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Doctoral Degree
The doctoral degree has five streams of preparation. It provides considerable exposure to the philosophical, historical, social, economic, and political contexts which influence education and are influenced by education. It builds expertise in policy development, analysis, advocacy, implementation, and evaluation. It develops and enhances quantitative and qualitative research skill in the analysis of contemporary policies and policy proposals. It affords students the opportunity to develop expertise in a concentration area of their choosing while preparing to conduct their own dissertation research. DOCTORAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Prerequisite Courses (equivalents accepted) EDUC 271 - Education Policy or equivalent Core Courses (12 credit hours) EDUC 301 - Ideas, Issues, and Practices in Ed. Research Courses (15 credit hours) EDUC 281 - Program Evaluation Elective Courses (15 credit hours) Students take fifteen graduate credit hours of electives. Courses are to be selected in consultation with their academic advisors. Students are expected to use these elective courses to develop strong expertise in at least one are of concentration or field of interest in education policy. Students benefit from a wide offering of courses in the GSEHD school, in the University and within the Consortium of DC universities. A minimum of three credit hours are to be taken outside the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Dissertation Research (12 credit hours) Students produce a scholarly dissertation that contributes to the body of knowledge in their concentration area. At least 12 credits of EDUC 391 (Dissertation Research) must be taken and more may be required to complete the dissertation. (See the GSEHD Doctoral Handbook for more details.) The program requires a total of 54 credit hours if the prerequisite is met prior to admission. Students may transfer up to 6 credits of graduate courses taken at other institutions under conditions specified below. Recent graduates of GW's Master's Degree program in Education Policy will have already taken at least three of the courses required for the doctoral program, and thus will have three additional electives in the doctoral program. Admitted doctoral students will be referred to a Web-site to self-assess their quantitative research skills. Those with modest weaknesses will be directed self-study materials to complete the preparation needed for EDUC 302. Those with widespread weaknesses are to take a prerequisite course at GW (EDUC 298) or at another university prior to beginning EDUC 302. Note: Students may elect to focus on international education policy issues and can certainly take elective courses either in international education or develop skills that they wish to apply in international education contexts. These electives, in addition to the core degree requirements, are to be selected with approval of the student's advisor and with collaboration from the International Education program faculty. Possible Adjustments in Credit Requirements: Adjustments are possible to the program of study. Such adjustments may be as follows: 1) Entering students who have already completed the equivalent of one or more required courses or appropriate elective courses may request that the credits be applied to their GW doctoral degree. The request will be granted if the credits were earned at an accredited university within the past five years, were passed with an A- or full A grade, have not been applied to another awarded degree, and the student's advisor approves the transfer. Note, however, that GSEHD requires that at least 36 credits of coursework and 12 credits of dissertation research must be earned while in degree status at GSEHD . 2) Students who have taken the equivalent of one or more of the required courses from an accredited university and earned at least an A- in them may request to take a more advanced course in place of the requirement(s). This option can be exercised even if the previously taken courses have been applied to another degree. The student's advisor has to approve the request. If the request is to take a higher level research methods course, the approval of the Research Methods coordinator is also required. To request these options, a student should make a written request to his or her advisor and should provide formal course descriptions, syllabi, and/or copies of the table of contents of the main assigned readings. Generally these options will not be permitted if the courses have been completed more than two years prior to admission to the Education Policy program, but exceptions may be made for students who have been directly applying the course content in their subsequent employment or professional activities. Admissions Procedures The admissions procedures are explained in the School's main web site at http://gsehd.gwu.edu/Prospective+Students CAREFUL: The deadline for financial aid applications is January 15th. |
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The Education Policy Program offers an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies (with Education Policy specialization). The program prepares researchers and analysts to advance knowledge and improve practice for the purposes of promoting excellence, equity, and efficiency in educational systems and organizations. In a world of accelerating change and a growing need for better understanding of the practices by educational organizations and the policies that govern them, this doctoral program prepares students for key or leadership positions as skilled analysts who are able to solve problems, make informed decisions, and help improve practice. The program is ideally suited for those aspiring to hold high level positions in national government agencies, think tanks, research-based advocacy groups, professional associations involved with education, consulting firms, state education agencies, large school district central offices, or in international organizations dealing with education and training.
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