these differences are fairly standard, and every institution with which I am familiar except for Harvard and possibly Texas A&M University-Commerce follow this pattern.
Ed.D. Education 64 hrs beyond the masters 24 hrs in area of specialization 4-16 hrs of dissertation research must pass final defense Dissertation: The Ed.D. dissertation is intended to demonstrate the Ed.D. candidate’s ability to relate academic knowledge to the problems of professional practice. The dissertation should be characterized by the kind of synthesis of experiences that is the hallmark of a highly qualified professional. The demonstration of these qualities may take a variety of forms such as: (a) a field study; (b) a scholarly, original paper dealing with the interpretation and evaluation of the work of a particular writer whose findings have a significant bearing on any aspect of the educational enterprise where the significance has not been clearly indicated by earlier studies; or, (c) an analytic report demonstrating the student’s ability to carry a project through from conceptualization to evaluation. (Graduate Faculty Action, February 15, 1973). The dissertation usually requires a year or more of study. Registration in dissertation research hours for on-campus students, or by petition for credit in absentia, after the completion of the required 64 hours beyond the master’s degree is optional. This registration typically comes after the course work is completed and before the time limits are reached. The College of Education does not limit the number of dissertation research hours a student can take, however, no more than 16 can be counted toward the Ed.D. credit requirements and at least 4 hours is expected. Ph.D. Education 64 hrs beyond Masters 32 hrs of coursework in the major 4-32 hrs of dissertation credit must pass final defense The Ph.D. dissertation is intended to demonstrate the student’s capacity for independent research. In it, the student should make an original contribution to knowledge. (Graduate Faculty Action, February 15, 1973). The dissertation usually requires a year or more of study. Registration in dissertation research hours for on-campus students, or by petition, in absentia after the completion of the required 64 hours beyond the master’s degree is optional. This registration typically comes after the course work is completed and before the time limits are reached. The College of Education does not limit the number of dissertation research hours a student can take, however, no more than 32 hours can be counted toward the Ph.D. and at least 4 hours is expected. Ph.D. in natural resources and environmental sciences 64 hrs beyond the masters 32 hrs or more of courses 32 hrs or more of dissertation research must pass preliminary examination prior to candidacy for Ph.D. Must pass final defense. This is all they had on the Ph.D. in NRES. However, this degree frequently requires in excess of three-four years spent doing research, and virtually all graduates take more than four years to complete the degree. Ed. D.'s can take as little as a few years of fulltime study to complete. The point is, the issue that an Ed.D. is not qualified to teach as a biology professor has nothing to do with insult or perception. The degree simply is not intended, in most cases, even to be a teaching degree but rather a professional degree for those seeking principal and superintendant jobs. The Ph.D. in education is a degree for those interested in studying the field of education (and teaching about it), and the Ph.D. in and science is a degree for those interested in studying that science, and teaching about it. The degrees have very little to do with each other, focus on completely different career goals, and overlap little. It is no different to say an Ed. D. is not qualified to be a biology professor than it is to say a Ph.D. is not qualified to drill teeth. A typical Ph.D. is not a dentist, a typical Ed.D. is not a research biologist, and a typical Ph.D. in education generally is not seeking a post as a principal. Maybe this will clear this mess up that is obviously getting a little twisted and causing grief! On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 9:38 PM, David M. Lawrence <d...@fuzzo.com> wrote: > It's nice to see the enlightened opinion here -- i.e., tripe -- but until > someone comes up with a substantive difference between the two types of > degrees, all I can conclude is that the critics of Ph.D.s are bigoted jerks > better suited to wearing white sheets and burning crosses than scientists > who dispassionately pursue the evidence no matter where it leads. > > Put up, or shut up. Comments like Tupper's and Tyson's, given that they are > in print, amount to libel of anyone with an Ed.D. > > If you're going to criticize it in such terms, you better have evidence to > back your statement up. So, what is it? > > Dave > > Tupper, Mark (WorldFish) wrote: >> >> I'd beg to differ with that. If you want "opportunities" and "placement" >> in aquatic biology and fisheries (i.e. a real job after university), get >> a Ph.D. >> Get an Ed.D. if you want to be a bartender or make money in real estate. >> >> Mark Tupper >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news >> [mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson >> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 6:07 AM >> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU >> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD >> >> EdD is a BS degree in makeup, and is for those who want "opportunities" >> and "placement." PhD is for the passionate. >> >> WT >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Beugly" <jsbeu...@bsu.edu> >> To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 11:18 AM >> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD >> >> >>> My name is Jayson Beugly. I am currently pursuing an EdD in science >>> (aquatic >>> biology and fisheries)and an opportunity to switch to a PhD has come >> >> up. I >>> >>> am searching for advice on the pros and cons of the PhD vs EdD. There >>> seems >>> to be a bit of confusion regarding place and opportunities available >> >> for >>> >>> recipients of these respective degrees. >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank You >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> -------- >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.10/1995 - Release Date: >> 03/11/09 08:28:00 > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------ > David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786 > 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 > Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: d...@fuzzo.com > USA | http: http://fuzzo.com > ------------------------------------------------------ > > "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo > > "No trespassing > 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Associate Professor of Biology Texas A&M University-Texarkana Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology http://www.herpconbio.org Fall Teaching Schedule & Office Hours: Ecology: M,W 1-2:40 pm Cell Biology: M 6-9:40 pm (don't ask!) Forensic Science: T,R 10-11:40am Office Hours: MW 12-1, 5-6, TR 11:40-12:30, 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! 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