K-12 Educational Leadership, EdD

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Curriculum
Dissertation Completion Option

Degree Requirements

The minimum requirements for the doctoral degree are the completion of 60 semester hours of graduate credit and completion of the doctoral dissertation. The doctoral dissertation phase includes a minimum of 12 credit hours of Dissertation Seminar and Dissertation Research related to the dissertation activity. Please note that a waiver of any requirement for the degree must be approved in writing by the student’s academic advisor and the associate dean of the Center for Education.

Dissertation Completion Option

The Center for Education’s EdD Dissertation Completion Option provides a way for students who began doctoral programs, and left the programs before completing their dissertations, to write their dissertations and graduate. This option has been designed for students who have demonstrated a commitment to doctoral study and who have been successful in their former doctoral programs.

Students who pursue EdD degrees through the Dissertation Completion Option may possibly earn the degree in as little as 18 months. The amount of time varies, depending on the number of courses a student has successfully completed when entering the Dissertation Completion Option, as well as the amount of transferable coursework that has been completed. In most cases, Dissertation Completion Option students can complete their degrees 100% on-line. Graduate Program Directors will work closely with each student to determine an appropriate course of study for successful completion, which at a minimum, will include ED 901, ED 902, and two semesters of ED 999.

Curriculum

Research (15 Credits)

ED 703 - Introduction to Educational Research Studies and Process 3 Credit(s)
ED 714 - Qualitative Research Methods in Education 3 Credit(s)
ED 719 - Proseminar in Higher Education 3 Credit(s)
ED 850 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I 3 Credit(s)
ED 851 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II 3 Credit(s)

Professional Core (21 Credits)

ED 715 - School Architecture and Plant Management 3 Credit(s)
ED 718 - Values and Ethics in Education 3 Credit(s)
ED 745 - Leadership, Communication, and Decision Making 3 Credit(s)
ED 746 - Financial Management Concepts for School Administrators 3 Credit(s)
ED 747 - Personnel Management for School Administrators 3 Credit(s)
ED 820 - Policy and Public Relations in K–12 Education 3 Credit(s)
TED 704 - Technology and Leadership 3 Credit(s)

Electives (12 Credits)*

These 12 credits can be from any doctoral graduate education course not included in the research or professional core.

Dissertation (12 Credits)

A minimum of 12 dissertation credits are required. If needed, ED 903 is taken after ED 902 until a student has a successful dissertation proposal defense. After a successful dissertation proposal defense, ED 999 is taken at least twice, or until a student successfully completes a final dissertation defense.

ED 901 - Dissertation Seminar 3 Credit(s)
ED 902 - Dissertation Seminar 3 Credit(s)
ED 999 - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION 3 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 60

*ED 801 /ED 802 are required electives for the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility Certification

Dissertation Completion Option

The following courses are required for ALL students enrolled in a Center for Education EdD program through the Dissertation Completion Option

Fall:
ED 901 - Dissertation Seminar 3 Credit(s)
Spring:
ED 902 - Dissertation Seminar 3 Credit(s)
Summer and Fall:
ED 999 - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION 3 Credit(s)

Please Note:

The program of study that appears here applies to students who were admitted for the summer session of this catalog year and later. Students admitted prior to that term should select the appropriate catalog year of their admission. Choose previous catalogs from the Home, Graduate, or Undergraduate Catalog Page at http://Catalog.widener.edu.