Doctor of Philosophy in Education
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program at the Dreeben School of Education readies students to be scholarly researchers, educators, and leaders that are fully prepared to affect positive change in global, organizational and community settings.
Our education doctoral programs emphasize developing leaders through a multidisciplinary program that provides opportunities for international experience, guided practicum and collaborative learning experiences, both locally and globally.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree:
— a 60 credit hour Doctor of Philosophy in Education program that includes
51 hours of coursework and
a minimum of 9 dissertation hours;
the PhD in Education degree will be awarded after successful completion of the program.
One concentration: Organizational Leadership
Four Professional Studies Focus Areas (choose one): Program Evaluation Certificate, Advanced Interprofessional AI Applications Certificate, Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) Certificate or Professional Focus Area.
Each focus area in this doctoral program reflects the institution’s mission to combine education with service. The curriculum for each focus area has been designed to meet the needs of the communities served by the university. Students benefit from a clear grounding in their chosen focus area, which balances the educational component of the degrees and thus better prepares students to draw from and apply critical theory, transformative learning, experiential learning, and self-directed learning in their research. This will complement and provide a better basis for the degree plan's focus on research and methodological innovation.
Admission Requirements
Admission to doctoral study is restricted to applicants whose backgrounds show promise of scholarship in their field of study. For admission to the doctoral program, an applicant must submit:
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Evidence of an earned master’s degree from an accredited college or university (or international equivalent) with a minimum GPA of 3.0
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Official transcripts of all college or university work
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Two letters of recommendation, one from a professional colleague or former professor
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Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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Writing sample or Capstone project
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Quantitative assessment
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Assessment interview
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Other specific criteria may be required by concentrations within the PhD program.
Degree Requirements
The Doctoral Program of Study requires 51 semester hours of coursework: 15 of core research courses, 15 hours of core leadership courses, 18 - 21 hours of professional studies courses, three hours of elective coursework, a Qualifying Examination, reaching candidacy status, and a minimum of 9 semester hours of Dissertation Writing.
The doctoral degree is granted after all requirements are met and the Dissertation Clearance form is signed.
The program combines coursework and scholarly research with application, fostering the integration of theory and practice.
Core Courses
Core Leadership Courses
Professional Studies Courses
Students will choose one certificate or focus area: Community-Based Participatory Action Research Certificate, Program Evaluation Certificate, Advanced Interprofessional AI Applications Certificate, or Professional Focus Area. Reference the Dreeben School of Education Professional Studies Certificate - Focus Area course listing for specific requirements.
Elective
An elective course may come from any certificate area, or any course approved by the advisor.
Dissertation Phase
Students who successfully complete all coursework, pass the qualifying exam, and satisfy all requirements for candidacy are eligible to take the INDR 9300 dissertation writing course. INDR 9300 must be taken a minimum of three (3) times (9 credit hours) before their public defense. If students do not defend after nine (9) credit hours, they may repeat the INDR 9300 dissertation writing course until they have successfully completed their public defense.
| INDR 9300 | Dissertation Writing | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Students must enroll in a minimum of 9 dissertation hours to meet program requirements. If the dissertation is not completed after 9 credit hours, additional enrollments in INDR 9300 are required.
Dissertation Candidacy Requirements
To qualify for candidacy and enrollment in dissertation writing courses, students must:
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Complete the residency requirement of 45 hours of PhD coursework at UIW;
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Successfully complete all required coursework as verified by the degree audit;
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Successfully pass the qualifying exam;
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Comply with the UIW continuous enrollment policy;
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Complete any additional requirements as stipulated in the Doctoral Student Handbook in place at the time of candidacy.
NOTE: As stated in the PhD in Education degree plan, candidates are required to complete a minimum of nine dissertation writing hours, enrolling in INDR 9300 for three aggregate semesters. Continuous enrollment policy requires registration for fall and spring semesters, unless candidates have applied and been approved for a leave of absence. Summer enrollment in INDR 9300 is optional and requires approval from the dissertation chair.