Doctorate of Education (EdD) - Core Courses
EDDC 600 A&B / EDDC 602 A&B / EDDC 603 A&B (0.5)
Nine Lives of Scholarly Writing I, II, III
This course provides opportunities for doctoral candidates to develop and refine their scholarly writing during the first year of the education doctorate in order to become stronger writers during and beyond their academic career. Writing craft development occurs through peer writing groups, close study of published texts, and interaction with faculty writers. Course topics include writing article abstracts and analyses, critiques, and literature surveys. Strategies for reading critically, organizing and developing thoughts, choosing appropriate vocabulary, and revising one's own writing are also covered. Candidates write and revise various genre of scholarly writing throughout the year-long series, culminating in a revised draft of the first Comprehensive Connection Paper.
EDDC 605 (3)
Transformational Learning
Based on the view that an individual's beliefs influence his or her actions in powerful ways, this course encourages candidates to reframe their world-view to move away from knowledge transmission towards transformational learning. Candidates will deconstruct conformity to social and cultural canons which have permeated U.S. public schools to a negative effect. They will examine theories that are meant to catalyze social transformation and individual change, and develop their own theory and practice of transformative learning for social change.
EDDC 608 (3)
Quantitative Research Methods
This course helps beginning educational researchers balance the competing demands of formal experimental and survey design principles with the ever-present practical constraints of the real world so that they can conduct sound quantitative research. Emphasis will be placed on formulating research questions, identifying relevant target populations, selecting respondents for study, refining definitions of the effects of interest, identifying relevant comparisons, selecting appropriate measures, including descriptive, inferential, and probability statistics, determining how many subjects to study, taking advantage of the results of previous research and pilot studies, and anticipating the unanticipated. The quantitative research designs of survey, correlation, causal-comparative, and comparative will be examined.
EDDC 611 (3)
Qualitative Research Methods
The goal of this course is to examine inquiry from a relativistic, but systematic, way of knowing. Candidates will apply qualitative research principles through coherent study of the established methodological designs of narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. The issues of alternative knowledge claims, validity or trustworthiness, in-depth field work, and data collection and analysis will be examined through these six strategies of inquiry.
EDDC 615 (3)
The Ethical Educator
This course is grounded in the belief that it is the responsibility of educators to employ ethical practice in the daily activities of their personal and professional lives. Educators must also ensure that the institutional policies and practices of their school or organization adhere to the application of ethical practice throughout the workplace. The course will emphasize human subjects research issues of harm and deception. This study of the use of ethical principles in an educational context will include an examination of the underlying assumptions and implicit or explicit policies that can support or erode ethical practice. As a result of the activities and discussions completed in this course, candidates will have the opportunity to transform their personal and professional ethical lives and priorities.
EDDC 618 (3)
Leading Organizational Change
This course focuses on helping learners internalize the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and values necessary for facilitating organizational improvement in schools and colleges. In particular, it zeros in on the theory and technology of Organizational Development (OD), and the "what, why, and how" of planned change in diverse educational settings from pre-school to graduate school. Additionally, the course content is undergirded by person-centered values, democratic leadership skills, as well as the ideology of service-management, and is aimed at facilitating excellence in student-centered teaching and learning.
EDDC 620 (3)
Creativity, Inquiry, and Innovation
This course emphasizes the need for organizations to foster an environment where creativity, inventiveness, and entrepreneurship are expectations in the culture. Topics are investigated through popular literature and case studies of individuals who have made significant break-through contributions in the areas of science, music, art, and business. The course will address such questions as "What is the essence of creative work? Can creativity be learned? How critical is it for organizations and leaders to innovate? What conditions are necessary in the workplace to foster an environment where creativity, experimentation, and innovation are welcomed? Who determines what is creative and what is not? Why is innovation more likely found in the commercial and nonprofit sector rather than schools?" Lastly, the course hopes to tap the creative potential within all of us and illustrate its value for our own growth as well as the health of the organization.
EDDT 653 (4)
Religion and Dense Meaning: Parables
This course explores the nature of sacred texts used by practitioners of religion. Because most sacred texts were developed prior to widespread literacy and printing technologies, they require specific reading skills, particularly in extracting practical meaning from densely written texts. Focusing on the Parables of Christ, this course both explores the content of these parables and appropriate reading/ interpretation of these foundational texts.
EDDT 654 (4)
Religion and Extremism
Throughout history, religion has motivated self-sacrifice on behalf of a greater cause. In this course, candidates will study the scriptures, doctrines, and historical contexts that have inspired such movements and actions of extremism and gain an understanding of the power of religion. They will also develop skills in helping students recognize and deal with these influences in their lives and communities.
EDDT 652 (4)
Religion in the Modern World
This seminar investigates the interface of religion and contemporary society through fundamental questions about the meaning of life, the reality of God, and truth and values to live by in a postmodern context. The candidate will examine critically his/her own beliefs and values in the light of popular assumptions and prevalent attitudes in our time, and the deeper questions of life that are addressed by various religious approaches.
EDDR 610 & 619 (2)
Scholars Before Researchers I & II
Scholars Before Researchers I and II are courses taken back-to-back in Phase III. The classes are devoted to researching and drafting Chapter Two of the dissertation proposal. Course topics include an overview of the literature review process, advanced library research techniques, and methods of organizing and managing the literature. Students will leave the course with a completed draft of their dissertation literature review. The course is taught by the Faculty Chair who is involved in the process from topic formulation to proposal defense.
EDDR 620 & 621 (2)
Intense Research Module I & II
The Intense Research Module (IRM) I and II courses assist the candidate in developing the research design and the methods that are employed in the Phase IV research field experience. One intense research module content area is completed in each course to support the development of the dissertation’s research design.
Prerequisites: EDDR 610 & EDDR 619 with grade of P
Content Areas:
- Case Study, Narrative, and Action Research
- Correlational, Causal-Comparative, Including Ex Post Facto Research
- Descriptive or Survey Research
- Experimental Research
- Phenomenological and Ethnographic Research
- Policy Research
- Program Evaluation Research
EDDR 697 (2)
Proposal Development
This course is designed to assist doctoral candidates in completing their dissertation proposals and prepares candidates to defend a dissertation proposal before their dissertation committee. The course continues the Phase III emphasis on developing Scholars Before Researchers by guiding candidates to develop professional writing, research, and presentation skills. Candidates’ Faculty Chairs will instruct, mentor, and advise candidates as they: revise Chapters 2 and 3 of the proposal, write the Chapter 1: Introduction, and then synthesize the full proposal in order to ensure it is defense-worthy. The full dissertation committee will provide input, critique, and support during the development and defense process.
EDDR 698 (1.5)
Dissertation
The dissertation is a scholarly document intended to demonstrate the research competence of the author and to produce greater understanding. It is written in the formal language and style of its discipline or field of study, and it results from a comprehensive, logical, and ethical investigation. The dissertation is an expression of the highest level of critical thought and is expected to be a substantive contribution to the theory or practice of its discipline or field of study.
Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 6 credits of dissertation.
** Extended Dissertation Opportunity
Should you need more time than the allotted two semesters to complete your dissertation, you may register for an additional eight weeks (1.5 credits; not eligible for financial aid) or, if necessary, an extra semester (3 credits; financial aid may be available).
*Religion Requirement
Candidates will be registered for one of the three religion courses (EDDT 653, EDDT 654, or EDDT 652) based on what is being offered at the time, each of which satisfies the religion requirement.