Get the Facts on Walden’s P–20 Education (Self-Designed) Specialization

Tracking students’ progress from preschool to college to the workforce yields vital information educators use to help better prepare students for college and careers. P–20 data is at the heart of these efforts, providing a longitudinal look at critical factors like demographics, test scores, enrollment, and graduation rates.

“By building statewide longitudinal data systems that are designed to answer key questions, all stakeholders can have a rich picture of individual student progress over time that empowers them to make informed decisions that prepare all students for college and 21st-century careers,” says Achieve, a nonprofit education advocacy group.¹

Walden University, a leader in providing doctoral degree programs for adult distance learners, now offers a P–20 Education (Self-Designed) specialization for Doctor of Education (EdD) and PhD in Education candidates. Walden designed the specialization for professionals looking to better understand developments in the P–20 education field and immediately apply that knowledge to issues in classrooms, education environments, or learning organizations.

With this relevant and contemporary specialization option, education professionals have maximum flexibility to design an online EdD or PhD degree specialization focusing on P–20 education that matches their personal and professional goals. Students take core education courses and are then able to choose any four courses from select specializations that focus on P–20 education, depending on their specific interests.

Key Benefit

When you choose Walden’s online P–20 Education specialization as an EdD or a PhD candidate, you’ll reap benefits that include:

• Relevance: The specialization offers a wide array of topics critical to P–20 education, including adult learning, assessment and evaluation, community college leadership, elearning, leadership, and policy.
• Personalization With Purpose: Walden lets you create a specialization that meshes with your personal and professional goals. While two P–20 Education specialization courses are required, you’ll have the flexibility of choosing four electives from select specializations that focus on P–20 education.
• Community: Join a network of 65,000 students and alumni of Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences who are impacting the field of education and driving change. EdD graduate Angela Valdez says, “The most rewarding aspect of pursuing my degree at Walden was the relationships and network that I formed.”

EdD or PhD Degree?

Choose your degree based on your academic interests, career goals, and passions. A PhD in Education focuses on theories and research on how people learn. A Doctor of Education focuses on how to best put those theories to work in the classroom.

Multiple Career Options

An EdD degree program can prepare you for a variety of hands-on leadership roles within education institutions, civil service, private organizations, and public institutions. Education professionals with EdD degrees may find rewarding positions as:

PhD job roles can include:

Walden’s P–20 Education specialization can help lead you to greater career success in a growing job market. For example, through 2026 the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts job growth of 10%—faster than average—for postsecondary education administrators.² Postsecondary teacher jobs are predicted to grow by 15% through 2026.³

Customize your online PhD or EdD degree program and chart your P–20 education course to the job, opportunities, and rewards you seek. If you have previously earned credits from an accredited institution, be sure to inquire about Walden University’s transfer of credit policy. A free transfer of credit evaluation could help you earn your PhD or EdD degree in less time.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering online Doctor of Education and PhD in Education degree programs with a P–20 Education (Self-Designed) specialization. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.achieve.org/publications/who-benefits-p-20-data
²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm
³Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.