LaGrange College Bulletin

Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction

The Doctorate in Curriculum of Instruction is a program of study designed for educators to advance in their current professional settings or to qualify for positions in higher education research and teaching.

Admissions Requirements

Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 from all graduate coursework attempted;
Submit a criminal background clearance and/or current public-school teaching certificate.
Pass the Georgia Assessment of Content Evaluation (GACE) in Curriculum and Instruction at the Professional Level
Hold a Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction degree from a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC)
Meet all requirements and apply for Georgia certification in Curriculum and Instruction.
Submit TOEFL scores if an international student who did not earn a degree from a US institution.
Submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.
Submit a writing sample as directed by the Education Department
Complete an interview, which may be conducted online.
Submit three letters of recommendations from individuals well-acquainted with the applicant’s professional potential and academic aptitude.

Program of Study

The Doctorate in Curriculum of Instruction is a 30-33-hour program, post Ed.S. which includes 30 hours. Enrolled candidates must have applied for a certification upgrade at the completion of the Ed.S. coursework prior to admittance into the Ed.D. program. The Ed.D. program consists of 18-21 didactic hours plus a minimum of 12 dissertation hours. Courses are delivered online with periodic on-campus meetings.

Candidates who wish to enroll in the Ed.S. program and seamlessly transition into the Ed.D. program at LaGrange College must complete the following courses at the Ed.S. level, meet certification requirements for the Ed.S., and then be accepted into the Ed.D. program.

Ed.S. degree program courses

Semester	Course	Title	Credit Hours
Summer	EDUC 7090	Research Methods	3
	EDUC 7035	Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction	3
	EDUC 7350	Curriculum Theories and Philosophies	3
Fall	EDUC 7010	Research Topics and Methodology	3
	EDUC 7015	Management and Analysis of Educational Data	3
Spring	EDUC 7070	Internship in Curriculum	3
	EDUC 7200	Directed Research	3
	EDUC 7300	Professional Practices	3
Summer	EDUC 7050	Comparative Education	3
Summer	EDUC 7360	Curriculum Advocacy	3
APPLY FOR Ed.S. Certificate		TOTAL HOURS	30

Ed.D. degree program courses

Semester	Course	Title	Credit Hours	Matriculation Requirements
Fall	EDUC 8000	Methods of Inquiry	3
Fall	EDUC 8010	Understanding Curriculum	3
Spring	EDUC 8020	Advanced Qualitative Methods	3	Prospectus Approval
Spring	EDUC 8030	Advanced Quantitative Methods	3	Prospectus Approval
Fall	EDUC 8040	Advanced Curriculum Development in Areas of Specialization	3	Candidacy Examination Defend Proposal
Fall	EDUC 8050	Doctoral Writing Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction I	3	Candidacy Examination Defend Proposal
Spring	EDUC 8070	Dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction	3-6	Defend Proposal IRB Approval
Spring	EDUC 8060	Doctoral Writing Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction II	3	Defend Proposal IRB Approval
Fall	EDUC 8070	Dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction	3-6
Spring	EDUC 8070	Dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction	3-6	Defend Dissertation
		TOTAL HOURS	30-33

Enrollment

Continuous enrollment in Fall and Spring semesters required during dissertation phase.

Dissertation Candidacy Exam

After successful completion of the courses listed below, candidates must pass a comprehensive assessment, referred to as the Dissertation Candidacy Exam.

Dissertation Candidacy Exam Prerequisite Courses:

EDUC 8000 Methods of Inquiry (3 hours)

EDUC 8010 Forms of Curriculum Inquiry (3 hours)

EDUC 8020 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (3 hours)

EDUC 8030 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods (3 hours)

EDUC 8040 Advanced Curriculum Development in Areas of Specialization (3 hours)

The Dissertation Candidacy Exam measures candidates’ advanced knowledge of Curriculum and Instruction content, methodologies, and professionalism. Doctoral candidates must pass the Dissertation Candidacy Exam within five (5) years from the first Ed.D. admission registration semester and no later than the semester following the completion of Ed.D. coursework.

Dissertation

Reading and research under the direction of an assigned faculty member leads to the development and defense of the dissertation proposal and the dissertation. At least 3 credit hours must be taken each fall and spring semester until the dissertation is completed. The number of hours taken per semester must be approved by the dissertation chair. At least 12 hours must be completed.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates must complete all the required coursework with a cumulative 3.50 grade point average or higher as well as pass all program key assessments. All degree program requirements must be completed within five (5) years of passing the Dissertation Candidacy Exam, including the Dissertation; otherwise, all doctoral level coursework must be repeated, and the Dissertation Candidacy Exam retaken.