The doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction 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 in the back of this catalog.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
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)

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

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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