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Ph.D. Ed.D. in Education North Dakota State University - Graduate School
Introduction
The Education Doctoral Programs prepare scholars who advance education research and practice and maintain the integrity and vitality of the profession. Our graduates are stewards of the discipline, individuals entrusted with preserving, creating, and applying knowledge in education and with communicating educational knowledge to others.
North Dakota State University offers both the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees in Education, with an emphasis in Adult and Community Education, Institutional Effectiveness, or Organizational Learning and Leadership. The Ph.D. emphasizes the study and synthesis of theory and research. The purpose of the Ph.D. is to produce dedicated scholar-researchers committed to the advancement of knowledge and scholarship in the field and scholar-practitioners with a strong depth in research preparation for practice. The Ed.D. degree focuses on translating theory and research into practice and has the larger goal of preparing scholar-practitioners who will be well-informed, credible leaders in the field.
Adult and Community Education
The Adult and Community Education curriculum is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences required for advancing the nature, function, and scope of adult learning in all educational settings. This program prepares graduates to be leaders in profit and non-profit industries. Graduates become professors of adult or community education, leaders of non-profit organizations, and consultants for training development programs.
Institutional Effectiveness
The Institutional Effectiveness curriculum is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed for understanding institutional performance in all educational settings. This program focuses on the role of assessment, evaluation, and other analysis techniques needed to support institutional planning, policy formation, and decision-making. Graduates become assessment directors at post-secondary institutions and education consultants.
Organizational Learning and Leadership
The Organizational Learning and Leadership curriculum is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for promoting organizational change in all educational settings. This program equips graduates to become effective leaders in educational contexts by integrating leadership theory with practice. Graduates become administrators in K-12 and postsecondary schools, museums, and youth development organizations.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Financial Assistance
Graduate assistantships may be available in the School of Education. Applications are considered on the basis of scholarship, potential to undertake advanced study and research, and financial need. Students must be accepted into the Graduate School before they are eligible for an assistantship.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Courses
All registrations in Education Doctoral courses must be approved by the student’s adviser. Only those courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee may be included on the final plan of study leading to the degree.
Credit Hours
The Education Doctoral Programs require a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree (a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree). The advisory committee has the authority to approve up to a maximum of 30 credit hours from a Master's degree or equivalent. An additional ten (10) hours may be allowable if the candidate has multiple graduate degrees or coursework after the first graduate degree. The determination will be based upon a review of the candidate's official transcript(s). The candidate's major adviser and committee are responsible for approving the program of study and for certifying that the candidate has met the academic requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral degree is awarded for expertise and excellence in the candidate's chosen field of study as recognized and approved by the adviser and committee, not just for an accumulation of credits.