The Doctor of Education Program
The Doctor of Education (Ed D) is a professional doctorate. It offers advanced study for experienced professionals in education and related fields. Candidates enrolled in the Ed D will conduct applied and authentic research in their workplace, or chosen educational setting. Thus, the doctorate aims to develop research skills which are immediately beneficial in their workplace.
Through the production of a portfolio, candidates will produce completed pieces of research throughout the course rather than the completion of one large thesis at the end of the course.
The Ed D course is structured to meet the needs of educational professionals so it can therefore be completed on a part time basis or through a combination of part time and full time study
What are the aims of the Ed D?
What is involved in the Ed D?
How is the Ed D different from a PhD?
Why is the Ed D structured differently from the PhD?
Am I qualified for entry into the Ed D?
Will I have to attend on-campus?
How long will it take?
Can I apply for credit?
How will I be supervised?
How will I be examined?
What fees are applicable?
How do I apply to enrol?
Whom do I contact?
What are the aims of the Ed D?
- To enhance knowledge of research methodologies, especially relevant to the study of practice.
-
and reflective, analytic techniques appropriate to these methodologies.
-
To develop skills required for critically reviewing the literatures.
-
To develop a scholarly knowledge base for conducting research.
-
To develop skills required for critically reviewing relevant literatures.
-
To produce a coherent set of related research, relevant to the professional work and aspirations of the candidate.
What is involved in the Ed D?
The Doctorate of Education requires that the candidate:
- designs and conducts three research activities targeting one or more professional issues;
-
use differing foci, theory, methodology, and/or data collection tools for each of these three research tasks;
-
takes one of the research tasks to journal publishing level;
-
publishes a second research task in an international peer-refereed article;
-
writes a dissertation of approximately 50 000 words (maximum); and
-
writes a 3 000 to 5 000 word overview linking the dissertation with (a) the professional practice of the candidate, (b) various aspects and products of the research tasks, including the articles, and (c) the work of others.
How is the EdD different from a PhD?
The Doctor of Education differs from a Doctor of Philosophy in several ways.
- The EdD is a research and research-training degree.
-
It allows candidates to construct a negotiated combination of structured Research Tasks, existing research related subjects, and self-designed research activities.
-
It allows the study of several aspects of one educational issue or a number of educational issues.
-
Each research task can be a focus and completed before moving onto the next.
-
It allows candidates to implement a variety of theories, methodologies, and data collection tools when completing the research tasks.
-
It requires candidates to submit a portfolio of related work including a dissertation rather than one large discrete thesis.
-
It encourages and rewards efforts to write for different audiences.
Why is the Doctor of Education structured differently to the PhD?
The EdD is more structured than the PhD to allow professionals to acquire a range of research skills, to conduct a variety of research activities which complement and inform their work, and to develop substantive knowledge in more than one area of expertise.
Development in the literatures which inform the study of educational and social practice by those directly engaged in them provide a sound, practical, theoretical, and methodological base for doctorates which integrate the study of practice.
The structure of the program around smaller required Research Tasks and research-based subjects rather than one large thesis acknowledges the reality of professionals’ lives. First, it better accommodates the combination of work and part-time higher degree study over an extended period of time. Second, it offers the satisfaction of completion of specific activities during candidature. Third, it allows for the fact that changing professional positions and roles may require changes in the focus and physical location of research.
Am I qualified for entry into the EdD?
A person may enroll in the degree of Doctor of Education if that person has practiced in education or a related field approved by the Dean/Head of the School of Education for a minimum of three years and has:
-
a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline with First Class or Second Class Division A Honours approved by the Higher Degrees by Research (BHDR) on the advice of the Dean/Head of the School of Education; or
-
a research Masters degree in education or a related discipline approved by the Head of School of Education; or
-
a coursework Masters degree in education or a related discipline (comprising at least one-third research methodology and practice) approved by the Head of School of Education and in which a Credit grade point average was obtained;
-
a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline with 12 points of successful postgraduate research at a credit standard, for example, a Graduate Certificate of research methods; or
-
such other qualifications and professional experience judged by the Dean/Head of School and the Director, Postgraduate Studies to provide a preparation for study equivalent to that provided above and appropriate to commencing study in the Doctor of Education Program.
