Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog 
    
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Educational Administration and Leadership (Ed.D.)


Offered by the Educational Leadership graduate program, the doctor of education degree is a professional degree program principally for preparing skilled practitioners. Students who do not already hold a district-level (superintendent) endorsement may tailor course work in their emphasis area to meet that license requirement. Contact the Educational Leadership program for current district license requirements.

The student’s Ed.D. program is directed by a minimum of five members of the university graduate faculty, including a major professor with substantial expertise in the area of emphasis, two other faculty members with strengths in the area of emphasis, one faculty member outside the student’s specialization, and one faculty member, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, from another department within the College of Education who serves as the chair of the examination committee for the oral defense of the dissertation.

Each student’s program of study is individualized with the approval of the major professor and the supervisory committee to optimize the student’s interests, expertise, and goals.

Doctoral degree requirements


Credit hour requirements


A minimum of 94 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including the following:

Foundations (12 credit hours)


For each category, take the course listed or its approved equivalent:

Historical and philosophical analysis of educational ideas and practice


Techniques and interpretation of educational research


Social science explanations of educating a diverse society


Psychological bases of educational thought and practice


Research courses (6 credit hours)


Research courses concerning methodology consistent with that required for the dissertation.

Clinical experience (12 credit hours)


Area of emphasis (48 credit hours)


Dissertation research (16 credit hours)


Completion of a dissertation which treats an important topic of professional education practice using a systematic methodology consistent with accepted research paradigms; the dissertation must be successfully defended in a public, oral defense.

Preliminary examination. Candidates for the Ed.D. degree must demonstrate satisfactory completion of all segments of a monitored, written exam of at least 12 hours over all areas of the program of study, three hours of which must be over the foundation courses.