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University of Delaware |
Program Policy Statement
Part I. Program
History
A. Purpose
Statement
B. Origin of the
Program
C. Administration
and Faculty
Part
II. Admission
Part
III. Degree Requirements for the Doctor
of Education in Educational Leadership
Part IV.
General Information Relevant to Both Master’s and Doctoral Degree
Candidates
Effective: Spring, 2005
Part I. Program
History
The Doctorate of
Education (Ed.D.) represents the highest level of scholarly attainment in the
professional field of Education. This degree signifies the attainment of
advanced knowledge education as a scholarly discipline and as a field of
professional practice. Individuals
awarded the Ed.D. by the School of Education at the University of Delaware, as
intellectual and professional leaders, are expected to make significant
contributions to the improvement of education through leadership roles in
educational organizations, civic and community organizations, professional
associations, and professional scholarship.
Unlike
many Division I land-grant universities with schools of education, the
University of Delaware before 1980 never offered a practitioner-oriented
doctoral degree in educational administration.
In the 1970s, the Dean and faculty members interested in educational
administration and education policy in the University of Delaware’s
College of Education recognized a national trend in the emergence of
"external degree" programs (e.g., the Nova University Ed.D.) and
surging enrollments in these programs.
At the same time it was recognized that this was an opportunity to
contribute to the academic and professional development of school and district
educators in Delaware and to strengthen ties with these individuals. These trends and recognized needs lead to the
development of the College of Education’s Ed.D. program. The program was approved by the Faculty
Senate in April, 1980. The first
students matriculated in September 1981, and the program received permanent
status in October 1985.
C. Administration and
Faculty
The Committee on Graduate Studies in Education
(CGSE) is the SOE-level committee responsible for oversight of all SOE graduate
programs. The CGSE is composed of five
faculty members from the School of Education, a graduate student member
selected by the Education Graduate Association, and the Assistant Director
of the School of Education who serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the
School of Education. Course and credit
requirements, the structure of concentrations within the Ed.D. program, and
admissions policies are approved by the CGSE.
Administration of the Ed.D. program is handled by faculty members
serving as coordinators of the Ed.D. progam’s two concentrations
(Administration & Policy; Curriculum, Technology, & Higher Education)
and through committee meetings of the faculty members affiliated with these
concentrations.
Students are admitted to a concentration
within the Ed.D. program in accordance with their admission application (see
II, C below). At the time of admission,
all students are assigned a faculty advisor affiliated with the concentration
to which they have applied. This advisor
assists the student with course planning and any other issues that arise as the
student progresses through the program.
Students may change faculty advisors upon their written request to do so,
and upon the agreement of the new advisor to accept this student as an
advisee. It is customary for the
student’s advisor to become the chair of the student’s doctoral
thesis committee.
Faculty members who teach graduate courses and
advise graduate students in the School of Education must have a doctorate or
equivalent. In some instances, faculty
members with a master’s degree and special expertise in an area of
Education as a result of concentrated study, employment experience, or service
may be recommended for graduate teaching.
In such cases, the faculty member must have a record of successful
teaching in a specialized area of Education, proven scholarly ability, and the
endorsement of the Director of the School of Education.
The degree awarded to students who complete this
program is the Doctor of Education.
Part II. Admission
A. University Policy on Admission
Admission to the graduate program is
competitive. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not
guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements
necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
B. University Admission Procedures
Applicants must submit all of the following items
to the Office of Graduate Studies before admission can be considered:
A completed Admission Application must be submitted
no later than February 28 for this program. Admission application forms are
available from the Office of Graduate Studies, from the departments, and online
(http://www.udel.edu/admissions/appinfo.html).
A $60 nonrefundable application fee must be
submitted with the application. Checks must be made payable to the University
of Delaware. Applications received without the application fee will not be
processed. Foreign students may utilize either a check or an International
Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.
An official transcript of all previous college
records must be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Graduate
Studies. Students who have attended the University of Delaware need not supply
a transcript from Delaware. Transcripts issued in a language other than English
must be accompanied by an official translation into English. If the rank of the
student is not displayed on the transcript or diploma, an official letter of
explanation and ranking from the institution where the degree was earned is
required.
Applicants must submit at least three letters of
recommendation.
