Ed. D.

[Pastor Shaun]

I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Ed. D. degree that some seminaries offer. Is it a degree containing theological studies, or is it a general Doctor of Education degree that can be found at secular universities? I am sure that the degree is grounded in Scripture but was wondering what the exact makeup was.

 

[StefanM]

It depends on the institution. If it's offered through a seminary, it most likely has to do with Christian education or leadership.

 

[Broadus]

I doubt much study in theology will be involved, simply due to the nature of the degree. As you said, in a seminary setting, the courses will have an underlying Christian foundation, so that would set such a degree apart from one in a secular setting. You may want to check out the non-traditional Ed.D. in Leadership at SBTS.

Bill

 

[Rhetorician]

EdD Response

I doubt much study in theology will be involved, simply due to the nature of the degree. As you said, in a seminary setting, the courses will have an underlying Christian foundation, so that would set such a degree apart from one in a secular setting. You may want to check out the non-traditional Ed.D. in Leadership at SBTS.

Bill

To all who would want to hear my opinion:

I would add that the EdD from the RA or ATS seminary and the EdD from the secular or state university would probably be "oil and water" as far as the recognition of one from the other's perspective.

The seminary would probably recognize the university degree. But, I deeply doubt that any secular or state university would recognize the seminary EdD although it would be just as good education wise. The philosophies of education would be entirely different would they not, which would account for the differences?

FWIW!:wavey:

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

 

[mcdirector]

Agreeing with everything said above.

The EdD is going to be educational in purpose. The focus will be Christian in nature.

It's utility is limited. I occassionally had some profs with one, but I had others that looked upon them with disdain.

What do you want to do with it?

 

[StefanM]

Agreeing with everything said above.

The EdD is going to be educational in purpose. The focus will be Christian in nature.

It's utility is limited. I occassionally had some profs with one, but I had others that looked upon them with disdain.

What do you want to do with it?

This is a good assessment. It will open more secular doors than a DMin or DEdMin will do, but a PhD would open many more.

 

[mcdirector]

This is a good assessment. It will open more secular doors than a DMin or DEdMin will do, but a PhD would open many more.

Yes -- much more flexible, if there is any prospect of doing anything in academia. If this will be terminal though. If you want to be a principal, use it in a church setting as Min of Ed, then EdD might fit the bill just fine. Although it probably doesn't have enough theology for a non-school related church setting unless you already know the limits of the role you'll play.

 

[Rhetorician]

Shaun Response

I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Ed. D. degree that some seminaries offer. Is it a degree containing theological studies, or is it a general Doctor of Education degree that can be found at secular universities? I am sure that the degree is grounded in Scripture but was wondering what the exact makeup was.

Shaun,

I would say that the EdD from the seminary must be built upon the MA(RE), MA(CE), old MRE, or an MDiv with a CE emphasis. This is especially true for the EdD program at Southern Seminary.

It is like most doctorates, you must have an appropriate Master's degree in order to even apply for the doctoral program.

FWIW & FYI!

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

 

[Pastor Shaun]

Thanks for the information. I have posted several times asking certain seminary related questions. Here is the boat I am in: I will be teaching middle school education, but would like to receive a seminary education to help me in my role as a Pastor. I would love to eventually transition into full time ministry (Pastor, Evangelist, Biblical teaching). I just don't know what to do. I live 3 hours from SBTS. I also have had Biblical training, in which my undergrad degree will be in Bible and Education. I feel the MDIV would be a fantastic degree but expense could be an issue. I eventually would like to study for a DMIN or doctorate degree in Biblical education. Anyone have thoughts or ideas? I am just looking for a direction to go in after I graduate. Thanks!

God Bless

 

[Broadus]

Shaun,

Are you married? Children?

Unless you have college debt you have to repay or some serious financial constraint, I would recommend your moving to SBTS and doing the MDiv. I really don't think you're going to be content unless you get a good MDiv.

Similar to Rhet, my wife and I left an eight-year pastorate in south Georgia to move to the Louisville area to do an MDiv at SBTS (and I continued to do the PhD). We had three daughters: two teens and the third an almost teen. It was not easy and it was a financial hardship. We did without some extras but never went hungry or lacked the necessities. And we had no support from a home church or a rich family to rely upon.

I don't think the EdD would do what you want. Unless there is something prohibiting your doing it, I would encourage you to go to a quality seminary and get the training you need. If you have to stay where you are for some reason, teach school and do your MDiv externally. There are several seminaries through which one can do distance education and do the required on campus hours through intensive short terms. No way worth doing is going to be without personal sacrifice, though.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[mcdirector]

It has been my experience in Christian Ed that a Seminary degree of any stripe will serve you well. An MDiv is an excellent choice and opens so many avenues for you to pursue. If for some reason you decide you want to go into administration, accrediting agencies will be looking for a masters and adminstrative coursework which you can pick up. ACSI even has a streamlined one-year on-the-job track you can follow (with some reading and summer coursework) which will give you ACSI admin licensure - if that's what you want later down the road.

An EdD will limit you in so many ways that a Ministry degree will not.

 

[Rhetorician]

MCDirector Response

It has been my experience in Christian Ed that a Seminary degree of any stripe will serve you well. An MDiv is an excellent choice and opens so many avenues for you to pursue. If for some reason you decide you want to go into administration, accrediting agencies will be looking for a masters and adminstrative coursework which you can pick up. ACSI even has a streamlined one-year on-the-job track you can follow (with some reading and summer coursework) which will give you ACSI admin licensure - if that's what you want later down the road.

