(Elementary Education)

 Program Description & Goals
 
Learn more about:
Admissions Deadlines, Criteria, and Procedures, Program of Studies, Examinations, and Dissertations

Program Description

The Ed.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to provide a personalized program of advanced educational experiences for mid-career educators who are or would like to become leaders in school district, educational agencies, or in other professional capacities. The Ed.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction through the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education is offered in four areas: Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary and Community and Occupational Programs in Education. A common core of 18 hours in curriculum, instruction and research is required in addition to dissertation hours. Each student plans a program of additional courses with a doctoral committee.

Program Goals

1. To understand current theory and practice in the student's specialty area.

2. To acquire skill in conducting research in educational settings.

3. To develop leadership qualities and acquire skills in designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs.

4. To develop broad understandings needed to create and supervise educational programs for diverse populations.

Admissions Deadlines, Criteria, and Procedures

Deadlines

Students who are interested in applying to the Ed.D. in Elementary Education for the Spring semester, must submit all required paperwork by September 10th.  Applications will be reviewed by the elementary faculty on October 8th.  Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to a Ed.D. Orientation on October 30th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  They will learn about the program requirements for the the Ed.D. in Elementary Education, and they will be invited to a formal interview with elementary faculty  during the morning session.  During the afternoon, current and former Ed.D. students will share insights and strategies for successful completion of the degree program.  They will also conduct short dissertation research presentations to illuminate methodology, and the depth, breadth, and range of dissertation topics.  The  Orientation will be informative and inspirational.  The dates for the Fall semester are as follows:
Submit all paperwork by March 10th
Applications reviewed by faculty by April 8th
Orientation on April 30 

The Instruction and Teacher Education Admissions Committee initially screens each candidate's application file to determine eligibility according to satisfactory performance or appropriate evidence on each of the following:

1. An earned Master's degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Evidence of a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test.

3. Grade point ratios for undergraduate and graduate work completed.

4. A letter of intent stating career goals and aspirations.

5. At least two positive letters of recommendation.

6. Evidence of at least five years of relevant work experience.

If the applicant satisfactorily meets the admissions criteria, a composite student profile is presented by the Admissions Committee to the elementary education graduate faculty for further consideration. Applicants who are recommended for further consideration are invited to sit for an interview with elementary faculty. Since there are limited openings, the faculty carefully reviews each student's total profile and recommends the most qualified applicants for admission.

Program of Studies

The candidate, with the assistance of his/her doctoral committee, designs a well-planned and sequenced program of studies to meet career goals and degree program requirements. Candidates should submit the program of study as soon as possible after being accepted into the doctoral program. Students are required to have a minimum of 30 hours remaining for Graduate School approval. The program shall consist of at least 90 semester hours, 60 of which must be post-master's. The final program is approved by the student's committee, the Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Education and the Dean of the Graduate School. Approval of the program is considered as full admission to candidacy.

The program of study shall consist of the following sections:

1. Curriculum (6 hours)

Select two courses from the following list: EDLP 720: Fundamental Curriculum Design & Development

EDLP 723: Planning Implementation & Dissemination of Educational Change

EDLP 725: Principles of Curriculum Construction

EDLP 726: Curriculum Leadership

EDLP 820: Curriculum Classics: Trends & Issues

EDLP 825: Curriculum Theory

EDLP 827: Practicum in Curriculum

Note: Students who select EDLP 720 should not select EDLP 725 and vice versa. 2. Instruction (6 Hours) Select two courses from the following list: EDCO 747: Program Development and Implementation

EDCO 748: Staff Development and Training

EDEL 815: Models of Instruction

EDTE 777: Analysis of Effective Instructional Practice

EDTE 791: Global Education

EDTE 759: Teaching Reasoning & Inquiry Skills

EDPY 701: Psychological Analysis of Instruction I

EDPY 702: Psychological Analysis of Instruction II

EDPY 722: Technology & Learning Strategies

 3. Research (18 hours) Two research courses above EDRM 700 (can include one measurement course)

Select two courses from the following suggested courses:

