Ed.D

Ph.D.

Degree Objectives

Preparation of professional leaders competent in identifying and solving complex problems in education.  Emphasis is on developing thoughtful and reflective practitioners.

Preparation of professional researchers, scholars, or scholar practitioners.  Develops competence in conducting scholarship and research that focuses on acquiring new knowledge.

Intended Professional Career

Managerial or administrative leadership in educational institutions or related organizations (e.g. educational administrator, staff developer/trainer in educational settings or curriculum director.)

Scholarly practice, research, or teaching at university, college, institute or educational agency.

Knowledge Base

Develops knowledge for practice.  Content themes are integrated with practice with emphasis on application of knowledge base.  No course work required outside college.

Fosters theoretical and conceptual knowledge.  Content is investigative in nature with an emphasis on understanding the relationships to practice.  Related work required outside college.

Research Methods

Develops an overview and understanding of research including data collection skills for educational administrators action research, and program measurement and evaluation.  Could include work in management statistics and analysis.

Courses are similar to those for doctoral students in related disciplines.  Courses develop an understanding of educational inquiry as well as qualitative and quantitative research.  Focus is on developing competencies in research analysis, synthesis and writing.

Internship

A field internship or experience appropriate for intended professional career.  Students demonstrate proficiency in program evaluation as part of the experience.

Complete internships in both college teaching and research.

Comprehensives

Based on a knowledge and practice portfolio.  Provides evidence of ability to improve practice based on theory and research as well as demonstration of competencies.

Evaluate an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual knowledge in the field.  Portfolio based, emphasizing the relevance to practice.  Evaluates competence in conducting research to acquire new knowledge.

Thesis

Well-designed applied research with substantial value for informing educational practice.  Reflects the theory or knowledge for addressing decision-oriented problems in applied settings.

Original research illustrating a mastery of competing theories with the clear goal of informing disciplinary knowledge.

Thesis Committee

Should include at least one full-time practicing professional in area of relevance to student program.

Composed primarily of active researches in areas relevant to students’ areas of interest.  Should include at least one faculty member from a related discipline.