Determine the type of doctorate you wish to achieve: Doctorate in Education (EdD) or Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD). Both degrees have equal recognition, with the EdD being more project-based and the PhD more theoretical and research-based. If you envision a career in academic research as a policy maker or educational theorist, opt for a PhD degree. If you wish to use your skills in the professional practice of teaching, select the EdD degree.
Investigate the doctoral degree programs of various universities by browsing the U.S. News Education and GradSchools websites. Follow the links to each individual university and check the specializations offered. Doctoral programs in education typically emphasize one of these areas: education policy, student affairs, educational leadership, educational technology, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, higher education and adult education. Study the subject matter that each specialization covers to determine which one appeals to you.
Compare across universities that offer the specialization of interest to you, with respect to the program structure, tuition fees and financial aid you can hope to receive. Look for admission criteria the university specifies, including Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
Take the GRE General Test. If you are a non-native speaker of English, you will also need to take the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
Apply to the universities where you qualify on the basis of your GRE score. Apply to more than one program to improve your chances of gaining admission. Submit all documents the university specifies, such as the official transcripts of previous courses you attended, GRE scores, statement of intent, recommendation letters and samples of your writing from previous courses.
Complete admission paperwork at the university that accepts you as a student and begin taking the courses as prescribed. This will generally include subjects such as general culture, methods in educational research, evaluation methods for educational programs, research methods in self-study, and applications of qualitative and quantitative methods. Besides these, you will need to take specific courses your university specifies for your area of specialization. Take and pass the written and oral qualifying exams as per the requirements of your course.
Decide the topic of your dissertation in consultation with your academic adviser and get it approved by the doctoral committee. Select a topic in your area of interest. For example, if you are fascinated by the psychological aspects of education, you can choose to investigate if home schooled children are higher achievers than those who attend traditional schools. If you are interested in adult education, you can work on studying how useful present day business management degree courses are to a budding entrepreneur.
Keep in regular touch with your adviser during the course of your research. Write your thesis in consultation with him and present it to your doctoral committee for approval. Incorporate any changes they suggest. Prepare and present your work with confidence during the thesis oral defense interview to obtain your doctorate.