The Doctoral Journey: Benchmarks of the Doctoral in Education Journey

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Many skilled educators never journey beyond the Master's level in education. Before you take the plunge into the highest level of education, there are many factors to consider. This paper explores some of the benchmarks for the doctoral candidate. Also, this paper considers the features that a quality doctoral school offers.

The Doctoral Journey

Almost all teachers, certainly all public school teachers who want to obtain tenure, will seek and complete a master's level of study in the subject that they are teaching, or in education. This is not a benchmark to measure teachers by, but a requirement in all of America's public school districts. Not all will continue to a doctoral study. Many teachers find satisfaction with their economic, career and development without pursuing a doctorate. There are important benchmarks of doctoral study to consider before beginning.

First, in today's uncertain job market, obtaining a doctoral degree does not guarntee employment at a higher level, or higher pay. Secondly,

a doctoral journey can be a long process, with many benchmarks for the students' dissertation to satisfy. Many students have left dissertations in progress and unfinished, because job and familiy committments have been a higher priority.

Benchmarks to Consider Before Beginning a Doctoral Program

Before beginning a doctoral program , a student needs to be able to committ a block of time each week for their study. Timing is important as most adult students are already juggling job and family duties. If you have just started a new job and also have had a new baby, the time is probably not right. So, a benchmark for beginning a doctoral program would be the ...

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... can stand up against the university forum.

Often, the steps to completing a dissertation is outlined as benchmarks of a doctoral program.

Summary

A doctoral candidate needs to have the desire to tackle a long study involving research and discussion, and have ample time to devote to study.

There is no guarantee that job prospects will increase at all, and unless the tuition is being paid by an employer, the student debt will increase.

A doctoral program in education should have an open and accepting attitude to all qualified candidates, and provide an atmosphere of critical

and analytical discussion leading to creation of methods of improving the educational field.

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Reference

Nixon, R. M., & Agnew, S. T. (1974). Serving with honor: Two great voices for political ethics. Journal of Expediency, 7(14) 345-367.

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