It is a Delaware State Board of Health Regulation
and a University of Delaware mandate that all entering graduate students born
after January 1, 1957 give proof of proper immunization for measles, mumps, and
rubella. If immunization requirements are not met, the student will not be
eligible to register. Specific information may be obtained from the Student
Health Service (302) 831-2226.
C. Specific Requirements for Admission
into the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program
Admission decisions to each of the
Ed.D.’s concentrations (A&P; CT&HE) are made by an admissions
committee composed of the faculty members affiliated with each of the
concentrations. Students are admitted to the program based upon program
capacity (which limits the total number that can be accepted) and the
applicant’s qualifications.
Applicants must meet the following requirements.
1.
Masters degree
from an accredited institution,
2.
On a 4.0 scale, a
2.75 GPA for undergraduate work and a 3.0 GPA for graduate work,
3.
Complete program
application with supporting materials,
4.
Three
professional references,
5.
A written
application statement
6.
A current vita.
7.
An on-site
writing assessment reviewed through a double-blind process with multiple
faculty readers evaluating each of the students’ two essays.
Part III. Degree
Requirements for the Doctor of Education Program
A. Course Requirements
Ed.D. Doctoral Core Courses: 9
credits
Effective
Communication for Educational Leaders (EDUC 824)
Leadership
Theory & Research (EDUC 890)
Program
Evaluation (EDUC 863)
A & P Concentration Core Courses: 24
credits
Models/Practices
of Instructional Leadership (EDUC 810)
Data
Analysis for School Improvement (EDUC 827)
Performance
Assessment and Accountability (EDUC 828)
Educational
Governance, Policy and Law (EDUC 839)
Organizational
Problem Analysis/Planning (EDUC 891)
Education
Reform: Topics and Strategies (EDUC 896)
Managing
Student, Parent, & Community Relations (EDUC 809)
EPP
Proposal Independent Study w/ advisor ( EDUC 866)
A & P Concentration Electives:
9 credits
CT & HE Concentration Core Courses: 12
credits
Curriculum
Theory (EDUC 860)
Leadership
Theory & Research (EDUC 890)
Elementary
Statistics (EDUC 665)
Qualitative
Research in Educational Settings (EDUC
850)
Foundations Education Technology (EDUC 818)
CT & HE Electives: 21
credits
Doctoral Thesis: (EDUC 969) 12
credits
TOTAL CREDITS FOR
DEGREE: 54
credits
B. University Requirements and Deadlines for Admission to Doctoral
Candidacy
Students in this degree program complete an Executive Position Paper
(EPP) in lieu of a Dissertation. Upon the recommendation of the doctoral
student's advisory committee and the Director of the SOE, students may be
admitted to candidacy for the Ed.D. degree. The stipulations for admission to
doctoral candidacy are that the student has (1) completed all required
coursework in their program, and (2) has an EPP proposal accepted by the
advisory committee.
The deadline for admission to candidacy for the
fall semester is August 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the
spring semester is January 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the
summer is April 30. Responsibility for seeing that admission to candidacy is
secured at the proper time rests with the student.
C. Regulations Governing
Executive Position Papers
1) Establishment of EPP Committee. The student and
his/her advisor will create an EPP committee at the time the student begins to
develop the EPP proposal. The EPP committee shall include three
University faculty from within the School of Education, and one member from outside
of the program. The EPP advisor must be a member of the SOE faculty. SOE
faculty who do not have regular faculty status may co-chair the EPP committee
provided that the other co-chair meets the definition for regular faculty
status. Additionally, a professional staff member who holds a secondary
faculty appointment within an academic department may serve as a committee
member. However, all three within-program committee members must hold the
doctoral degree. Faculty who have retired or resigned from the University
may maintain committee membership or continue to chair committees of students
whose work began under their direction prior to their retirement or departure
from the University. Outside committee members shall include individuals not
affiliated with the SOE. These may be individuals from outside of
the University who are nationally recognized for their expertise in the area of
study specified by the EPP, as well as faculty members from other units on
campus. It is the responsibility of the EPP advisor to replace members
who withdraw from the committee during the EPP process.
2) Defense of the EPP Proposal. A copy of the EPP
proposal must be delivered to the members of the EPP committee at least two
weeks in advance of the proposal defense. Prior to the presentation,
proposals that involve the use of human subjects must receive approval from the
University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Details for creating consent
forms and submitting studies for review by the IRB can be obtained from the Office
of Research. The
EPP proposal defense will be scheduled only after a majority of members of the
EPP committee have determined that a defense is appropriate.