Will I have to attend on campus?
Not necessarily, although on-campus support will be available and you will be encouraged to take advantage of this.
Materials to support pre-set EdD Research Tasks and research-based subjects in which you might enroll will be delivered via print and the Internet.
You will be able to access the James Cook University ’s library and other repositories of online journals and databases via its web site. You may be required to purchase pertinent text books.
You will also receive support from your supervisors. For candidates able to access them on campus, this will include face to face consultation. For all candidates, supervisors will provide support by email, phone and, where possible and appropriate, Skype.
Special arrangements (such as a teleconference) may be required to complete the Confirmation and Pre-completion seminars.
How long will it take?
The EdD candidature is normally 3 years full time or 6 years part time.
The minimum time allowable by JCU rules is two years and a maximum of five years full-time (or equivalent) enrolment.
Part-time candidates can reduce the overall time to complete the degree by enrolling full time for part of their candidature.
Up to one year of advanced standing is permitted for previous work deemed to be at doctoral level by the Dean/ Head of School of Education in consultation with the Director of Postgraduate Studies and any unpublished research or scholarly products from this work may be submitted as part of the portfolio up to a maximum of 10 000 words.
How will I be supervised?
A supervisory team, including a principal and associate supervisor, will be appointed as part of the enrolment process.
Your supervisors will be responsible for the supervision of your Dissertation and of your work generally. They will meet regularly with you, help you with various aspects of the planning, management, conduct and writing up of your EdD Portfolio, and monitor your progress. They will also assist you with your preparation for your Confirmation and Pre-completion Seminars.
You are encouraged to consult other staff who have expertise especially relevant to specific research activities which you undertake.
What are the significant EdD program milestones?
- The application for enrolment in the EdD.
-
A confirmation of candidature seminar within 6 months of enrolment if full time and within 9 months of enrolment if enrolled part time.
-
The publication or acceptance of publication of an article in an international peer-referred journal.
-
A pre-completion seminar 6 mounts before the end of your candidature, regardless of full or part time status.
How will I be examined?
You will be required to submit a Portfolio of work for examination. The portfolio will comprise:
-
a dissertation of 50,000 words
-
a 20,000 word collection of scholarly and research products from work completed in (a) the structured Research Tasks or (b) a combination of research tasks and research tasks from the research based subjects, the latter to be less than 30% of the requirements of the program (or permitted under the rules of advanced standing). This collection is to include two articles, one at publishable standard and the other published (or acceptance confirmed) in an international peer-referred journal.
-
an overview of 3,000-5.000 words which describes the relationship among the following: the professional practice of the candidate, the dissertation, the other work included in the 20 000 word collection of scholarly research products, and the work of others
The portfolio will be examined by two examiners external to James Cook University . One of these examiners will be an appropriately qualified professional from the education field. Examiners will be appointed by the Board of Post Graduate Studies on the advice of the Dean/Head of the School of Education .
What fees are applicable?
Australian citizens may apply for HECS exemptions, but should note that such exemptions are not guaranteed. Visit the Graduate Research School Web Site:
www.jcu.edu.au/grs
International students will be required to pay fees. International students are advised to contact the Office of International Affairs via email at internationalstudentcentre@jcu.edu.au or visit the website at www.jcu.edu.au/international/
How do I apply to enrol?
As this is a research program, it is administered through the Graduate Research School . Application procedures and forms are available at the Graduate Research School website at http://www.jcu.edu.au/grs/JCUDEV_015302.html
Processing of this application will take at least two weeks and longer if all the required documentation is not included.
Whom do I contact?
Kristy Naughton
Research Support Officer
School of Education
James Cook University
Townsville. Queensland . 4811
AUSTRALIA .
Telephone: 61 747 6784
Fax: 61 747 251690
Email: kristy.naughton@jcu.edu.au