Each concentration in the doctoral program reflects the institution’s mission to combine education with service. Many students have opportunities for local and international internships and research. The curriculum for each concentration has been designed to meet the needs of the communities served by the university. The program is built on the following common core and combines scholarly research with application, fostering the integration of theory and practice.
Admissions
Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is restricted to applicants whose backgrounds show promise of scholarship or professional leadership in the field of study. The process is competitive, and the requirements listed below are only the minimum required for admission to the university. Doctoral degree admission and matriculation requirements vary. Admission requirements to a doctoral program include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence of an earned degree, or completion of a minimum number of credit hours, from an accredited college or university;
- Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate college courses;
- Letters of recommendation, generally at least two;
- Some programs may require an official standardized score. For international students, an English Proficiency Test; for U.S. citizens, a Graduate Record Exam (GRE), a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or other professional test as specified by the program;
- An interview;
- Demonstration of any or all of oral communication, analytical writing, collaborative and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the program;
- Other specific criteria as announced by the particular doctoral program.
Each doctoral program may specify other criteria and processes for application and admission. Check with the specific school or college about the exact criteria for application and admissions.
Regardless of English proficiency documentation, all international applicants from non-English speaking countries will be evaluated for English proficiency upon arrival at UIW. If English proficiency is deemed lower than that required per university policy, the student may not be allowed to take courses other than English as a Second Language until the deficiency is removed.
The admissions decision is based on a comprehensive profile of the applicant. Petitions for unconditional admission with exception to the published criteria must be recommended by the Program Admissions Committee and approved by the Dean of the College or School and the Dean of Research of Graduate Studies. Exceptions must be documented with explanation. A copy of this explanatory documentation must be included in the student’s permanent file.
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission may be granted upon approval by the Program Admissions Committee, the Dean of the College or School, and the Director of Graduate Studies. Criteria and time limit for removing conditions will be specified in the letter of admission and in compliance with specific program criteria and the graduation requirements of the current catalog.
A student under conditional admission may be dismissed from the program for less than standard performance in any area during the first two regular semesters of attendance and as further defined by conditions imposed by the program. Request for regular admission status must be made upon completion of admissions requirements and no later than the end of the second semester of study, or as defined by the requirements of the program. Students may not attend classes for more than two semesters under conditional status.
Students admitted into any doctoral program, regardless of admission category, should enroll during their semester of admission. Deferral of admission to another semester must be approved by the Program Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. Otherwise, without such approval, students must apply for readmission through the Office of Graduate Studies.
Apply to UIW
Application to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education program
Degree Requirements
The Doctoral Program of Study specifies 57 semester hours of coursework, a Qualifying Examination, and a minimum of 9 semester hours of Dissertation Writing.
- The curriculum also includes core and elective courses in fields including Business, Education, Leadership Studies, and Organizational Studies. In addition, there are unique opportunities for domestic and international internships.
- All coursework in the doctoral program of study must be taken at the 7000 level or above.
- The doctoral degree is granted after all requirements are met and the Director of Graduate Studies has signed the Dissertation Clearance form.
Required Courses
Dissertation Writing Courses
Prerequisites: Before enrolling into the Dissertation Writing courses, students must be approved as Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree and must satisfy these additional prerequisites: completion of all coursework prior to dissertation writing, a residency requirement of 45 hours of PhD coursework at UIW, attend at least two sessions of the Doctoral Student Research Symposium, and submission of a proposal for at least one presentation at the symposium.
- INDR 9300 for 3 semesters (must take a minimum of 9 hours of INDR 9300 before defending)
- INDR 9300 (if not able to defend after 9 hours, then one more INDR 9300 must be taken)
- INDR 9100 (If student does not defend within first 12 hours, then the candidate is eligible to enroll in INDR 9100 level sections until the semester before they defend; then candidate must enroll in INDR 9190 in final semester of dissertation writing)
- INDR 9390 (this course will signal the final dissertation writing course within the first 9-12 hours of dissertation writing coursework and indicates that a candidate is ready for pre- and public defenses). Candidate will have enrolled in dissertation writing courses, INDR 9300, prior to this final course.
- INDR 9190 This course cannot be repeated for credit. INDR 9190 signals the final dissertation writing course after a candidate has surpassed 12 hours of dissertation writing coursework and indicates that a candidate is ready for a pre-defense and a public defense. Prerequisites: The student must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation writing (INDR 9300 and/or INDR 9100).
