Successful students should demonstrate high quality communication and writing skills, become more critical of the status quo, and be well prepared to initiate school and process improvement based on solid reasoning backed by valid research.
Graduates of the Program will emerge with a recognized degree and a set of diverse and relevant skills that are applicable in the pursuit of administration, and advanced level positions in education fields.
The University acts to fulfill the purposes of the Doctor of Education
Program through appropriate coursework, coupled with continuing
direction, evaluation of student progress, and regular assessment
of student learning outcomes, supervised and administered by qualified
faculty.
The Doctor of Education Degree Program is designed to service a
national market and does not purport to provide licensure or credential
certification in any particular state and/or school district. Applicants
interested in licensure, credential certification, and/or salary
advancement are encouraged to contact the relevant licensing body(ies)
and their respective human resources department before enrollment.
Directed Independent Study
The University's independent study modality recognizes that education
is an individual process where individuals with different learning
needs and study schedules can be accommodated. It emphasizes learning
that is meaningful, where individuals enjoy the learning process,
and acquire knowledge to better understand and manage their own
careers.
The Program’s Faculty Members support the student’s
independent-study learning role by guiding and stimulating the
learning process in one-on-one interaction. Our faculty mentors
recognize individual learning styles and emphasize the relevance of the material to the individual's
situation.
Each course in the Ed.D. Program contains a series of lesson
assignments generally consisting of reading requirements and research
projects. Students are evaluated through examinations and/or research
assignments which are submitted for faculty evaluation.
All assignments are submitted electronically. As set forth in
the University’s General Catalog, Internet access
and minimum computer requirements and skills are required as a
condition of admittance.
The first three courses in the curriculum are known as qualifying
courses. A student must take and pass a Qualifying Examination
before a student can earn academic credit for a core course. The
Qualifying Examination is a three hour proctored test that covers
material covered in the qualifying courses. It consists of a combination
of objective and subjective questions.
Curriculum
To earn the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree, a student must
complete the courses outlined below in good academic standing,
pass a Comprehensive Examination, and present a successful oral
defense of the dissertation, all with a cumulative grade point
average of at least 3.00. The requirements may be completed in
as little as 27 months. All requirements must be completed within
seven years from the date of initial enrollment.
The following courses are required for the Doctor of Education
Program.
| Qualifying Courses (12 units)
|
| EDU501 |
Educational Administration |
4 units |
| EDU503 |
Leadership in Institutional Settings |
4 units |
| EDU507 |
Educational Finance |
4 units |
| |
Qualifying Exam |
pass/no pass |
| Core Courses (33 units) |
| EDU505 |
The Laws and Politics of Education |
4 units |
| EDU506 |
Organizational Behavior in the Educational Setting |
4 units |
| EDU508 |
Principles of Curriculum Development |
4 units |
| EDU509 |
Societal Diversity |
4 units |
| EDU511 |
Research Methods |
4 units |
| EDU512 |
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education |
3 units |
| EDU514 |
Educational Psychology |
3 units |
Electives (From the 600 Series) |
6 units |
| |
|
|
| EDU700 |
Comprehensive Examination |
1 unit |
| Dissertation (15 Units) |
| DIS701 |
Dissertation Proposal |
3 units |
| DIS702 |
Dissertation |
12 units |
Total Semester Units Required for Graduation: 60
Admission Policies and Requirements
A master’s degree from an accredited institution is generally
required for admission. In the context of this statement, “accredited”
for institutions within the United States requires they be a member
of an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department
of Education. Applicants with earned degrees from institutions
outside the United States may be required to obtain an evaluation
from an approved evaluation service documenting that their education
is equivalent to a master’s degree from an accredited institution
in the United States.
An applicant may be conditionally admitted into the Program
based on a completed Application
for Admission, student copies of transcripts reflecting the
applicant’s highest relevant degree, documentation of the
applicant’s professional work experience, and the receipt
of two completed Doctoral Applicant Reference Forms. Official
copies of all relevant college level credits received directly
from the institution of origin will be required within 60 days
of enrollment.
While professional work experience is not a condition of admission
to the Program, applicants need to provide evidence of
any previous professional work experience prior to formal admission.
