Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Design and Technology

The Doctorate in Instructional Systems Design and Technology is an online professional practice doctoral program designed to prepare individuals to lead the integration of technology into curriculum. Primarily, this doctoral program prepares individuals as leaders of instructional technology who will guide their organizations toward achieving meaningful integration of technology.

In addition, the degree also produces instructional technology leaders who are working in school districts, community colleges, universities, or businesses in a support and service role regarding instructional design, assessment of learning/management systems, networking, and assessment/implementation of instructional software.

Admission to the program requires devoting a significant amount of time to the program. The inability to devote the required time will require the individual to drop out of the program.

The Instructional Systems Design and Technology program follows a cohort model. This means that individuals are admitted to a specific group, called a cohort, and are required to take their coursework at the same time as the other individuals in the cohort. In the event of emergencies which require individuals to drop out of the normal schedule, they may be required to join another cohort with a different schedule.

Application Deadlines

Applicants seeking admission to the doctoral program in Instructional Systems Design and Technology must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Studies:

• A Graduate Studies Application with the application fee.
• Official transcript(s) showing receipt of a baccalaureate degree and a master's degree from an accredited institution Candidates for admission to the professional practice Doctoral Program in Instructional Systems Design and Technology must have a Masters Degree in Instructional Systems Design and Technology or a similar degree which includes the foundational knowledge required for this proposed program. Documentation of the candidate’s graduation from accredited institutions at the baccalaureate and masters levels will be required.
• Applicants must submit an acceptable score on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the GRE.
• A sample of the candidate’s professional work such as a published article and/or an example of experience in instructional technology design/multimedia design. This product should provide evidence of the candidate’s potential for doctoral level scholarship and should be accompanied by a statement of the candidate’s professional goals.
• A minimum of three years of teaching, direct service, administrative experience with technology, instructional design either in school, administrative, or business/industry. The types of professional experiences in an applicant’s background will be viewed as evidence of both direct service roles, as well as commitment to the field of instructional technology.
• A current resume or vita
• Three letters of recommendation from educational or direct service settings, two of which should refer to direct experiences with instructional technology and/or multimedia design, and can speak to the candidate’s potential for success in a doctorate program.

Applicants should hold a master's degree in a related field, and the student's graduate GPA should be 3.5 or higher. In addition, three years of full-time professional experience in a credible school, agency, or organization is required.

Applicants meeting the above criteria may be invited for an interview with the doctoral admissions committee. This interview, conducted by graduate faculty of the University, provides the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate potential for leadership, commitment to service, and interest in applied research.  A candidate who fails to meet one of the criteria may receive probationary admission if he/she is sponsored by a doctoral faculty member.

The program requires a minimum of sixty hours of graduate credit, successful passing of a comprehensive examination, and completion of a dissertation.

After the completion of twelve semester hours (two semesters) of doctoral level coursework in the program, each student will be considered for full admission to candidacy. A doctoral program committee will review his/her academic progress, interpersonal skills, and motivation to determine whether the student should continue with the program. After full admission to the program, the student’s doctoral dissertation committee will be assigned by the Director of Doctoral Studies in Instructional Technology.

A comprehensive examination will be taken after the completion of forty-two hours of required coursework. Following the written part of the examination, an oral examination is scheduled with the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken. After successful completion of the written and oral comprehensive examination, the student may defend the dissertation proposal.