PhD or EdD?

Specialties Educators

Published

Interested to see who decided or is deciding to continue their education in Nursing education, which path did you choose to take, why and what program are you in or looking at?

I'm currently in an MSNed program and looking ahead to see if I want to do a EdD program or a PhD program. I like the educational focus of the EdD rather than the research focus of the PhD. I aslo have considered DNP but have no interest in re-routing my career plans to become an aprn just to get a DNP when I don't want to practice in that role. I love teaching and love being a certified Registered Nurse and do not want to be a NP, CNM or CNS.

Thanks in advance for your insight! :)

BCRNA: Thank you so much for your encouraging words. That makes me feel very confident in my potential for pursuing my doctorate before 30. I do know the area I would like to focus on and am giving myself a few years to figure out exactly what specifically I would like to focus my research on. Very helpful, thank you.

meanmaryjean: Wow! I am definitely going to look more into that program. This is great because it gives me more options in pursuing my doctorate! And I followed your link and they are VERY reasonably priced for a doctoral degree :up:

You all have made me very excited about my future career options and possibilities!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

I know this is an old thread. I was enrolled in an EdD program once. At the Doctorate level of education you are really learning to be a knowledge generator rather than a consumer through an apprenticeship. Yes you take classes but it's preparation to be a researcher. You should select a program based on the faculty as that will shape education. I left the program because my adviser didn't get tenure and no other professor could guide me in my topic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

Also PhD programs are focused on training theoretical researchers. EdD usually for training practical researchers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in education, Peds ICU, cardiac, LNC, psych.

I obtained my MSN/Ed this past February. I am considering both EdD and PhD. But i am not sure which to do first? What do you recommend?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

In general if you see yourself doing research because you want to know why and don't care about practical applications go for the PhD. If want to apply theoretical research results to solve real world problems go for the EdD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

PhD for me! When I was trying to decide, most told me that the PhD is the “gold standard”. I like research and had a couple of research topics in mind when applying. You just need the idea-you will not be held responsible to create your question before classes started. I ended up tweaking my interest just a smidge. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

I just received my Ed.D from Walden University. I decided to go for an Ed.D instead of Ph.D because I believe in being a scholar/practitioner. Both of the degrees are terminal degrees and are research-based. However, unlike the Ph.D degree that prepares researchers and educators, the Ed.D is an educational based degree that prepares one to be a practicing educational researcher. For Ed.D, the Walden program insists on Project study instead of just dissertation. So you do a research and use the results to develop a project. It was tedious but exciting.

Good luck! I am proud of you that you are considering this educational journey.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I obtained my MSN/Ed this past February. I am considering both EdD and PhD. But i am not sure which to do first? What do you recommend?

Do you plan to work in education and do research on education? If not, then it makes no sense to get an EdD. It is a terminal degree in education that a lot of nursing school administrators have -- and others who want to focus on nursing education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in education, Peds ICU, cardiac, LNC, psych.

llg,

I would love to work in education and do research on education. So you do not think that getting an EdD in, for example, curriculum development will not make me a better educator? Or will everything just overlap? Am I over thinking this? I am having a hard time obtaining an educator position so I am really frustrated and feel like if I have a degree in this and a degree in that, all pertaining to nursing education, then I will finally land a job. I have decided to obtain my PhD but I was not sure if the EdD will enhance my education or just be a waste of time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in education, Peds ICU, cardiac, LNC, psych.
I did a PhD program several years ago. It qualifies me to teach at a university and also to work in a hospital as a researcher and in Staff Development. It's a degree that works in both the academic and practice environments.

I would like to be able to have both of these options, like you, llg. Seems like PhD will do it then?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment