Programs
COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP (Ph.D.)
To meet the executive leadership needs of Virginia's community colleges, Old Dominion University has developed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Community College Leadership. The innovative quality of this program supports the university's commitment to technology-delivered learning by implementing leadership graduate courses at Virginia community colleges and elsewhere in the United States through Old Dominion University's TELETECHNET delivery system. This enables prospective students to enroll in this doctoral program in a distance learning educational format.
The mission of the Community College Leadership Program is to provide high quality instruction and advising to students desiring to complete this doctoral degree and to assist graduates of the program to assume executive level leadership positions in community colleges. Some of the unique community college leadership issues that are addressed in this program are: diversity of the community college, the role of the community college in higher education systems, the role and expectations of communities hosting the community college, and the importance of community workforce preparation.
COUNSELING (M.S.Ed., Ed. S., Ph.D.)
The master's degree in Counseling is a 48-hour nationally accredited program designed for students who are seeking a career in a variety of counseling settings including community agencies, government and business, college student personnel work, private practice, and elementary, middle, and secondary schools. The program faculty is particularly committed to educating students who are dedicated to reducing disparities in society based on race, gender, class, and sexual orientation, and other social group membership. The mission of the Counseling Program is to equip its students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will enable them to function well in the demanding and ever-changing world of the professional counselor. The Counseling Program serves diverse, qualified students from the Hampton Roads region, from across the United States and from countries world-wide. A key aim of the Program faculty is not only to prepare these diverse students with research-based knowledge and generic competencies, but also to help them develop those attitudes of tolerance, curiosity, reflectiveness, commitment, perseverance, and compassion, which will serve them well in professional practice.
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (M.S.Ed., Ed.S., Ph.D.)
Graduate study in educational leadership focuses on principal preparation for licensure. The successful completion of 36 semester hours leads to a Master of Science in Education and Virginia PreK-12 Administration and Supervision licensure, provided the other Virginia Department of Education requirements are met. The Ed.S. program focuses on further leadership study geared towards the central office level for those who already have a Master's degree, either in Educational Leadership or another education field. For those holding a Master's degree in another area, the Ed.S. degree may be obtained to provide licensure in PreK through 12 Administration and Supervision All programs address the special kinds of leadership that are needed at the building and central office levels of administration. The Ph.D. is the terminal degree for those seeking to lead at the executive level including prospective superintendents and principals and for those desiring to teach and lead at institutions of higher education.
For those selected by the Navy to participate in the Educational Training Management Subspecialty (ETMS) program; we offer an approved program curriculum.
HIGHER EDUCATION (M.S.Ed., Ed.S., Ph.D.)
The mission of the higher education program is to train entry-level (Masters) and executive level (Ed.S. and Ph.D.) administrators to assume positions at colleges, universities and community colleges. These programs prepare students to become productive professionals and leaders in the field of higher education. These degrees are an essential requirement for those seeking to advance to leadership positions in higher education institutions, educational associations, or in human resource areas in the public or private sector. By providing courses that are both relevant and current,that are taught by full-time faculty and full-time practitioners, the curriculum is optimally balanced, appropriately blending the practical and theoretical aspects of this body of knowledge.
HUMAN SERVICES (B.S.)
The program leading to the Bachelor of Science with a major in Human Services prepares students for entry-level positions in a wide variety of community services settings. Students in the program learn the roles and functions of the human services worker, characteristics of human growth and development; characteristics of human services agencies; theories and skills of human services, and how ethical issues, legal issues, and multi cultural issues affect the work of the human services worker. Graduates are prepared to assist clients in coping successfully with developmental tasks of normal growth and in solving problems caused by personal, social, and environmental stress. Graduates may be employed in a wide variety of settings including mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, aging or gerontology, domestic violence, youth service, correction or criminal justice, health care, recreation or fitness, and vocational rehabilitation. The major may be pursued on the main campus or through Old Dominion's TELETECHNET program for distance learners.