How to Get a PhD or EdD in Language

If you've always been fascinated by the ways language drives education and daily life, a doctoral degree can give you the training and study you need to work at the highest level of the field.

Unlike the broader doctoral study in linguistics, which can be further specialized into fields such as neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, evolutionary linguistics, and more, doctoral degrees in language often focus on language and literacy, technology, or education in an applied sense. If you're interested in potentially pursuing a high level career in teaching, research, or language education policymaking, a doctoral degree in language could be ideal.

Earning Your PhD in Language

Turn your fascination with language into a respected terminal degree with a PhD in language. Students typically know three or more languages with reading proficiency prior to admission to a language doctoral program. Language doctoral programs are most often found in English, linguistics, or cultural studies departments, though it is not uncommon to find a PhD program in a history department.

In a language PhD program, students spend the first years completing advanced coursework and learning research skills, followed by a comprehensive exam and full admission into the program. During the dissertation period, students write a thesis that makes a significant contribution to the field. That contribution must be evaluated during a dissertation defense, at which point the student is awarded a PhD.

In general, the PhD is considered a research-based degree, and is most appropriate for students who wish to become professors, high-level researchers, or consultants. A language PhD graduate might go on to teach at the college level or conduct language research for a governmental or private organization.

Earning Your EdD in Language

While the PhD and EdD are considered academically equivalent, students generally go on to different careers after graduating. EdD students typically focus on methodology and pedagogy in language education. Graduates go on to create new policies for education boards, work in administration, or teach at the college level. Your specific career goals should determine the type of doctoral degree in language you pursue.

An EdD in language will typically require a series of doctoral seminars. Here is a sampling of seminars that may be required of language EdD students:

• History of Education
• Educational Psychology
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Educational Administration
• Educational Sociology

After the seminar period, the EdD in language progresses much like a PhD; students must pass comprehensive exams before beginning a dissertation period which spans years and results in a new contribution to the field of teaching language.

Alternative Language Doctoral Degrees

If you're interested in a broader based doctoral program, or a doctorate with a different application than a PhD, consider these alternative degrees. These degree programs offer the doctoral experience related to language, but with different aims or results for students. Here are just a few potential alternative doctoral degrees related to language:

• Literacy Doctor of Education (EdD): Prepare to become a literacy education researcher, improve K-12 literacy instruction techniques. Coursework includes literacy education and research techniques.

• Speech-Language Pathology EdD: Designed for practicing speech-language pathologists, this degree prepares students to work in administration and supervisory positions over other speech-language pathologists and educational programs.

• TESOL PhD: This doctoral degree is targeted for higher education educators, supervisors, administrators, researchers, and curriculum developers for Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL) programs.

• Culture, Literacy, and Language PhD: Students of this doctoral degree program enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to their language education. Programs may be offered through Bicultural-Bilingual Studies departments.

Whether you choose one of the above alternative degrees or pursue a PhD or EdD, you'll need to decide if you should pursue a campus-based or online degree. Each learning style comes with its own benefits and challenges.

On-Campus Vs. Online PhD in Language

Unlike some doctoral degrees with laboratory requirements, much of a PhD or EdD degree in language can be completed online. Learn more about each type of education before you decide if a campus-based or online PhD in language is right for you.

• The online PhD in language gives you the chance to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Unlike a traditional campus-based PhD with attendance requirements and travel costs, earning your PhD online means having the freedom to retain a full-time job and keep your family responsibilities as you pursue your education.

• The campus-based PhD in language comes with its own set of benefits. As a student of a campus-based doctoral program, you'll enjoy face-to-face interaction with their professors and peers, plus access to labs and library resources that might not be available online.

• A third option, the hybrid campus/online PhD in language, offers both worlds to the student. After meeting some classroom requirements, you are free to complete a portion of your degree online, taking online classes and communicating via email with dissertation advisors.

Ultimately, the type of educational program you choose is up to your preferences, needs, and comfort level. Explore both campus-based and online PhD options as you compile a list of potential doctoral programs in language.

Begin Your Language Doctorate Research

Long before you begin your dissertation study, it's important to focus on another type of research: the research that will help you compile a list of potential doctoral programs in language. A range of programs are available in both campus-based and online course formats. As a student, it's your responsibility to learn more about the future of your own education.

Researching potential PhD programs can be a time-consuming process. Fortunately, these free resources are available to help speed the process:

• U.S. News and World Report offers rankings of the nation's best Social Science and Humanities schools. Browse the rankings to find the best English, history, and sociology departments--all related to the study of language.