Higher Education concentration
The Higher Education concentration is designed to prepare graduates for positions of leadership in higher education with the knowledge and capacity to understand and facilitate change in institutions of higher education. The program grounds students both in theory and in the tools and methodology of research so that they can contribute to academic inquiry and apply theory to issues facing institutions of higher education. Two strands are offered, one to prepare students for careers in higher education administration and one to prepare students for careers in the professorate. Students pursuing the professorate must have at least 12 hours in the discipline in which they wish to teach and 18 hours upon completion.
With an emphasis on collaborative learning, the concentration incorporates collegiality among students, among faculty, and between faculty and students. Opportunities are available for learning through teaching and a higher education practicum as well as directed consultation and research.
Higher Education Professorate Strand (33 hours)
The professorate strand requires the following courses:
Electives (6 hours)
A minimum of 6 hours of electives must be selected for the Professorate Strand. One elective must be designated a research course, such as HIED 8325 Analysis and Research on Comparative Education Systems of the World; one elective may be HIED 8350 Current Issues in Higher Education.
Higher Education Administration Strand (33 hours)
The administration strand requires the following courses:
HIED 8310 | History and Philosophy of Higher Education | 3 |
HIED 8320 | Law in Higher Education | 3 |
HIED 8390 | Practicum in Higher Education | 3 |
ADED 7381 | Adult Learning and Development | 3 |
HIED 8330 | Finance in Higher Education | 3 |
HIED 8340 | Strategic and Operational Planning in Higher Education | 3 |
EDUC 7334 | Leadership and Administration in Student Affairs | 3 |
EDUC 7312 | Writing for Publication | 3 |
| Or | |
EDUC 7372 | The College Environment | 3 |
| And | |
EDUC 7344 | Leadership and Technology | 3 |
| Or | |
EDUC 7351 | Learning Technologies and Organizational Change | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Electives (6 hours)
A minimum of 6 hours of electives must be selected for the administration strand. One elective must be designated as a research course, such as HIED 8325 Analysis and Research on Comparative Education Systems of the World; one elective may be HIED 8350 Current Issues in Higher Education
International Education and Entrepreneurship concentration
The International Education and Entrepreneurship concentration enables students to develop enterprises of a cultural, educational, humanitarian or business nature that show a full understanding of the host culture and its relation in theory and practice with Western cultures. It allows theoretical study with a practical impulse that involves an awareness of business and educational systems and their development in existing, new and emerging arenas.
The foundation courses combine comparative study of the educational and cultural systems of the world with experiential learning in entrepreneurship. The grasp of a nation’s outlook revealed by its education provides the key to understanding its intellectual and managerial endeavors; the practical skill of entrepreneurship suggests new ways of applying existing resources and encourages the development of new ideas in all fields. This concentration achieves its aim through a blend of theoretical study and practical engagement. Practical application and experience are achieved by each student in a six month internship in a country other than the home country.
In addition to the Admission Requirements listed in this bulletin, applicants for admission to the International Education and Entrepreneurship Concentration must also fulfill the following requirements:
A minimum of six hours of education and six hours of business background courses as prerequisites (undergraduate or graduate).
The International Education and Entrepreneurship concentration requires the following courses:
Required Courses (36 hours)
In addition to completing the required courses and elective(s), this concentration requires evidence of oral and written proficiency in a foreign language as a requirement for admission to candidacy.
Electives
A minimum of 3 hours of electives should be selected for this concentration.
Organizational Leadership concentration
The Organizational Leadership concentration is designed to prepare graduates for positions of leadership in education, business, public, and social agencies with the knowledge and capacity to understand organizations and to facilitate organizational change. It strives to impart an ethic of leadership that recognizes the global dimension of social concerns and works for understanding and justice in diverse societies. The interdisciplinary nature of the program grounds the students both in theory and in the tools and methodology of research and technology so that they can contribute to academic inquiry and apply theory to issues facing organizations, institutions, and communities.
With an emphasis on collaborative learning, the concentration incorporates collegiality among students, among faculty, and between faculty and students. Within the program of study, flexibility is provided for students to take electives in line with their area of interest and career objectives. Opportunity is also available for learning through teaching and organizational practica as well as directed consultation and research. In addition to the general admission requirements for doctoral study, applicants for admission to the Organizational Leadership concentration must also fulfill the following requirements:
Required Courses
In addition to completing the required courses and elective(s), this concentration requires employment experience in a position of responsibility.