The vast majority of the institution’s applicants are mature
adults working in a variety of professional settings. Many have
not attended college for several years. Consequently, prior class
rank and grade point average are not significant factors in the
admission process.
Foreign Applicants and Applicants with International Credentials
Applicants who do not possess a degree from a postsecondary institution
where English is the principal language of instruction must receive
a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT) or 80 on the Internet Based Test
(iBT) or 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS).
For more information on TOEFL visit the website: www.ets.org/toefl.
Transfer Credit
The acceptance of transfer credits between academic institutions
lies within the discretion of the receiving college or university.
Credits earned at William Howard Taft University may or may not
be accepted by another institution depending upon its own programs,
policies, and regulations.
Transfer credit toward the Ed.D. degree may be awarded for postsecondary courses completed by the student at other institutions if such courses are found to meet the standards and learning objectives of the specific course for which credit is sought. Transfer credit must be from an appropriately accredited institution. Transfer credit is limited to 15% of the total doctoral credits required to complete the degree (9 units). The courses considered for transfer must be equivalent in both content and degree level.
No credit may be awarded for experiential learning (Portfolio
Credit) in this program.
Financial Information
Tuition is billed at the rate of $420.00 per month during the
term of enrollment. The obligation of students to pay tuition
shall continue until the earliest of the following events:
a. satisfaction of all degree requirements;
b. 48 billing months (four years);
c. withdrawal from the Program;
d. academic dismissal from the Program.
Additional information on financial aid and tuition financing
can be found under Tuition, Financial Aid
and Financing.
|
| Application Fee |
$75 |
| Transfer Credit Evaluation Fee |
$55 |
Registration and Orientation Fee
This one-time fee is charged at the time of a student’s
initial enrollment and is related to the costs associated
with setting-up the student’s file and developing a
Degree Completion Plan. |
$100 |
Dissertation Defense Fee
(Payable
when the oral defense is scheduled) |
$450 |
Dissertation Fee
(Payable after
the oral defense) |
$350 |
Continuation Fee (Per Month)
Students who have not completed all degree requirements after
four full years of active enrollment in the Program will be
assessed a monthly continuation fee for the balance of the
enrollment period or until they have satisfied all degree
requirements. (This is in lieu of tuition.) |
$125 |
| Graduation Check/Diploma Fee |
$75 |
| Transcript Fee (Two Provided at No
Cost) |
$10 |
Late Payment Fee
(Returned Check/Declined Credit Card/ACH) (Per Item)
|
$25 |
The cost of books and materials, other than each course syllabus,
is not included in the tuition. The University does not sell books
or materials. Most books and materials may be purchased at local
colleges, retail bookstores, directly from publishers or over
the Internet. The cost is estimated to average approximately $150.00
per course. Students are always provided with a mail or Internet
source for acquiring all required materials.
How to Enroll
To apply for admission to the Doctor of Education Program, an
applicant must first complete the University’s Application
for Admission Form and submit it to the Admissions Office
with a check in the amount of $75.00.
It is not necessary to submit official transcripts at the time
of application. (However, official transcripts must be received
by the University within 60 days of enrollment. The University
provides students with a form which may be used for this purpose.)
Should additional information be required the applicant will
be contacted. If the applicant is accepted for admission to the
Program, a formal enrollment agreement will be prepared and sent
to the applicant for review and signature. All payments submitted
for tuition and fees must be payable in U.S. dollars. Payments
may be made by MasterCard® / Visa® / American Express®
or personal/business check.
Applicants are encouraged to call the Admissions Office if there
are any questions regarding enrollment procedures.
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Course Descriptions
EDU501 Educational Administration (4 Units)
The objectives of the course are based upon assisting
students to enhance and expand their knowledge, skills, and conceptual
awareness as related to current and future leadership roles. Course
objectives underscore a belief in the value of informed "reflection
on practice” both individually and collectively.
Prerequisites: None.
EDU503 Leadership in Institutional Settings
(4 Units)
This course explores concepts of leadership and leadership styles
in the context of educational administration. Students examine
the role of institutional leader, as well as factors that influence
decision making, initiating change, psychological constraints,
and techniques for establishing and maintaining a unique culture
in the institutional setting.
Prerequisites: None.
