2021-2022

Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations

Department

Degrees offered

Ph.D

Campuses

Main Campus
Anne Arundel Community College
Eastern Shore Higher Education Center (ESHEC)
Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC)

Summary

The Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations prepares graduates to provide instructional leadership for linguistically and culturally non-mainstream learners and prepare research that will contribute to knowledge in the field. This Program of Study applies the most current, relevant, contemporary scholarship to bear on creating learning environments that improve the academic performance of all students and meets the particular needs of these learners. The Program requires a knowledge core, a research core, comprehensive examinations, and a formal dissertation.

Program Objectives

The Program requires elements common to all doctoral studies: research methods, comprehensive examinations, research seminar and dissertation. The course content includes study of language, learning, and instruction; historical, global, and philosophical perspectives; change theory; and, educational policy and legal issues.

Courses in the areas of language, learning, and philosophical perspectives provide necessary understandings and approaches fundamental to all aspects of the Program. Because they establish the foundation and focus for all other studies, these courses should be taken at the beginning of the doctoral program.

Curriculum

Depending on prior graduate work of the student, 45 to 60 credits will be required to complete the degree. Students receiving a grade less than a B in the Ph.D. Program of Study must repeat the class. If they do not earn a grade of B or better in the repeated class, the student will be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program. Students earning less than a B in more than one course within the Program of Study will be withdrawn. Students are required to be enrolled in fall, spring, and summer or request a Leave of Absence.

Courses

Introductory Research Course (3 Credits)

          EDU-543 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting Educational Research (3)

Language and Learning (9 credits)

          EDU-697     Language and Intercultural Communication for Changing Populations (3)
          EDU-698     Linguistic and Cultural Diversity (3) 
          EDU-747     Learning, Language and the Brain (3) 

Philosophical Perspectives (12 credits)

          EDU-674     Global and International Perspectives in Education (3)
          EDU-772     Changing School Populations in Historical Perspectives (3) 
          EDU-775     Democracy and Education: Philosophical Perspectives (3)
          IDS-500      The Human Spirit and the Liberal Arts (3)

Changing Populations (9 credits)

          EDU-715     Educator as a Change Leader (3)
          EDU-722     Education and Policy Analysis for Changing Schools (3)
          EDU-760     Legislative and Legal Decisions Affecting Changing School Populations (3)

Research Core (9 credits)

          EDU-695     Research Design (3)
          EDU-701     Methods of Quantitative Research (3)
          EDU-703     Methods of Qualitative Research (3)

Special Interest Area (9 credits)

Students select three of the following courses:

          EDU-608        Teaching the Digital Generation in the Globalized Age (3)
          EDU-609        Instructional Tools for Digital Learning (3)
          EDU-624        Dialects in American Schools (3)
          EDU-665        Digital Game-Based Learning and Design (3)
          EDUC-510      Introduction to Cultural Competency and Educational Equity (3)
          EDUC-514      Critical Race Theory in Education (3)

          

Up to six (6) credits may be accepted in transfer for the Special Interest Area.

Comprehensive Examinations

Students complete written comprehensive examinations demonstrating knowledge of the broad conceptual and procedural aspects of instruction for changing populations. The written portion of the exam requires students to write essay answers demonstrating proficiency in writing, critical thinking, and holistic perspectives, and to demonstrate their ability to articulate their perceived roles as agents of change in education.

Written examinations must be passed in the following areas:

      • Language and learning
      • Philosophical perspectives
      • Changing populations

Written comprehensive examinations are administered in August and January. If a student fails any section of the examination, the student will have one opportunity to rewrite the failed section. Written examinations are read by two faculty members. In the event of divided scoring, a third faculty member will be asked to review the examination. After two failures of any section, the candidate may not continue in the Ph.D. Program. Written examinations are not returned to students.

Grades assigned to comprehensive examinations are:

      • Pass with honor (PH)
      • Pass (P)
      • Fail (F)

Students are officially notified of the results by the Dean of the School of Education.

Students must complete the comprehensive exam requirement within two years of completing course work.

Dissertation

The Dissertation is the culmination of the student's doctoral studies. In this scholarly work of original and independent research, the student addresses a problem or issue relevant to education, conducts research that is quantitative, qualitative, or historical/philosophical (depending on the chosen subject), and develops a dissertation that adds to knowledge in the field.

Dissertation Proposal

The student is assisted in the process of preparing a dissertation proposal through the Dissertation Seminar(s). To be eligible to enroll in the Dissertation Seminar, the student must have successfully completed all required courses, passed the written and oral comprehensive examinations, and be in Good Academic Standing at the University.

The following courses are offered regarding Dissertation research:

      • EDU-705 Dissertation Seminar (required for students engaging in qualitative, quantitative, or historical research) (3 credits)
      • EDU-706 Dissertation Seminar: Methodology (required for students engaging in qualitative or quantitative research) (3 credits)
      • EDU-707 Dissertation Seminar: Historical Methods (required for students engaging in historical or philosophical research) (3 credits)

These courses assist the student in developing a dissertation proposal. During this time, the student confers with the Dean of the School of Education to select a Dissertation Committee (a Chair and two readers) who are subsequently appointed by the Dean.

After completing the Dissertation Seminar(s), students must enroll in EDU-800 Dissertation Continuation (1 credit) for each academic semester (Fall, Spring and Summer) until they graduate.

When the student completes the dissertation proposal and the Chair and two readers approve it, the student submits the proposal to the School of Education Ph.D. Committee to approve. Students are expected to submit a proposal to the School of Education Ph.D. Committee within two years of passing comprehensive examinations. If a student fails to submit a proposal within this timeline, he/she must appeal to the Dean of the School of Education extension of time. 

Advancement to Candidacy

Once the School of Education Ph.D. Committee approves the dissertation proposal, the student is considered a Ph.D. Candidate. Once the Ph.D. Committee approves the proposal, students conducting research with human subjects also apply to the IRB for approval for their research.

Submission of the Dissertation

The candidate submits drafts of the dissertation to the dissertation advisor and readers for suggestions and review throughout the process of research and writing. When the candidate, advisors, and readers agree the dissertation is ready for final review by the School of Education Ph.D. Committee, the candidate submits required copies to the Dean of the School of Education. Due dates for submission of dissertations are January 1 (for May graduation) and August 1 (for December graduation). If the dissertation is found to be satisfactory, the Dean of the School of Education schedules the dissertation defense. Manuscripts that do not follow the format expectations set forth in the Dissertation Handbook will not be accepted.

Dissertation Defense

The candidate defends the dissertation before a Committee formed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost in consultation with the advisor, readers and the candidate. The Committee includes faculty from the School of Education. Where relevant to the student's research topic, the Committee may also include a faculty member from a complementary discipline. The dissertation defense must be successfully completed by these dates:

      • April 1 for May graduation
      • November 1 for December graduation

These are firm deadlines.

Dissertations are graded as follows:

      • Pass with distinction
      • Pass
      • Fail

Candidates are expected to defend their dissertation within two years of being admitted to candidacy. If a candidate fails to defend a dissertation within this timeline, he/she must appeal to the Dean of the School of Education for an extension of time. (See website for application for extension of time.)