An EdD will limit you in so many ways that a Ministry degree will not.

Dear Brother MC,

I should know, being as I am an "old hand" here at the BB. But what is the "ACSI?"

Please advise.

sdg!:smilewinkgrin:

rd

 

[mcdirector]

Dear Brother MC,

I should know, being as I am an "old hand" here at the BB. But what is the "ACSI?"

Please advise.

sdg!:smilewinkgrin:

rd

I'm Sister Bitsy

Association of Christian Schools International.

 

[Broadus]

Dear Brother MC,

. . . .

sdg!:smilewinkgrin:

rd

I could not help but smile when I read "Dear Brother MC," knowing what was coming. Perfectly honest mistake, but it put a smile on my face nonetheless.

Bill

 

[UZThD]

rigor of one EdD program

I was in the Ed.D at Oregon State in the 1970s (not finished) . For me the coursework with the significant exception of "statistics" was quite easy.[I am left brainedraying: ] I took audiology, speech pathology, education, and, as a grad assistant taught remedial reading and practicum.

Physiological Psychology at OSU was my downful. I greatly resented the method of teaching which was to fill in spaces in a workbook while reading the text. Maybe I was wrong, but I thought doctoral students should be past such elementary methods.

When I chose, after the MA, to do more grad work in Bible/ Theology at Western Seminary, I found those studies much more demanding than the EdD.

 

[paidagogos]

Same story.......different time and place

I was in the Ed.D at Oregon State in the 1970s (not finished) . For me the coursework with the significant exception of "statistics" was quite easy.[I am left brainedraying: ] I took audiology, speech pathology, education, and, as a grad assistant taught remedial reading and practicum.

Physiological Psychology at OSU was my downful. I greatly resented the method of teaching which was to fill in spaces in a workbook while reading the text. Maybe I was wrong, but I thought doctoral students should be past such elementary methods.

When I chose, after the MA, to do more grad work in Bible/ Theology at Western Seminary, I found those studies much more demanding than the EdD.

Ditto--similar experience. Some have labelled the Ed.D. as the middle class Ph.D. It is more about application and practice than theoretical and academic considerations. The question is whether education is academic field or discipline in itself. I have my doubts. :laugh:

 

[Rhetorician]

Paid Response

Ditto--similar experience. Some have labelled the Ed.D. as the middle class Ph.D. It is more about application and practice than theoretical and academic considerations. The question is whether education is academic field or discipline in itself. I have my doubts. :laugh:

Hey Paid,

I hope you are well. Just a short note: Some in the circles where I go think of the EdD as just a "glorified masters degree!"

FWIW!

sdg!:thumbs:

rd

 

[Martin]

I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Ed. D. degree that some seminaries offer. Is it a degree containing theological studies, or is it a general Doctor of Education degree that can be found at secular universities? I am sure that the degree is grounded in Scripture but was wondering what the exact makeup was.

==I don't know about the exact makeup of the degree. However I think the purpose is different. A seminary EdD is clearly for someone in Christian Education. It is not intended to prepare a person for positions in "secular" schools (public, university, etc). There are many fine Christian universities that offer doctor of education degrees. There are also many good "secular" universities that offer great doctor of education programs.

Just make sure that any EdD program you enter is regionally accredited and NCATE accredited.

Liberty University has a good program as do many of the UNC campuses.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I have an Ed.D. from a Christian college/grad school (defunct since 1989 so it has no credibility any longer!).

But an Ed.D. program involved a focus of study (about 40 credits) on a major field of interest, with the remaining credits in general education-related fields.

Mine was in Social Studies with emphasis on Geography. But the Ed.D. had far less concentration in the field than a Ph.D. And no dissertation was required (which again involves years of research and I did write/publish mine anyway).

An Ed.D. is not as "high" (actually quite different) as a Ph.D. in a subject area, but one might have an Ed.D. and a concentration in OT or NT theology, languages, etc.

I already had a D.Min. from an accredited seminary 7 years earlier, so I wanted a totally different concentration and focus than pastoral ministries. And still working on my Ph.D. in Biblical Geography.

Someday . . . :thumbs:

 

[Rhetorician]

Dr. Bob Response

I have an Ed.D. from a Christian college/grad school (defunct since 1989 so it has no credibility any longer!).

But an Ed.D. program involved a focus of study (about 40 credits) on a major field of interest, with the remaining credits in general education-related fields.

Mine was in Social Studies with emphasis on Geography. But the Ed.D. had far less concentration in the field than a Ph.D. And no dissertation was required (which again involves years of research and I did write/publish mine anyway).

An Ed.D. is not as "high" (actually quite different) as a Ph.D. in a subject area, but one might have an Ed.D. and a concentration in OT or NT theology, languages, etc.

I already had a D.Min. from an accredited seminary 7 years earlier, so I wanted a totally different concentration and focus than pastoral ministries. And still working on my Ph.D. in Biblical Geography.

Someday . . . :thumbs:

Dr. Bob,

Long time no hear. I was wondering what had happened to you? Have you gotten back to the PhD as of late?

I know you have probably been reading through the comments above. I did not want you to think that I was slighting you by my "EdD is just a glorified master's" comment above. If I have offended in any way I am sorry.

Good to hear from you. "Stay by the stuff!":thumbs: