What is the difference between an Ed.D., D.Ed., and Ph.D.?
Traditionally, the Ph.D. was considered to be more theoretical, while the other education doctorate designations, such as Ed.D. and D.Ed., were considered to have a more applied emphasis. Recent comparisons of the curricula in doctoral programs in the field of education suggest that program requirements are equally demanding. The differences that once existed in the Ed.D., D.Ed., and Ph.D. have virtually disappeared. The Ph.D. is often more familiar to the general public because it is used in a variety of fields and has been in existence longer. This program results in Doctorate in Education, a D.Ed., which is widely recognized as the degree necessary to teach at the college level in the field of education.
