Within the workforce education and development concentration of the Ph.D. in Education program, a student may select one of 3 areas of specialization: (a) management, (b) professional development, or (c) research. The specialty area should be chosen based on the student’s background, interests, and future career goals.

The required program of study consists of a minimum of 64 semester hours beyond the master's degree and includes an 8-hour professional seminar sequence in the College of Education and Human Services, a 15-hour departmental core, 17 hours of theoretical studies for research identity, research tool competence, and 24 hours of dissertation credit. Course work taken in other departments or institutions prior to admittance may be accepted as part of the program of study at the discretion of the student's doctoral committee and upon approval of the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services and the Graduate School.

1. The College of Education and Human Subjects Core -
Required of all Ph.D. students in education (the Professional Seminar Sequence)  (8 hrs.)

• EDUC 590       Doctoral Seminar in Cultural Foundations of Education  (4 hrs.)
• EDUC 591       Doctoral Seminar in Behavioral Foundations of Education  (4 hrs.)

2. The Workforce Education and Development Core - Required of all Ph.D. students in the WED concentration.  (15 hrs.)

(Prerequisites, equivalent of:  WED 460, 462, 463, 466, 561, 563)

WED 564     Program Evaluation for Work Education  (3 hrs.)

WED 576A     Policy Implementation and Supervision  (3 hrs.)

WED 592     Current Issues and Research  (3 hrs.)

WED 584     Curriculum Foundations for Work Education  (3 hrs.)

WED 594     Advanced Research Methods  (3 hrs.)

3. Theoretical Studies for Research Identity - the student, in consultation with their program committee, will select supporting courses and experiences for their career and research emphasis.  (17 hrs.)

a. Coursework in such cognate areas of study as Psychology, Educational Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, Business Administration, Communications, Sociology, Economics, Educational Psychology, etc.  (9-17 hrs.)

b. Doctoral Seminar covering (a) orientation to doctoral study and research, (b) research publications and presentations, and (c) grantsmanship.  (0-3 hrs.)

c. Doctoral Internship consisting of experiential learning that will develop and/or expand skills and knowledge gained in the student's overall program.  The internship provides the student an opportunity to serve in the type of professional assignment desired after completion of the doctorate.  (0-5 hrs.)

4. Dissertation - The student is expected to conceive, plan, and execute a scientific research study appropriate for the chosen area of specialization and compatible with the nature and scope of the  Department.  (24 hrs.)

Total Hours : 64 hrs.

5. Research Tool - Students must choose a research tool from the list of college-approved options. The research tool selected is normally the one used in completing research for the dissertation. Hours of course work for the research tool are not included as part of the 64 hour minimum program requirement. (6 - 8 hrs.)

(Source: Adapted from the 2008-2009 Graduate Catalog.)