ORGL 7381 | Adult Learning and Development | 3 |
ORGL 7351 | Learning Technologies and Organizational Change | 3 |
ORGL 8360 | Organizational Theory and Culture | 3 |
ORGL 8371 | Practicum in Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| And | |
ORGL 7348 | Applied Leadership and Followership | 3 |
| Or | |
| ORGL Elective | |
Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Elective Courses
The Organizational Leadership concentration requires a minimum of 18 hours of electives. Electives taken at the 7000 level may come from the Dreeben School of Education or other school or college at the university as agreed upon by the student and advisor. Among the electives, students can pursue the following specializations (a specialization is defined as earning 18 graduate level credit hours):
Adult Education
International Education and Entrepreneurship
Kinesiology
Online Teaching and Training
Program Evaluation
School Leadership
Sport Management
Student Services in Higher Education
| Adult Education | |
ADED 7370 | College Teaching | 3 |
ADED 7381 | Adult Learning and Development | 3 |
ADED 7382 | Adult Literacy Education | 3 |
ADED 7384 | Contemporary Issues in Adult Education | 3 |
ADED 7385 | Methods and Strategies in Adult Education | 3 |
ADED 7386 | Educational Gerontology (Education of the Older Adult) | 3 |
ADED 7387 | Program Development in Adult Education | 3 |
ADED 7388 | Effective Teams and Groups | 3 |
ADED 7390/ADED 6390 | Practicum in Adult Education | 3 |
| General Education | |
EDUC 7304 | Theories of Learning | 3 |
EDUC 7305 | Multicultural Concepts in Education | 3 |
EDUC 7306 | Philosophical Foundations in Education | 3 |
EDUC 7307 | Critical Theory in Education | 3 |
EDUC 7312 | Writing for Publication | 3 |
EDUC 7345 | Theories of Change | 3 |
EDUC 7346 | Organizational Theory and Development | 3 |
EDUC 7360 | Cross-Cultural Comunication: Teaching in Other Countries | 3 |
EDUC 8330 | History and Philosophy of Higher Education | 3 |
EDUC 8390 | Law in Higher Education | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | |
INDR 8375 | Trends and Issues in Technology | 3 |
| International Education and Entrepreneurship | |
INEE 8325 | Research in Comparative Education | 3 |
INEE 8335 | Analysis of Belief Systems | 3 |
INEE 8340 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
INEE 8345 | International Organizations | 3 |
INEE 8347 | Economic Development for Entrepreneurship | 3 |
INEE 8350 | Research in Entrepreneurship | 3 |
INEE 8355 | Cultural Aspects of Research | 3 |
INEE 8360 | Contemporary International Issues | 3 |
| Kinesiology | |
EDKE 7377 | Instructional Development in Physical Education | 3 |
EDKE 7378 | Biomechanics in Human Performance | 3 |
EDKE 7379 | Adapted Physical Education and Sport | 3 |
EDKE 7381 | Topics in Exercise Physiology and Fitness | 3 |
| Literacy Education | |
EDRD 7393 | Approaches to Reading Assessment | 3 |
| Organizational Leadership | |
ORGL 8340 | Organizational Policy Analysis & Design | 3 |
ORGL 8360 | Organizational Theory and Culture | 3 |
ORGL 8370 | Organizational Assessment & Survey Administration | 3 |
| Program Evaluation | |
EVAL 8310 | Program Evaluation Theory | 3 |
EVAL 8320 | Program Evaluation Methods | 3 |
EVAL 8390 | Program Evaluation Practicum | 3 |
INEE 8355 | Cultural Aspects of Research | 3 |
ORGL 8370 | Organizational Assessment & Survey Administration | 3 |
INDR 8353 | Advanced Quantitative Design and Analysis | 3 |
| Or | |
INDR 8357 | Advanced Qualitative Design and Analysis | 3 |
| School Leadership | |
EDLD 7347 | Principalship | 3 |
EDLD 7348 | School Leadership | 3 |
EDLD 7349 | Instructional Leadership | 3 |
EDLD 7350 | School Finance, Policy and Law | 3 |
EDLD 7351 | School/Home/ Community Relations | 3 |
EDLD 7388 | Leadership Practicum I | 3 |
EDLD 7389 | Leadership Practicum II | 3 |
| Special Education | |
EDSP 7363 | Survey of Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Student Services in Higher Education | |
EDUC 7303 | Counseling Techniques in Higher Education | 3 |
EDUC 7309 | Legal Issues in Student Affairs | 3 |
EDUC 7334 | Leadership and Administration in Student Affairs | 3 |
EDUC 7372 | The College Environment | 3 |
EDUC 7383 | Professional Seminar in Student Affairs | 3 |
EDUC 7394 | Practicum in Student Affairs | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 18 |