Spotlight: Britni Pittman, MSW, Ed.D. program
Ed.D. candidate Britni Pittman earned her MSW at UNE Online and has now chosen to continue at UNE to get a terminal degree. Read about Britni, her academic journey, and how enrolling in the Ed.D. program led her to pursue a leadership capacity within her current job position.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what encouraged you to pursue your Ed.D.?
Hi! My name is Britni Pittman and I am from Flowood, MS. I am a full-time wife, mother of boys, and employee who balances everyday life and work along with the UNE Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program.
I am a master’s-level medical social worker where I practice at a small medical clinic. Starting when I was an undergraduate, I wanted to teach social work courses. After finishing my master’s degree with UNE, I applied for the Ed.D. program and was accepted.
I enjoyed my time with UNE while in the Master of Social Work program, and I wanted to continue to be a part of the cohesive community and support that UNE offers.
Enrolling in the Ed.D. program led me to pursue a leadership capacity within my current job position. Once I graduate, I hope to open more pathways to be a successful leader – mentoring and motivating others in the social work field.
Why did you choose to earn an Ed.D. after you received your MSW, instead of earning your Ph.D. or DSW?
With an Ed.D. degree, I am hoping to teach at the university level and/or pursue more leadership roles to motivate, lead, and encourage others around me in the field.
The Ed.D. degree aligned more closely with the values of leadership that I wanted to explore in the field of social work.
How did you feel about the flexibility of the program?
I have thoroughly enjoyed the flexibility the program offers. Balancing work, home, and school has its challenges, but the flexibility of the Ed.D. program has made it possible.
How did you feel about your work-life balance as you went through the program?
Aside from my everyday challenges of work-life balance, I had to really manage my time effectively and efficiently. I have a set schedule that I try to maintain. This entails using my lunch hour to read and complete assignments, check school emails, and reply to my classmates.
I have a busy schedule, but again, with the flexibility and time management skills I have accumulated, it has been easy for me to achieve my desired goal of succeeding in the program.
Did you feel supported by your instructors and your student support specialist?
Absolutely! I felt my student support specialists were there every step of the way. They were always a phone call (or an email) away. I could always count on them to respond to me within a reasonable time, which I loved!
My instructors have been great so far. They have been supportive and willing to help me in any way possible.
Did you feel that the program curriculum is rigorous?
Being in a doctorate-level program, I already knew the courses were not going to be easy and expected that the coursework would challenge me.
If you could give future Ed.D. students a piece of advice, what would that be?
If you are hesitant about enrolling in the Ed.D. program, just go for it. I promise there will be no regrets. I am a full-time wife, mother, and employee that can balance this doable program with my everyday life. The flexibility the program provides is phenomenal.