The Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) is a college-wide degree awarded for distinguished academic preparation for professional practice and research in the field of education. The program is designed to enhance and facilitate educational, social, and economic growth locally, nationally, and internationally with a pool of highly qualified educational scholars and leaders.
The PhD Specialization in Educational Technology is designed to prepare influential professionals in the field of educational technology (ETEC). Scholars in the field explore the uses of innovative media and technologies for education, studying aspects from student learning and cognition to impacts on individuals and institutions. The field provides the research base for effective utilization of new media in education and by default is interdisciplinary in its approaches and theories.
Program Structure
The ETEC specialty has been designed to encourage intellectual excellence and participation in a scholarly community. The PhD in Education in Educational Technology follows the design of other COE programs with
- a college core (4 research courses),
- the educational technology doctoral core (3 seminar courses),
- emphasis area (5 courses in educational technology),
- cognate field to be selected by the student with approval of an advisor (4 courses),
- field study or internship (1 course), and
- a minimum of one course of dissertation credit (1 credit minimum) for a total of 52 hours.
Depending on previous graduate-level course work, some credits may be waived with the approval of an advisor.
The program is
campus based but courses are
offered in the evenings to support working professionals. Many courses are offered in hybrid or online formats. Initial required seminar courses are completed within a cohort system where students entering at the same time take these seminars together to build support and professional community. The selection of the cognate and elective emphasis area courses is based on students' orientation and career plans within the broad field of educational technology. Students attending full time are typically able to complete pre-dissertation course work in two academic years although this schedule is not easily accomplished by students with full-time jobs.
Admissions Requirements
Any student with a Master's degree is eligible for the program. Prior experience in education or a technology area is helpful but not required. Your doctoral program will be planned with your advisor to ensure you have the depth in the required disciplinary areas.
