Degree Requirements

Master of Education

This is a professional degree offered in two areas of specialization—higher education leadership and public school executive leadership. In the public school executive leadership specialization, the master’s degree is part of the state certification program. At least thirty-six semester hours of coursework are required, concentrated in one of the areas of specialization. Both specializations require at least twenty-one hours of approved coursework in the department and a minor of at least six hours outside the department. Of the nine hours of upper-division coursework that may be included in the program, no more than six may be in either the major or the minor.

Doctor of Philosophy

Programs leading to this degree emphasize preparation for a research career in which the graduate will add to the core of knowledge in the fields of educational policy, leadership, and administration. Programs are oriented toward theory development and the development of research skills in a variety of methodologies and include a strong secondary emphasis in a cognate field. To be admitted to candidacy, a student must pass oral and written examinations both in core areas and in the area of specialization.

The student’s program must consist of at least sixty semester hours of coursework at the University in addition to dissertation hours, including at least forty-two hours in the Department of Educational Administration. The student must be in residence as a full-time student for two consecutive semesters. Students may register for no more than fifteen hours each semester and for no more than six hours each six-week summer term.

All students must complete the following work; additional work may be required in some areas of specialization.

1. Fifteen hours in core areas that form the theoretical foundation for the study of administration. Core areas include educational economics and finance policy; educational politics and policy; ethics and values; organizational design and behavior; and social and cultural contexts of education.
2. Fifteen hours of coursework unique to the specialization.
3. Fifteen hours (the minor) outside the College of Education but in areas supporting the field of educational administration; nine hours must be in a single theme or discipline or must form an integrated sequence.
4. Twelve hours in research methods courses, including Educational Administration 381P, 381Q, and 387Q. Knowledge of basic statistics is prerequisite to some research methodology courses; this knowledge may be demonstrated by coursework (which may not be counted toward the doctoral degree) or by examination.
5. A research apprenticeship individually designed to provide each student with research experience in his or her area of specialization.
6. The candidate must enroll for two consecutive semesters in dissertation courses.

The focus of the dissertation must be in-depth, original research that has the possibility of creating new knowledge and understanding of a particular educational construct. In addition, the implications of the dissertation research should be much wider than a specific problem in a specific context.

The student may have one member of his or her dissertation committee who has no affiliation to the University. This individual must have a doctoral degree and may also be required to meet other conditions.

Doctor of Education

Programs for this degree emphasize preparation for leadership careers in a variety of educational settings. Programs are oriented toward the application of theory and knowledge to practical problems and toward the development of sophisticated management skills and intelligent, informed leadership. To be admitted to candidacy, a student must pass oral and written examinations both in core areas and in the area of specialization.

The student’s program must consist of at least fifty-seven semester hours of coursework at the University in addition to the treatise courses, including at least forty-two hours in the Department of Educational Administration. The student must be in residence as a full-time student for two consecutive semesters or a semester and a summer session. Students may register for no more than fifteen hours each semester and for no more than six hours each six-week summer term.

All students must complete the following work; additional work may be required in some areas of specialization.

1. Twelve hours in core areas that form the theoretical foundation for the study of administration. Core areas include educational economics and finance policy; educational politics and policy; ethics and values; organizational design and behavior; and social and cultural contexts of education.
2. Twenty-four hours of coursework unique to the specialization.
3. Nine hours (the minor) outside the department but in areas supporting the field of educational administration.
4. Six hours in research methods courses, including Educational Administration 387Q and either 381P or 381Q. Knowledge of basic statistics is prerequisite to other research methodology courses. This knowledge may be demonstrated by coursework (which may not be counted toward the doctoral degree) or by examination.
5. One semester in an internship or practicum. The internship is individually designed to provide each student with on-site experience in the practice of educational leadership.
6. The candidate must enroll for two consecutive semesters in treatise courses.

The focus of the treatise must be on problems of practice and should address a specific problem or program in a given context. The treatise can examine a particular issue or evaluate a specific program in any educational institution.

The treatise committee must be comprised of five individuals. Two members, including the chair of the committee, must be members of the Graduate Studies Committee in the Department of Educational Administration. The third committee member must be a member of a Graduate Studies Committee from any other department within the University. The other two committee members must have no affiliation with the University. These individuals must each have doctoral degrees and have practical experience directly related to the proposed treatise. They may also be required to meet other conditions.