EDU505 The Laws and Politics of Education (4
Units)
This course provides an overview of the legal and political framework
of education in the nation. Emphasis is on current issues and
how they affect the learning environment.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses
EDU506 Organizational Behavior in the Educational Setting
(4 Units)
This course studies theory, strategies and techniques of effective
organizational behavior in educational/institutional settings.
Intervention techniques will be studied to improve organization
effectiveness.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses
EDU507 Educational Finance (4 Units)
This course explores the economic theories of institutional finance.
Emphasis on the management and evaluation of fiscal operations
in an institutional setting.
Prerequisites: None.
EDU508 Principles of Curriculum Development
(4 Units)
This course provides an analysis of the influences of curriculum
and instruction from a philosophical, psychological and sociological
perspective. Various approaches to the design and evaluation of
curriculum and instruction will be examined.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses
EDU509 Societal Diversity (4 Units)
This course examines diversity in society and in schools.
Emphasis is on understanding the similarities and differences in culture,
economic backgrounds and academic diversity. It will prepare teachers for
the wide diversity of students that they are certain to meet in their classrooms,
schools, and communities. It provides an updated and broad treatment of the various
forms of human diversity found in today’s schools including nationality, ethnicity, race,
religion, gender, class, language, sexual orientation, and ability levels -
highlighting the need for differentiation of instruction.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses
EDU511 Research Methods (4 Units)
This course emphasizes the types of research designs and the skills
needed to develop and organize research studies in institutional
settings.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU512 Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
(3 Units)
This course deals with systematic philosophies, with attention
to individual philosophers who developed important philosophical
and educational ideas and with a critique of each philosophy to
present its strengths and weaknesses. We also review major social
influences as they are applied to current movements in educational
instruction, research and curriculum.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU514 Educational Psychology (3 Units)
This core course studies psychological principles as related to
learning. Learning theories, motivation and quantitative methods
will be explored.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses
EDU602 Contemporary Topics in Educational Policy
(Elective) (1 to 4 Units)
This elective course allows students to examine several broad
range contemporary topics in institutional management and policy.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU603 Fieldwork (Elective) (1 to 6 Units)
This elective course consists of a planned field experience under
the supervision of an approved advisor. Fieldwork may include
experience in a variety of settings as an adjunct to the student’s
current employment.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU604 Management of Adult/Occupational Programs
(Elective) (4 Units)
This course presents an examination of the social forces involved
with adult education. The history and philosophy of adult and
occupational training will be reviewed, as well as training and
development programs in both public and private sector settings.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU607 Principalship (Elective) (3 Units)
This course contains an overview of the principalship at all levels.
The emphasis is on expectations for principals as well as the
practical aspects of the principal’s job. It is based on
a leadership accomplished by relationships not on traditional,
top-down authority.
Prerequisites: Completion of Qualifying Courses.
EDU700 Comprehensive Examination (1 Unit)
This proctored examination, which can be taken anytime between
the completion of the core courses and the Dissertation Proposal,
is designed to measure a student’s knowledge and understanding
of the curriculum content that has been covered in the Program.
Students must pass the examination prior to advancement to candidacy.
Prerequisites: Successful Completion of all Required Courses.
DIS701 Dissertation Proposal (3 Units)
This course assists students through the process of organization and design of a formal proposal including a substantive research topic of original work. An accepted proposal constitutes the framework for the Statement of the Problem (Chapter
1), Review of the Literature (Chapter 2), and Research
Methodology (Chapter 3).
Prerequisites: Successful Completion of the Comprehensive Examination
(EDU700).
DIS702 Dissertation (12 Units)
The successful completion of a dissertation results in a quality
research effort, documented and written following American Psychological
Association, (APA) guidelines, an oral defense consisting of a
PowerPoint presentation presented to the student’s dissertation
committee, and written in a format ready for publication. The
completed dissertation document is a five-chapter dissertation
beginning with the Introduction to the Problem, Chapter
1; Review of the Literature, Chapter 2; Research
Methodology, Chapter 3; Research Findings, Chapter
4; and the Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations of the
Researcher, Chapter 5. In addition, the final document will
include the frontal pages as described in the University’s
Dissertation Handbook, as well as necessary appendices,
references, and other appropriate documents.
Prerequisites: Approval of Dissertation Proposal (DIS701).
