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, 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.

Advising and mentoring support is consistently offered via Internet communications, telephone, videoconferencing, and during the DVED 7110 advising course sessions. General program advising for students occurs on a regular basis and students may request individual advising meetings as needed.

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: Priority, March 15; Final Deadline, May 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 preferred
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

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 nineteen semester hours (three semesters) of doctoral level coursework in the program, each student will be considered for full admission to candidacy. Successful academic progress, interpersonal skills, and motivation will 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 Program Director and supported by the Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership.

A comprehensive examination will be taken after the completion of thirty-eight hours of required coursework. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken. After successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student may propose and defend the dissertation proposal.