EDRM 710 Educational Statistics I

EDRM 712 Nonparametric Statistics

EDRM 720 Educational Measurement

EDRM 721 Constructing Cognitive Instruments

EDRM 722 Constructing Non-Cognitive Instruments

 EDUC 899 (12 dissertation hours) (can include 3 hours EDRM 897)

4. Area of Specialization: Elementary Education (18-24 hrs.)

Courses such as the following to be determined by student and doctoral committee: EDEL 745 Teaching Elementary Problem Solving, Geometry, and Measurement

EDEL 760 Implementing Social Studies in the Elementary /Middle School

EDEL 771 Teaching Writing in Elementary and Middle School

EDEL 815 Models of Instruction

EDEL 840 Advanced Study of Teaching Elementary School Mathematics

EDEL 858 Advanced Study of Science in Elementary /Middle School

EDEL 860 Advanced Study of Social Studies in the Elementary /Middle School

EDEL 870 Advanced Study of Language Arts for the Elementary School

Comprehensive Examinations

Doctoral Written Comprehensive Examination

The student's doctoral committee shall prepare the comprehensive examinations to be taken at a time scheduled with the student. Doctoral candidates will be required to take the comprehensive examination on a computer. The length of the examination will be nine hours.

Qualifications for taking the examination:

1. The student is completing or has completed all course work required for the Ed.D. degree.

2. The student has a AB@ average on all of the course work completed on the doctoral level at the University of South Carolina and a AB@ average on all 700-800 level courses.

 Students may receive scores of PASS, FAIL or PASS WITH HONORS. A student who fails the examination the first time may take it a second time at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Director. The chair of the doctoral committee will determine the appropriate time for retaking the exam. A student who fails the examination a second time shall be disqualified from pursuing the Ed.D. in the College of Education. Additional courses can be added to the student's program if a majority of the examining committee members see a need for such course work to remedy weaknesses. Honors are earned on the first administration of the test when the student is graded honors by at least two of the examination scorers.

Doctoral Oral Comprehensive Examination

This examination will be scheduled after the student has passed the written comprehensive examination. The purpose of this examination is to determine achievement in the Ed.D. program and the candidate=s ability to articulate theoretical and practical issues relevant to the Ed.D. areas of study. Additional courses may be prescribed for the student to remedy deficiencies. A student who fails the examination the first time may take it a second time. The student will retake the examination at the discretion of the chairperson of his doctoral committee. Students who do not pass on the second trial are disqualified from further graduate study toward the Ed.D. degree in the College of Education.

Dissertation

Each candidate will undertake original research that makes a contribution to the field and prepare a dissertation based on it. The research is conducted under the supervision of the student=s dissertation committee and the dissertation must be approved by both the committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. Each candidate must defend successfully the dissertation proposal before the dissertation committee. When approved unanimously by the committee, the proposal is signed and a copy is placed in the records of the student=s program area. Candidates may not defend a dissertation until the doctoral comprehensive examination has been successfully completed. Each candidate must defend successfully the dissertation before an approved examining committee at least thirty days prior to the date of graduation. The examination will be open to the faculty and guests. Invited guests shall not vote or comment on the student=s performance. The examination is restricted to a defense of the written draft of the dissertation as accepted by the student=s dissertation committee. Scoring shall be by secret ballot after discussion. A majority of the committee must vote a grade of PASS for successful completion of the examination. A second examination may be held for candidates who do not receive a majority grade of PASS. Students failing the second examination are disqualified from further study toward the doctoral degree in the College of Education.

Dissertation Credits

A minimum of twelve semester hours of dissertation preparation credit is required for the completions of a dissertation. A candidate must register for dissertation credit in the semester in which the degree is conferred.

Time Limitations

All credits and all examinations applicable to the doctoral program must be completed within an eight-year period. The dissertation must be completed and defended with five years after the candidate has passed successfully the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination.

Call or send inquiries to:

Ed.D. Degree in Elementary Education
USC College of Education - Elementary Education 107
Columbia, SC 29208 (803) 777-4265

***POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME***

CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR