From Foster Watkins
June 2005 EdDTask Force Status Document
Developing Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Proposal
Bagwell College of Education
Kennesaw State University
Guiding Principles:
A collaborative approach will be utilized in developing the proposal.
The degree will be of an umbrella nature that will draw upon the academic and experiential
possibilities of the total university.
The preparation of professional educators who will be able to work and lead at various levels
in the educational environment with an emphasis upon improving student success and learning
is our shared goal and mission.
A “Cohort” approach will be utilized in developing and delivering the degree with across-
programs and within areas-of-specialization dimensions.
Every effort will be made to make the degree field-based and problems-centered with an
emphasis upon student participation and interaction across program lines.
The effort will be developed under a degree of control in terms of size and complexity and
will be monitored from that perspective as it moves forward in keeping with the KSU tradition
of delivering programs of the highest quality.
Curriculum Development Considerations:
The degree will be the Doctor of Education (Ed.D)
The marketing tagline will be “Leadership for Learning”
A cooperatively developed set of KSDs will give leadership to the development of the courses
and experiences that become part of the degree. .
Education (professional preparation of teachers and leaders) is the academic umbrella with
opportunities for professionals from related social service agencies and helping professions
with those types of responsibilities to participate. Strands in the program will be sensitive to
the development of administrative leadership and teacher leadership.
The “Capstone” nature of the doctoral component (last 36 hours as a minimum) will allow
appropriate consideration to the admission of a full range of students to the program with
screening consideration given to their previous academic background in an equivalency
manner to the use of the Ed.S components in the admissions and screening process for KSU
graduates.
The planning process will focus upon the doctoral degree with consideration given to building
in opportunities to qualify for the Specialist Degree (Ed.S) and/or to begin work toward adding complementing certification or endorsement options along the way.
The degree will be configured with three components: (1) Core/Foundations, (2) Area of Speciali-
zation and (3) Guided Electives/Cognate(s).
Attention will be given to student interest and needs in developing the program with a number of
decision points included through guided electives and the choice of a doctoral level of concentration
that will vary across students.
While protecting the individual needs and interests of students, a focus of the degree will be upon
student and professorial collaboration across program lines through the cohort approach. Most of
the Core/Foundations Component including the common Research courses will be delivered in an umbrella-cohort approach.
Program Format to this Point:
Components Graduate Degree Levels
Master’s Educational Specialist Doctor of Education (30hrs) (30 Hours) (30 Hours) (36 Hours min.)
Core *Research I *Research II *Research III (3)
*Advanced Study of Learning *Research IV (3)
*Leadership of Systemic Change *Seminar on L, E, C (3)
*Applied Field Project *Doctoral Proposal Seminar (3)
Specialization (12 to 18 credit hours) *Doctoral Dissertation (9 min)
*International Experience (3)
Guided Electives **3 to 6 hours **Doctoral Concentration (12)
*Required
**Selected from areas of study such as listed below in coordination with their advisors. The doctoral
concentration may be of an interdepartmental/interdisciplinary nature.
In keeping with the dual strands in this degree in ”Leadership and Learning”, students who do not
select a doctoral concentration in an administrative/leadership related area would be expected to have
an embedded concentration of a leadership/administrative nature of a minimum of 12 hours in their
graduate work. (Consideration in meeting this expectation will be given to master’s level study). In
a similar manner, students will be expected to have an embedded concentration of a minimum of 12
hours in assessment/ learning/instruction/curriculum if they do not select a doctoral concentration in
one of those areas.
It is expected that a minimum of 12 hours in a students cumulative graduate studies must come from
outside the student’s home department with a minimum of 6 hours outside the BCOE in a cognate
support manner.
The degree format above reflects the requirements for the Ed.S degree along the way to the doctoral
degree. That coursework is seen as developmental and supportive of the doctoral degree as it is defined
in this program and must be considered in planning complete doctoral programs for students not taking
the Ed.S.
**Doctoral Concentration/Guided Elective Possibilities**
Assessment and Evaluation
Business Administration
Conflict Management
Diversity/Multiculturalism
Educational Administration
Educational Psychology
English as a Second Language
Ethical Leadership
Higher Education/Community College Study
Interdisciplinary
Master Teacher/Academic Coach/Teacher Leader
Psychology
Political Science
Public Administration
Professional Teacher/Administrator Education
Reading
Supervisory Leadership (Instruction/Curriculum)
Technology
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