• WorldWideLearn.com offers a portal featuring a full listing of doctoral degrees in education. Use the site to compile your list and easily communicate with the schools of your choice.

• The Chronicle of Higher Education ranks top linguistics doctoral programs at top research universities based on number of faculty, percentage of faculty with a book publication, journal publications per faculty, and more. Language programs are also ranked.

Once you've put together a list of possible schools, you can begin narrowing your list down while considering your own qualifications and needs as a student. Breaking this process into simple steps is one way to make the process easier. In the long run, a precise list of potential schools will save you time and money in application fees.

How to Shorten Your Doctoral Potential List

The first step of finding the right doctoral program for you is to create a list of all potential programs. From there, narrow your possible options by considering them in terms of a few broad categories. These categories can help you easily eliminate programs and learn what you're looking for in a school.

• Accreditation: Make sure you know if each school on your list is accredited. The process of accreditation is based on elements like faculty, coursework, and exams. When a third-party agency is willing to put their stamp of approval on a school, you can feel confident in the quality of your education. Accreditation also affects your eligibility for federal student aid.

• Admissions: While admissions requirements vary greatly based on your school, the most selective schools will often have the most challenging admissions requirements. In a language PhD program, students should expect to submit test scores, proof of language ability, minimum GPA proof, letters of recommendation, and more.

• History: While language doctoral programs with a long history may be able to provide applicants with information on alumni success and famous faculty, students often pay for the privilege of attending. Newer schools could lack a successful track record but offer a high level of education all the same.

• Faculty: The faculty of a language doctoral program will contribute greatly to your satisfaction with the program in general. Look for faculty with real-life experience in the subfield of your choice. Additionally, find more information on faculty publication records and learn who is completing research similar to your own.

• Community: Different programs will have different levels of interaction and community among students. Also, some PhD language programs will have teaching or other requirements in the community around the school. Determine the level of interaction you would prefer to have with the community at large.

• Alumni: The success of a language department's alumni speaks volumes for the strength of the program in general. Get more information on alumni groups from the school and the department, and learn about graduate job placement and other signs of success.

Consider each of the above categories as you narrow down your list of potential graduate degree programs in language, and you'll enjoy the confidence of a well-researched choice. Eliminating schools that would be a bad fit or offer programs that don't suit you well saves time and money when it comes time to apply to potential programs.

Explore More Resources at WorldWideLearn.com

Simplify your transition back to school using the free tools at WorldWideLearn.com. The site offers a wealth of resources for potential and current students, from career tools and helpful articles to financial aid information and school listings. Take a look at the range of resources you can use:

• Guide to College Majors. Use this guide to help determine a minor, change your major, or learn more about all of the majors offered by schools across the country. This resource is perfect for anyone who has been away from school for a while and is looking for a basic information source.

• Financial Aid. Financing your education is simple with WorldWideLearn.com's Financial Aid page. Browse the page for information on the financial aid process, applying for federal and student aid, and where to find private scholarships in the language department.

• Education Resources. Use this page for more information on regional and national accreditation, test preparation, and learning help. Get the facts on online education and find out if it's right for you.

• Career Assessment. Use this portal to find career assessment tests, fun learning quizzes, and articles about careers, leadership, and networking. Whether you're not in school yet, navigating the career world as a student, or wondering what comes next as a graduate, the Career Assessment page offers tools you can use.

Browse the helpful pages above and learn more about your own educational journey and career aspirations. Potential students and graduates alike will appreciate the helpful articles, fun quizzes, and information found across the site.

Join the Professional Language Community

Whether you intend to become an academic, a consulting professional in the field, or a high-level researcher, it helps to become a part of the publishing academic community within the language field. That means learning more about professional publications, conferences, and associations that can serve to advance your career. Take a look at a few community resources within language and linguistics:

• Journals: Language and Education, Journal of Language, Identity, and Education (JLIE), Language Learning: A Journal of Research in Language Studies, Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Applied Linguistics, Language Learning
• Conferences: Translating and the Computer, LDAA Mind, Body, Spirit Conference, ACTFL Annual Convention & World Languages Expo, Academic Language and Learning Conference, The Worldwide Forum on Education and Culture
• Professional Organizations: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Modern Language Association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL), American Association for Applied Linguistics

Start your research today for a language program that suits your career goals. Using the resources above, you can take your best first steps towards a doctoral degree in a subject that fascinates you.

Sources

• American Association for Applied Linguistics
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• U.S. News and World Report