Ed.D. Specializations – Top 16 Areas of Concentrations

You’ll need to choose what to specialize in to earn an Ed.D. degree. Now there are multiple specializations where you can pursue a career in. You only need to read on for such details.

One of the main requirements for being a leader in the educational sector is to earn a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. This graduate degree explores the theory and practice of leadership in education.

Because it’s a practitioner-focused degree, it holds excellent prestige in education.

As suggested by the topic, Ed.D. specializations help students focus on specific areas that enable them to gain critical knowledge and skills.

Ed.D. Specializations and What they Entail?

As stated earlier, Ed.D. specializations are pretty varied, each focusing on a specific field.

These specializations include athletic training, teaching & learning, curriculum instruction & assessment, community college leadership, and educational administration & leadership.

More Ed.D. specializations include early childhood education, higher education leadership & management, and higher education & adult learning.

Educational technology, P-20 education, reading literacy & assessment, special education, and community college leadership are more specialization options.

You can earn an Ed.D. in diversity & multiculturalism, education policy, entrepreneurship in education, and K-12 leadership. Special education is another Ed.D. specialization that can be rewarding.

With these specializations mentioned, what do they entail? Let’s have a look.

Ed.D. Areas of Concentrations

i. Athletic Training

This is a path to specialization for persons interested in furthering their careers in athletic training.

Here, you get taught to use current athletic training techniques. While there are lots of opportunities available, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements to enroll.

ii. Teaching & Learning

An Ed.D. in teaching and learning is an advanced degree that prepares you for the real world.

The skills and knowledge learned to allow you to perform several roles, including teacher educator, educational researcher, and mentor teachers.

Find out what the requirements are to begin.

iii. Curriculum Instruction & Assessment

They specialize as a curriculum expert and enable you to make positive and far-reaching impacts on students.

Here, you get to graduate as a practitioner-scholar and apply critical skills learned to tackle learning theories while adopting best practices in curriculum & design.

iv. Community College Leadership

With an Ed.D. in community college leadership, you’re better positioned to take on various roles such as student affairs, faculty leadership, human resource administration, and senior administration positions in a community college setting. Persons with such specialization can also teach at the collegiate level.

v. Educational Administration & Leadership

An Ed.D. in educational administration & leadership aims to produce a crop of experienced and skilled administrators for better administration of school systems.

With this advanced degree, you’re better positioned to conduct doctoral-level research on applied and practical problem-solving.

vi. Early Childhood Education

This is one area you’ll want to specialize in if you have an interest or wish better grasp child psychology, development, and learning.

With this degree, you’re prepared for college teaching, leadership positions, and research in early childhood policy.

vii. Higher Education Leadership & Management

This is another Ed.D. specialization that offers the needed training in theoretical and research-based administrative and supervisory skills.

These are essential for practicing administrators in Departments of Education as well as in institutions of higher education.

viii. Higher Education & Adult Learning

You can also earn an Ed.D. in higher education & adult learning. As a potential decision maker, you’re trained to provide solutions for adult learning and higher education.

With this advanced degree, you can take leadership roles in non-profits, business, education, healthcare, etc.

ix. Educational Technology

With an Ed.D. in educational technology, you’re trained to become an innovator for school systems, private & public sectors, and teacher education programs.

You’re also prepared for an executive-level position in K-12 settings. Earning this degree will require meeting the minimum requirements.

x. P-20 Education

This educational administration specialization is for persons interested in becoming scholarly practitioners in P-20 educational settings.

You’ll need the academic requirements, sufficient professional preparation, and experience to be considered or accepted into this program.

xi. Reading Literacy & Assessment

Earning an Ed.D. degree in reading literacy & assessment equips you as a leader in P-12 and adult literacy education.

Here is a theoretical and foundational framework for reading and literacy instruction and assessment. The requirements for this specialization may vary from school to school.

xii. Special Education

There’s also an Ed.D. special education specialization where you can address teaching challenges at K-12 schools and universities.

You get to train for special education leadership roles in both public & private institutions.

One of the benefits of this advanced degree is that it helps close the gap between research and practice in special education.

xiii. Community College Leadership

An Ed.D. in community college leadership helps equip you for senior leadership roles and academic positions within community college settings.

Some examples of topics covered include advanced learning theory, leadership & ethics, and program evaluation, etc.

xiv. Diversity & Multiculturalism

With an Ed.D. in diversity & multiculturalism, you’re equipped to become a leader and advocate for diversity and social equality in multiple corporate, academic, and government settings.

For the most part, earning this degree will require completing anywhere from 50 to 70-course credits.

xv. Education Policy

This Ed.D. specialization places emphasis on policy and research. It also touches on key areas like social justice & anti-racism, systems thinking, and personal leadership.

xvi. Entrepreneurship in Education

With an Ed.D. in entrepreneurship in education, you can pursue careers at education non-profits, education technology companies, and academic research centers.

You can also be in government agencies and primary & secondary schools.

There are a lot more special Ed.D. specializations you might be interested in. You only need to figure out what works best for you.

Any of these specializations fully equips you with the needed skills to be more effective in your chosen field.

Before going for an Ed.D. degree, it’s essential to figure out how it will impact your career. The different specializations discussed all have varying impacts on education.