Curriculum and Instruction (Ph.D.)

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The Curriculum and Instruction Ph.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 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 professional goals.

Information on the Ph.D. programs may be obtained from the College of Education Office of Graduate Studies in 018 Bluemont Hall or from the relevant department chair.

Credit hour requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction requires a minimum of 90 postbaccalaureate, graduate credit hours. With the approval of the supervisory committee, up to 30 graduate hours earned as part of the Master’s degree may be used to satisfy the degree
requirements.

Areas of emphasis (45 credit hours)

Theory Course (3 credit hours)

Possible courses include:

EDCI 907 - Curriculum Theory Credits: (3)
PSYCH 810 - Learning Credits: (3)
PSYCH 814 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology Credits: (3)
Or a theory course in the content field

(e.g., EDCI 818 Theoretical Models of Reading or PHYS 620 Teaching University Physics)

Or a theory course approved by the advisor

Courses in the major and minor area (42 credit hours)

Foundations of education (3 credit hours)

Possible courses include:

EDCI 812 - History of American Education Credits: (3)
EDCI 813 - Philosophy of American Education Credits: (3)

Research courses (12 credit hours)

Required research courses (9 credit hours)

EDCEP 817 - Statistical Methods in Education Credits: (3)
EDCEP 917 - Experimental Design in Educational Research Credits: (3)
EDLEA 838 - Qualitative Research in Education Credits: (3)

Elective research course (3 credit hours)

EDCEP 819 - Survey Research Credits: (3)
EDLEA 986 - Advanced Seminars in Educational Leadership Credits: (1-18)
EDCI 886 - Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction Credits: (Var.)
Or a quantitative/qualitative research course taken from other disciplines at K-State and approved by the supervisory committee.

Note

EDCEP 816 Research Methods or its equivalent is considered a prerequisite for the 12 hours of research in the PhD program. Also, EDCI 760 Action Research in Education cannot be included in the 12-hour research course requirement.

Preliminary examination

Satisfactory completion of all segments of a monitored, written examination of at least 12 hours over all areas of the program of study.

Dissertation research (30 credit hours)

Completion of a dissertation which examines a topic congruent with the program of study using a systematic methodology consistent with accepted research paradigms; the dissertation must be successfully defended in a public, oral defense.

EDCI 999 - Research in Curriculum and Instruction Credits: (Var.)

Kansas State University

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