Ed.D. in Developmental Education Administration

The Doctor of Education in Developmental Education Administration is an interdisciplinary doctoral program designed to prepare educators to develop and administer programs for underprepared community college and university students. The doctorate provides the means for continued intellectual growth through advanced and specialized education that emphasizes original research with the goal to develop leaders in the field of Developmental Education.

Graduates of this doctoral program will have the ability and knowledge to apply administrative theory to instructional leadership functions; set goals, assign responsibilities, and verify how well resources are allocated and utilized in instructional improvement; plan and administer the designed curriculum; use appropriate communication and interpersonal skills in consultation and evaluations; interpret the relationships among federal, state, and local education agencies and the laws applicable to the administration of the schools and universities; design educational research and interpret results; and apply data to educational processing capabilities and leadership functions.

Mentoring will be accomplished via telephone, electronic communications, and during the EDLD 7110 advising course sessions. In addition, during the period of candidacy status, distance students must schedule meetings with their advisors at least once each semester (three times per year – spring, summer or fall). These meetings can be conducted via telephone and videoconferencing/web.

Admission requires the commitment to devote a significant amount of time to the program. The Developmental Education Administration 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 that require individuals to drop out of the normal schedule, they may be required to join another cohort with a different schedule.

Application Deadlines: March 1

Applicants seeking admission to the doctoral program in Developmental Education Administration must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
1. Graduate Application
2. Application Fee
3. Official transcript from the baccalaureate degree granting institution
4. Official transcript showing receipt of a master’s degree 
5. Graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher
6. Personal statement (1000 word maximum)
7. Three Reference Rating Forms, two from current or previous supervisors in schools or agencies where the applicant has been employed and one from a current or former graduate level professor who holds a terminal degree
8. Current resume or curriculum vitae
9. Official GRE scores with writing section 

NOTE: Applicants selected after the initial screening will be invited for an online interview.

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 and the Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling.

A comprehensive examination will be taken after the completion of forty-two hours of required coursework. 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.