Chapter 2: Why We Need the EdD to Prepare New Faculty

The growth of doctoral programs in education continues with an increased number of degrees in school leadership and educational administration. Most of the increase in degrees has come in professional practice degree programs preparing candidates to assume greater responsibility for the education of children and youth. The Doctor of Education (EdD) is the degree of choice for many of these candidates and program offerings have grown substantially over the last decade. We want to make the case in this chapter that the EdD should be viewed as the appropriate degree for other professional practitioners pursuing doctoral education—particularly for a new generation of faculty who want to “bridge the gap” between schools and colleges.