At the conclusion of the EPP proposal defense, EPP
committee members will provide clear feedback to the student and will sign the
“Advancement to Candidacy Form”.
A signed copy of this form should be forwarded to the SOE
Director’s office.
4) Defense of the EPP. The format of the EPP must
adhere to guidelines specified in the University’s Thesis and
Dissertation Manual. The manual is available electronically on the Web at
http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/current/thesismanual.html, or it may be
purchased at the University Bookstore. The EPP defense will be
scheduled only after the advisor of the EPP committee has determined that a
defense is appropriate.
The EPP
defense will be open to the public, and notices will be sent to all SOE faculty
and posted prominently throughout Willard Hall Education Building at least one
week prior to the defense date. The candidate will present a summary of
the completed research, and will then field questions from the committee,
attending faculty, and invited guests. After all questions have been
answered, the EPP committee will meet to decide whether the EPP is accepted,
rejected, or accepted pending revisions. Results of the meeting will then
be presented to the student.
5) Processing the Final Document. Three copies of
the EPP must be approved by the chair of the student's advisory committee, the
Director of the School of Education, the Dean of the College of Human Services,
Education and Public Policy, and the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and
Planning. The EPP is to be signed by the professor in charge of the EPP and all
members of the EPP committee. A separate abstract and abstract approval page
must be submitted with the EPP. The EPP must be submitted to the Office of
Graduate Studies for approval not later than seven weeks prior to the degree
conferral date. The EPP defense must be completed prior to the submission date
and the certification of a successful defense must be submitted to the Office
of Graduate Studies. Doctoral dissertations and the extra abstract are
sent to University Microfilms Inc., to be microfilmed and thereby made available
to libraries and scholars. To accomplish this, each candidate must submit a
signed University Microfilms Inc. Doctoral Dissertation Agreement Form to the
Graduate Office at the time the EPP copies are submitted.
The University reserves the right to duplicate an
EPP for distribution to other libraries or for the use of individual scholars.
However, the University will not publish an EPP for general distribution
without the written consent of the author. If copyrighting of an EPP is
desired, it may be arranged when the EPP is submitted to the Office of Graduate
Studies. Published works are eligible for copyright protection in
the United States if the work is first published in the United States.
D. Registration Requirements Prior to
Doctoral Candidacy (G1 Status)
Course registration requirements are determined by
the student's approved program of study. Once the student has registered
for all course requirements in a program of study but has not yet met all of
the stipulations for passing into candidacy, the student must maintain
registration during the fall and spring semesters in course(s) or in three to
twelve credits of Pre-Candidacy Study (EDUC 964). Pre-Candidacy Study is graded
pass/fail. If the student registered in Pre-Candidacy Study is admitted to candidacy
before the end of the free drop/add period of the next semester, the
registration in Pre-Candidacy Study for the preceding semester may be changed
to the course, Doctoral Dissertation (EDUC 969). (Students who are classified
G1 and are holding a graduate assistantship or tuition scholarship must be
registered for a minimum of six graduate credits, and those holding a
fellowship must be registered for a minimum of nine graduate credits.)
E. Registration Requirements after
Admission to Candidacy (G2 Status)
Once a
student has met all of the stipulations for candidacy and becomes classified
with G2 status (candidacy), the student is required to enroll in a total of
twelve credits of Doctoral Dissertation. Students may not register for Doctoral
Dissertation (EDUC 969) until admitted to candidacy (G2 status). Registration
in Doctoral Dissertation and Doctoral Sustaining (UNIV 999) is restricted to
students with G2 status. Once the student has completed the twelve credits of
Doctoral Dissertation, the student is required to maintain matriculation in the
doctoral program by registering in Doctoral Sustaining in subsequent semesters
until the degree is awarded. All students must be registered in the term in
which the degree is officially awarded. Doctoral sustaining registration is
required in summer or winter session only if the degree is awarded at the
conclusion of that term. Students enrolled in sustaining credit are considered
full-time students.
Part IV. General Information Relevant to Both Master’s and
Doctoral Degree Candidates
A. Financial Assistance
Ed.D.
students are usually part-time graduate students and normally do not qualify
for financial assistance. However, if the Ed.D student is full-time, they are
eligible to apply for the same assistantships and fellowships as full-time
Ph.D. students.
