Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction is comprised of courses totaling a minimum of 60 academic credit hours beyond the master�s degree. The curriculum includes an introductory core of 6 credits,a content areawith 24 credits minimum,a research component including 15 credit hours, the 3 credit dissertation seminar andthe dissertation which will include a minimum of 12 credit hours. The dissertation will often include more than 12 credit hours depending on the length of time necessary for completion.Students entering the program may also need to complete introductory statistics courses if they have not had such courses or cannot demonstrate competency at a satisfactory level. Students who come into the Ph.D. program with a master�s degree in an academic field that is unrelated to curriculum and instruction and/or who have not completed courses to develop competency in specified areas may need to complete these courses in addition to the required courses.
Under normal circumstances, admissions will be offeredto build efficient cohort groups for this type of advanced study.In order to enhance the experience of the students and to increase the efficiency by which courses are offered, cohorts will be limited. The limited number of students assures that there is an adequate number of full-time faculty to serve the students through advising and other duties, particularly when the cohorts reach the dissertation stage of the program.
To build a cohesive cohort group, the introductory core will be offered on the Old Dominion University campus each summer. It will be expected that all newly admitted students will come to campus for these courses during the first summer after which they are admitted to the program.Residency at a second intensive set of courses the following summer is recommended but not required.
A minimum of two semesters of full-time study is required of students in the program to meet University residency requirements.One of the semesters of full-time study (defined as completion of nine credit hours fall and spring or six credits during the summer) must be accomplished by the completion of the intensive summer noted above. The second semester of residency can be accomplished in several ways. Students may complete nine credit hours during any spring or fall semester or may take six credits during the summer.Courses taken via TELETECHNET or other distance education methodologies are considered �resident� courses, so that taking three TELETECHNET courses during a semester may complete the second residency requirement.
Admissions are conducted on a rolling basis. Prospective students are advised to complete their application and send in all related materials by March 15 for Summer/Fall admission and October 15 for Spring admission.