CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
College of Education
Degree: Doctor of Education
Department: Education Dean's Office
Building 85, Room 122
(850) 474-3122
College: Education

The doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of West Florida is designed to meet the educational needs of regional place-bound, full-time employed professionals who will be selected from a wide range of educational backgrounds. These backgrounds include, but are not limited to, public school personnel, community college and university personnel, social and health related personnel, and military personnel. The Ed.D. program will prepare professionals in the community to assume administrative and leadership positions and to conduct and evaluate applied research studies that emphasize local, regional, and state educational issues and problems. To accomplish this task the research and course work will be substantive and focused. Rigor of the program will be maintained by recruitment and admission policies and procedures, closely monitored curriculum development, and benchmarks of progress such as written and oral exams and successful completion of a dissertation.

The Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction offers specializations in alternative/special education, educational management, teaching and learning, mathematics and statistics/science/computer sciences, and social science. The criteria listed below are the minimum Ed.D. program requirements. Each specialization area may have additional requirements. Contact should be made with the specialization areas to determine if additional requirements exist.

Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix at Course Listings/Descriptions.

ADMISSION
Applicants to the Doctor of Education program are required to:

  1. have a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
  2. have an official GRE score;
  3. have met two of the following:
    1. a total quantitative and verbal GRE general test score of 1000 or higher,
    2. a master's degree GPA of at least 3.5,
    3. a GPA of at least 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of the bachelor's degree;
  4. submit three letters of recommendation from persons in a position to comment about the applicant's academic capability and leadership potential;
  5. submit a one-page written goal statement to be reviewed by the faculty in the selected specialization area; and
  6. attend an orientation session.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, a student must:
  1. be admitted to the program;
  2. submit an approved degree plan;
  3. complete 62-66 graduate semester hours beyond the master's degree which include a professional core (27 semester hours), a specialization (18-21 semester hours), and a dissertation (18 semester hours minimum);
  4. complete degree requirements within seven years from the date of admission;
  5. successfully pass a written and oral preliminary examination and be advanced to candidacy;
  6. successfully complete and orally defend a dissertation;
  7. be recommended for graduation by the doctoral committee, departmental chairperson, and the College of Education graduate office.
Professional Core Requirements (27 sh)
EDF 7191 Educational Foundations: A Psychological Analysis 3
EDF 6475 Qualitative Research Methods in Education 3
EDF 7407 Educational Research Statistics 3
EDF 7685 Educational Foundations: A Philosophical & Multicultural Analysis 3
EDG 6344 Instructional Management & Technology 3
EDG 7346 Advanced Analysis of Curriculum and Instruction 3
Advanced Technology course 3
Critical Issues elective 3
Elective 3

Specialization Area Requirements (18-21 sh)
Alternative/Special Education
Students will select 18 semester hours of required coursework in this specialization. Students will also select an Alternative/Special Education Critical Issues Elective.

Educational Management Specialization
EDA 7217 Effective Communication Techniques 3
EDG 7286 Applied Program Evaluation 3
EDG 7935 Research Design Seminar 3
MAN 6156 Management & Organizational Behavior 3

Option 1: School Leadership
EDA 7331 Crisis Intervention in Educational Environments 3
EDA 7423 School Reform: Research to Practice 3
EDA 7931 Seminar with High Performing Educational Leaders 3

Option 2: General Leadership
Students will select 9 semester hours from courses listed within specialization area. Specific courses will be individually planned with advisor.

Option 3: Instructional Technology Leadership
Students will select 9 semester hours of educational technology courses planned with advisor. Students will also select technology courses to complete the Critical Issues Elective and the general elective.

Mathematics and Statistics/Science/Computer Science
Students will select 18 semester hours of coursework within Mathematics/Statistics, Science or Computer Science, or an advised combination of courses from the content areas.

Social Science
Students will select 18 semester hours of courses listed within three options: Political Science, Public Administration, and General Social Sciences.

Teaching and Learning
Students will select 18 semester hours of required coursework in this specialization. Students will also select a Teaching and Learning Critical Issues Elective.

Dissertation Requirement (18 sh)

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Adrienne Turner
Enrollment Services
July 1998