B. Graduate Course Numbering System.
Graduate
credit may be earned for courses numbered 600 to 699, 800 to 898, and 900 to
998. (Courses numbered 600 to 699 are graduate-level courses open to qualified,
advanced undergraduates by permission of the instructor.) Courses numbered 500
to 599 are graduate courses for the nonspecialist and may not be counted for
graduate credit in the student's major. With the approval of the
student’s advisor, 500-level courses taken outside the student's major
department may be applied toward a graduate degree.
C. Application for Advanced Degree.
To initiate
the process for degree conferral, candidates must submit an "Application
for Advanced Degree" to the Office of Graduate Studies. The application
deadlines are February 15 for Spring candidates, May 15 for Summer candidates,
and September 15 for Winter candidates. The application must be signed by the
candidate's adviser and by the Director or the Assistant Director of the School
of Education. There is an application fee of $35 for master's degree candidates
and a $95 fee for doctoral degree candidates. Payment is required when the
application is submitted.
D. Graduate Grade Point Average.
Students must have a minimum overall cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 to be eligible for the degree. In addition, the
grades in courses applied toward the degree program must equal at least 3.0.
All graduate-numbered courses taken with graduate student classification at the
University of Delaware are applied to the cumulative index. Credit hours and
courses for which the grade is below "C-" do not count toward the
degree even though the grade is applied to the overall index. Candidates should
see that their instructors have submitted all final grades. Temporary grades of
"S" (Satisfactory) are assigned for 868 (Research) and 969 (Doctoral
Dissertation) until a final letter grade is submitted upon the completion of
the thesis or EPP.
E. Time Limits for the Completion of Degree
Requirements.
Time limits for the completion of degree
requirements begin with the date of matriculation and are specifically
expressed in the student's letter of admission. Students entering a doctoral
program with a master's degree are given ten consecutive semesters to complete
the requirements. Students who change their degree plan and have transferred
from one degree program to another degree program are given ten consecutive
semesters from the beginning of the first year in the latest program.
F. Extension of the Time Limit.
An extension of time limit may be granted for
circumstances beyond the student's control. Requests for time extensions must
be made in writing and approved by the student's adviser and the Director or
Assistant Director of the School of Education. The Director/Assistant Director
will forward the request to the Office of Graduate Studies. The Office of
Graduate Studies will determine the student's eligibility for a time extension
and will notify the student in writing of its decision to grant an extension of
time.
G. Transfer of Credit Earned as a
Continuing Education Student at the University of Delaware.
Students who complete graduate credits with the
classification of CEND (Continuing Education Nondegree) at the University of
Delaware may use a maximum of 9 graduate credits earned with this
classification toward their graduate degree. The CEND credits, grades, and
quality points become a part of the student's academic record and grade point
average. CEND credit can be transferred provided that: (a) the course was at
the 600 or 800 level, (b) the course was taken within the time limit
appropriate for the degree, (c) the course was approved by the student's
adviser and the Director/Assistant Director of the School of Education, and (d)
the course was in accord with the student’s Individual Program Plan.
H. Transfer of Credit from Another
Institution.
Graduate credit earned at another institution will
be evaluated at the written request of the student. Such a request should be submitted
first to their advisor using a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form. A
maximum of 9 credits required for the degree will be accepted provided that
such credits: (a) were earned with a grade of no less than B-, (b) are approved
by the student's adviser and the Director/Assistant Director of the School of
Education, (c) are in accord with the student’s program requirements, (d)
are not older than five years, and (e) were completed at an accredited college
or university. The credits, but not the grades or quality points, are
transferable to University of Delaware graduate records. Graduate courses
counted toward a degree received elsewhere may not be used. Credits earned at
another institution while the student was classified as a continuing education
student at that institution are not eligible to be transferred to one's
graduate degree at the University of Delaware. Credits from institutions
outside of the United States are generally not transferable to the University
of Delaware.
I. Transfer of Credit from the
Undergraduate Division at the University of Delaware.
Students who wish
to transfer credits from their undergraduate record to their graduate record
may transfer a limited number by arranging with the department to have these
courses approved by their instructors before the courses are taken. These
courses must be at the 600-level, and the student must perform at the graduate
level. They must be in excess of the total required for the baccalaureate
degree, must have grades of no less than B-, and must not be older than five
years. The credits, grades, and quality points will transfer.