Admission Requirements

The following minimum admission requirements must be met:

1. Complete requirements for a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Present a minimum grade point average of 3.25 (4.0 scale) in all graduate work attempted (or other appropriate evidence of scholarly aptitude necessary for doctoral study).
3. International Students who have not earned a degree at an institution of higher education in the United States must also submit the results of the TOEFL Examination.
4. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
5. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from persons well acquainted with the applicant’s academic and/or professional performance.
6. Submit a completed “Disclosure and Affirmation Form” that addresses misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.
7. Complete an interview, if requested.

Applicants’ credentials will be evaluated by the Ed.D. in Curriculum Studies Admissions Committee in order to identify the candidates in that applicant pool to recommend for admission; admission is competitive. The number of applicants accepted each year will be dependent upon available resources. Applications will be evaluated once per year for Summer admissions. Students seeking a certificate upgrade must identify a concentration (i.e., certification field) on the Ed.D. admission application.

Some students might enter the program carrying course work beyond the master’s degree. Once admitted and a Candidacy Committee Chair is identified, up to 9 credit hours of applicable and appropriate post-master’s work may apply toward degree requirements with the approval of the student’s Candidacy Committee Chair.

Enrollment

Continuous enrollment in dissertation phase is required.

Time Limit

Doctoral students must pass the Candidacy Exam within five years from the first Ed.D. admission registration term and no later than the last semester of Ed.D. course work or the following semester. All degree requirements must be completed within five (5) years of passing the Candidacy Exam. After successful completion of the Candidacy Exam, students have five years to finish program requirements, including the Dissertation; otherwise, the Candidacy Exam must be retaken.

Areas of Study

This degree program consists of work in five areas:

1. Curriculum Studies Foundations,
2. Research and Inquiry,
3. Curriculum and Pedagogy Courses,
4. Emphasis Area, and
5. Dissertation.

The first two areas require a combined minimum of 39 credit hours of course work, the third area requires a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work, the fourth area requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, and the fifth area requires a minimum of 6 credit hours. The complete program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of course work plus a minimum of 6 credit hours of dissertation.

Students may opt-out of the Ed.D Curriculum Studies program and instead receive an Educational Specialist’s (Ed.S.) Degree in Curriculum Studies upon completion of all 60 credit hours of required Ed.D. coursework and satisfaction of the Candidacy Exam. Please contact the program director for more information.¹

Curriculum Studies Foundations

This is the nexus of the program. As such, it contains courses to be taken by all doctoral students. The Core intertwines the theoretical, ethical, and historical concepts underpinning curriculum work with advanced theories of design, development, and implementation.

Research and Inquiry

This portion of the program is designed to create scholars who might apply their knowledge base to the solving of problems encountered in daily education work. Both components of the Research and Inquiry Core are understood to be essential in the preparation of doctoral students who will engage in meaningful, productive investigations into critical issues in curriculum. The Research component provides for advanced study into specific methodologies and their appropriate applications. The Inquiry component addresses theoretical questions of orientation of various research paradigms so that the doctoral student might make an informed decision as to the general approach (i.e., quantitative or qualitative) they wish to pursue in order to effectively address a topic or problem in curriculum.

Curriculum and Pedagogy Courses

This praxis-oriented segment of the program of study provides opportunities for students to apply curriculum theory in their professional work environments. Curriculum and pedagogy courses satisfy the advanced pedagogy requirement for students seeking a certificate upgrade.

Emphasis Areas

This program offers three interdisciplinary emphasis areas covering a broad terrain of scholarly inquiry and educational application.

1. Cultural Curriculum Studies
   This emphasis area provides intensive exposure to critical aspects of the Curriculum Studies field. It also centers on the study of popular culture in its many manifestations and the implications of the ways in which the study of these educational sites impact the social construction of identity and the intersections of popular culture on pedagogy and curriculum theory.
2. Learning, Development, and Curriculum
   This emphasis area meets the needs of many practicing professionals including curriculum directors, staff development personnel, instructional coordinators, high school department chairs, and lead teachers as well as others in teaching or administrative positions at the P-12 level or in higher education.
3. Multicultural and Social Justice Education
   This emphasis area reflects the growing importance of addressing issues of culture, diversity, and social justice at all levels of education. The emphasis area allows examination of the needs of culturally diverse groups, the relationship between culture and academic achievement, and processes and mechanisms for realizing social justice aims within formal and informal educational environments.

Grade Average

To be eligible for graduation, a student must maintain a cumulative 3.25 grade point average. A student will be excluded from the program upon earning grades of “C” or below in two or more courses.