Chapter 12: The Promise of Preparing Teacher Leaders: Opportunities, Challenges, and Risks

As of this writing (in 2011) the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at the University of Kansas offers two doctoral degrees—a Doctor of Education (EdD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Each degree is recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents as a general doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, but internally we offer specializations in numerous content areas for both doctoral programs, such as reading education, curriculum studies, English language learners education, and math education, to name a few. Over the years, the requirements for the EdD and the PhD, regardless of specialization, have become almost indistinguishable, with the exception of the total number of hours and the lack of a minor and a college teaching requirement in the EdD program. Largely because of a lack of difference in degree requirements, the vast majority of our doctoral candidates opt for the PhD, regardless of their future career plans, possibly because candidates perceive that a PhD has more external value than an EdD.