Majors are offered in the three program areas:

  • Adult and Career Education,
  • Curriculum and Instruction, and
  • Leadership.

The curriculum for each major is structured to expand a student’s knowledge of and skill in analyzing and solving educational problems through research grounded in an interdisciplinary approach. The course content and experiences of each major provide the focal point for the application of knowledge and skills from the core curriculum courses. Each student develops a program of study particular to the student’s academic/career interests and needs.

Adult and Career Education

The Adult and Career Education Major provides advanced, professional training for individuals pursuing careers in teaching and leadership of career education and related fields. The program prepares students for working with adult learners and students in career education fields and the secondary and postsecondary levels in the public and private sectors.

Selected Performance Outcomes

  • Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to engage in focused inquiry by researching a topic, evaluating relevant literature, writing a comprehensive dissertation, and presenting the results of their study.
  • Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field by writing an article for publication.
  • Program graduates will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, research, and theories appropriate to their major field.

Selected Outcome Assessments

  • The process of developing the dissertation and the results of the dissertation are assessed by a faculty committee using criteria approved at the program level.
  • As part of the course requirements in their major coursework, program graduates will be required to write a manuscript in their field for publication. The manuscript will be reviewed by a faculty member before it is submitted to a professional publication.
  • Program graduates will successfully develop written responses to a comprehensive examination that requires the application of information gained from a series of courses. Written responses will be graded by a team of faculty members.

Major and Interdisciplinary Courses

ACED 9410 Diverse Populations in ACED----------------------------------------------- 3 hours

Analysis of decision making, policy development and implementation of adult and career education programs serving diverse adult populations. Particular emphasis will be placed on adult populations such as adults with special needs, military veterans, displaced workers, single parents, incarcerated adults, older workers and others.

ACED 9420 Issues and Trends in Adult and Career Education------------------- 3 hours

Emphasis on topics relating to adult and career education that are considered to be especially significant to the field because of current research development and legislation.

ACED 9430 Leadership in Adult and Career Education ---------------------------- 3 hours

Exploration of theory and development of leadership in adult and career education settings. Emphasis will be placed on identifying effective leadership characteristics, expanding leadership skills, and developing a philosophy of effective leadership.

ACED 9440 Seminar in Adult and Career Education--------------------------------- 3 hours

Exploration of topics specific to adult and career education in industry and/or educational settings. Emphasis will be given to examination of research, as applied in the public and private sectors.

Interdisciplinary------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 hours

Within the program of study a minimum of 3 hours must be taken from courses offered outside The advisor and the student will jointly complete an approved program of study to be followed.

Dissertation

ACED 9999 Dissertation in Adult and Career Education..................................... 9 hours

Prerequisite: Completion of major courses and approval of advisor or dissertation chair. Development and defense of the dissertation proposal and the dissertation. Must be taken each fall and spring semester until dissertation is completed. Number of hours taken per term must be approved by the dissertation chair. A minimum of 9 hours must be completed.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction major provides interrelated courses and guided experiences to develop student understanding of effective instructional systems and application of theoretical foundations in curriculum and instruction. Courses work requires doctoral students to research, design, develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate innovative educational practices in a variety of learning environments.

Selected Performance Outcomes

  • Doctoral candidates will demonstrate inquiry skills in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies.
  • Doctoral candidates will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, research, and theories appropriate to their major field by completing a comprehensive examination.
  • Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to engage in focused inquiry by researching a topic, evaluating relevant literature, writing a comprehensive dissertation and presenting the results of their study.

Selected Outcome Assessments

  • Doctoral candidates will successfully complete course work in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies.
  • Doctoral candidates will successfully develop written responses to a comprehensive examination. Written responses will be evaluated by a team of faculty members.
  • Program graduates will be evaluated by a faculty committee on the development and defense of their dissertation.

Major and Interdisciplinary Courses

CIED 9400 Curricular and Instructional Design and Development................... 3 hours

This course includes planning for the implementation and evaluation of a curriculum and instruction innovation in an educational setting. Includes design, development, and evaluation of project materials.

CIED 9500 Curriculum and Instruction Implementation and Evaluation......... 3 hours

Prerequisite: CIED 9400. Field implementation and evaluation of the innovative curriculum and instruction project.

Interdisciplinary.......................................................................................................... 15 hours

The advisor and the student will jointly complete an approved program of study to be followed.

Dissertation

CIED 9999 Dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction............................................... 9 hours

Prerequisites: Completion of major courses and approval of advisor. Development and defense of the dissertation proposal and the dissertation. Must be taken each fall and spring semester until the dissertation is completed. The number of hours taken per term must be approved by the dissertation chair. A minimum of 9 hours must be completed.

Leadership

The Doctor of Education with a Major in Leadership is a terminal degree. It seeks to develop effective, ethical, and diverse leaders who will maximize achievement in schools and other organizations. Skill applications serve as the connection between knowledge and inquiry skills developed in the core curriculum, interdisciplinary, and research courses leading to restructured practice and school or organizational improvement.

The Ed.D. program of study does not automatically result in leadership certification. With a passing score on the GACE--Educational Leadership assessment educators holding a masters or higher degree are eligible for a non-renewable leadership certificate (NL). A clear renewable performance-based Leadership certificate (PL) can then be pursued in parallel with the Ed.D. Students pursuing certification must also participate in the Performance-Based Leadership Certificate Add-On (PL)program either during or after the Ed.D. program.

Selected Performance Outcomes

  • Doctoral candidates will demonstrate inquiry skills in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies.
  • Doctoral candidates will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, research, and theories appropriate to their major field by completing a comprehensive examination.
  • Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to engage in focused inquiry by researching a topic, evaluating relevant literature, writing a comprehensive dissertation and presenting the results of their study.

Selected Outcome Assessments

  • Doctoral candidates will successfully complete course work in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methodologies.
  • Doctoral candidates will successfully develop written responses to a comprehensive examination. Written responses will be evaluated by a team of faculty members.
  • Program graduates will be evaluated by a faculty committee on the development and defense of their dissertation.

Major and Interdisciplinary Courses

LEAD 9010 Instructional Leadership for School Administrators..................... 3 hours

Focus on the theoretical and practical knowledge base in Leadership and the skills and processes needed for school improvement with emphasis on leadership for instruction and learning to meet the needs of a diverse community of learners.

LEAD 9020 Planning for Instructional Leaders.................................................... 3 hours

Theoretical and practical aspects of change with emphasis on the knowledge and skills to plan for change in an efficient, effective, and systematic fashion for instructional improvement in schools.

LEAD 9040 School Organizational and Cultural Studies..................................... 3 hours

Simulation and field practice in developing and implementing educational research on the effects of school organization and culture.

Interdisciplinary.......................................................................................................... 12 hours

The advisor and the student will jointly complete an approved program of study to be followed.

Dissertation

LEAD 9999 Dissertation in Educational Leadership..................................................... 9 hours

Prerequisites: LEAD 9870. Investigation and completion of a field-based project on an educational leadership or educational leadership-related issue. Development and defense of the dissertation proposal and the dissertation. Must be taken each fall and spring semester until the dissertation is completed. The number of hours taken per term must be approved by the dissertation chair. A minimum of 9 hours must be completed.