Curriculum and Instruction, DEd

The Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is a graduate program intended for teacher/ scholars who have demonstrated distinguished achievement as practitioners or administrators in the field of education. The DEd is a professional degree conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated the ability to function effectively in the role of teacher educator in college and university settings and who have a commitment to the professional development of pre-service and in-service teachers.

Successful completion of the doctorate in curriculum and instruction signifies that program graduates function effectively as teacher/scholars who: 1) understand and apply educational theory, 2) demonstrate competence in curriculum evaluation, 3) fulfill the role of teacher educator committed to working with diverse populations, and 4) conduct independent research that makes a significant contribution to the field of education.

The program leading to a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is an applied sequence of courses, experiences, and research for individuals who are seeking to begin careers in higher education or to become curriculum experts and professional development specialists in public, private, and independent schools.

The Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to prepare teacher/scholars who work with pre-service and in-service educators in university and school settings. In fulfilling their role as teacher-educators, those who earn the DEd in Curriculum and Instruction have mastered four areas: educational theory, teacher education, curriculum evaluation, and research methods.

The program intends to prepare doctoral graduates who will:

• Fulfill the teacher-educator’s role in ways that reflect the highest standards for academic rigor, intellectual inquiry, and professional integrity
• Study curriculum as a discipline including the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs in education
• Analyze critical issues in curriculum and instruction, both historical and contemporary, as they relate to a broad range of disciplinary specialties in the field
• Use technology for developing outstanding college-level courses and professional development programs for preservice and in-service educators
• Demonstrate knowledge of adult development, characteristics of adult learners, and appropriate ways of supporting educators’ professional growth
• Apply knowledge of learners and curriculum to offer exemplary college-level instruction and supervision to practitioners in the field of education
• Master the research skills of the teacher/scholar in education as demonstrated by professional presentations, scholarly writing, and the successful completion of independent dissertation research
• Contribute to the commonwealth and other educational settings by working effectively and ethically with diverse populations of educators, children, families, and communities

Admission Criteria

In addition to meeting minimum graduate admission criteria, applications are also required to:

1. Show a cumulative quality-point average on a graduate-level transcript of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Complete an online writing task that is individually scheduled and evaluated by members of the Doctoral Screening Committee.

Program Requirements

A total of 60 semester-hour credits beyond the master’s degree are required in the Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction. The credits are allocated as follows: