Doctorate of Education in Policy, Planning, and Administration

 

Program of Study

This Ed.D. program will prepare regional professionals in all aspects of educational leadership. As a major PreK-16+ partner to the school districts, the College of Education developed a program that equips practicing educators with the knowledge and skills to conduct relevant research while enhancing their instructional skills. This professional doctorate offers a practical, research-based, and clinically oriented terminal degree that builds on the strong, dynamic programs that West Chester University has offered throughout the years. The program provides professional educators in a variety of settings the skills necessary to identify challenges/questions in their practice and develop action research agendas to inform possible solutions and initiatives.

Admissions Requirements

The Admissions Committee will consider the following in making admissions recommendations:

• Master's degree, from a regionally accredited college or university
• GRE Requirement: Needed for all individuals with a master's GPA lower than 3.85
• Three letters of recommendation from education professionals
• Professional writing demonstration at the time of application (waived for applicants who present a GRE analytical writing score of 4.5 or higher)
• Resume or vita
• Interview (upon Committee request)

Core Components

The Ed.D. in Policy, Planning, and Administration consists of five main components:

• Professional Core
  addresses applied research within the context of eight program goals.
• Research Methods
  prepares candidates in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to study their practice in intentional, deliberate ways.
• Area of Concentration
  affords candidates the opportunity for in-depth study in an area of interest and associated educational settings.
• Comprehensive Exam
  provides candidates the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge across educational domains and research methodologies and the intersection of this knowledge with their Areas of Concentration.
• Dissertation
  offers a supervised research opportunity to identify site-specific challenges/questions, develop an action research plan, and collect and analyze data to inform solutions.

Program Goals

After successfully completing the Ed.D. program, candidates will be able to:

• Understand the process and usefulness of applied research in the contemporary education environment.
• Enhance the capacity to strategically plan and organize pursuits to affect successful outcomes and policy formation.
• Exhibit a sense of integrity, purpose, fairness, and ethical behavior.
• Possess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to positively impact the learning of all students.
• Conduct applied research to produce reliable findings to advance one’s ability to make informed decisions, produce effective planning, and contribute to the development of relevant educational policy.
• Appreciate the value of working collaboratively with others, recognizing the diversity of the talent and skills of all, while providing leadership as appropriate.
• Understand current trends in education that affect multiple stakeholders across varying contexts.
• Effectively communicate critical issues in education to various audiences.

Degree Requirements

Professional Core (18 credits)

• EDD 700 Doctoral Seminar in Educational Studies
• EDD 701 Social & Ethical Foundations of Education Policy & Practice
• EDD 702 Innovation in Curriculum Development & Evaluation
• EDD 703 Educating All Students in a Diverse Society
• EDD 704 Political & Legal Trends in Educational Policy
• EDD 705 Critical Issues in Special Education

Research Methods (12 credits)

• EDD 720 Educational Research Design & Measurement
• EDD 721 Educational Statistics
• EDD 722 Qualitative Methods for Educational Researchers
• EDD 723 Quantitative Methods for Educational Researchers

Area of Concentration (12 credits)

• In consultation with an advisor, concentration courses could be selected from the following departments in the College of Education: Early and Middle Grades Education, Counselor Education, Literacy, Professional and Secondary Education, and Special Education.

Dissertation (12 credits)

• EDD 801 Education Research Seminar I: Research Seminar I: Research Questions/Literature Review
• EDD 802 Education Research Seminar II: Instrumentation and Data Collection
• EDD 803 Education Research Seminar III: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
• EDD 804 Education Research Seminar IV: Findings & Conclusions

Progression Requirements

After successfully completing the Professional Core, Research Methods, and Area of Concentration, candidates will sit for a Comprehensive Examination. Candidates will be required to pass written and/or oral qualifying examinations before beginning the research portion of the program, the Dissertation. The qualifying exam will cover content from the core and research methods courses, as well as content from the area of concentration. Candidates not passing the qualifying exam on the first try will be permitted one additional attempt.

Candidates must also obtain professional disposition recommendations from three on-site professional education representatives before beginning the research project sequence. Recommendations should include references to related experiences and professional dispositions necessary to conduct applied research in educational settings.

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