Introduction

Pursuing a terminal degree is one of the most significant career decisions a student affairs professional will make. In fact, according to Dunn and Kniess (2019), it is a “complicated calculation involving several professional and personal variables” (p. 41). This introduction will provide helpful insights for student affairs practitioners considering a doctorate. It will begin by outlining the various motivations and considerations behind this major decision. Second, it will describe the two most common doctoral degree options, the Doctor of Education (EdD) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in education. Finally, it will look at the unique nature of the EdD degree, as well as the network that supports it, the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED, 2022).