Elementary Education

Description

The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, offered by the University of Bridgeport, is the first of its kind in Connecticut (1980). It is designed to improve the effectiveness of experienced organization leaders and administrators by integrating the study and practice of sound leadership, management, and organization principles.

Successful completion of the program leads to the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) As an advanced degree program focusing on the renewal of practicing organization leaders and administrators, the Doctoral Program addresses the needs of such personnel in terms of both the content of the curriculum and program organization.

The Doctor of Education degree is offered at the University of Bridgeport campus. Students usually take two courses, nine credits per semester, Fall and Spring, and up to two three credit hybrid/online courses each summer. Classes meet in the evenings, generally, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (3 credits) or 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. (6 credits) to comply with the job demands of working professionals.

Contents

Learning Outcomes

The candidates will be able to:

Integrate principles of administration, management, organization and program evaluation in research agenda

Produce a dissertation proposal that reflects a student’s research interest

Exhibit mastery of principles of leadership, to be able to pass the comprehensive exam

Research, write and defend a doctoral dissertation

SEMESTER HOURS = 62 required for graduation

1. Three years of formal study; the following courses are required for graduation:

• EDLD 801 Program Development (6 Credits)
• EDLD 804 Constitutional Law (6 Credits)
• EDLD 805 Grant Writing, Procurement and Policy (6 Credits)
• EDLD 807 Organization Management (6 Credits)
• EDLD 808 Human Relations (6 Credits)
• EDLD 811 Introduction to Research (3 Credits)
• EDLD 812 Quantitative Research (3 Credits)
• EDLD 813 Literature Review (3 Credits)
• EDLD 814 Qualitative Research (3 Credits)
• EDLD 815 Mixed Methods Analysis (3 Credits)
• EDLD 816 Action Research Project (3 Credits)
• EDLD 817 Postsecondary Teaching (2 Credits)
• EDLD 845 Dissertation Preparation (3 Credits)
• EDLD 850 Continuous Dissertation (0 Credits)

Students interested in gaining Connecticut’s administrator certification must also take:

• (a) EDLD 864 Special Education for Administrators (3 Credits)
• (b) EDLD 881A Administrative Internship (3 credits)
• (c) The Connecticut Administrators Test (CAT Exam)

2. Residency:

Students must take at least 3 credits in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters in the first three years of the program.

3. EDLD 845: Dissertation Preparation

Dissertation Preparation: The final course before comprehensive examination and dissertation proposal defense is EDLD 845 ‘Dissertation Preparation’. Students are ordinarily expected to complete the major portion of their work on the dissertation proposal prior to EDLD 845.

4. Comprehensive Examination

The major thrust of the comprehensive examination is to evaluate the student’s ability to utilize knowledge and skills gained through formal instructional activities in addressing the solution of organization related problems. The examination consists of three ‘take home’ questions (a. methodology; b. leadership; c. topical specialization) based upon the student’s program of study. It is generally scheduled following completion of all course and seminar work, and prior to submission of the formal dissertation proposal.

5. Dissertation

The individual dissertation represents the student’s major effort during the program. It will focus on a significant problem in education or organization leadership which addresses a local, regional or national need, and relates to the personal needs and interests of the student. Ideas for dissertations emerge and are refined over the course of the first two years. The six 3 credit methodology courses (EDLD811-EDLD 817) are designed to help students frame their dissertation proposal, pilot their study, refine procedures, and begin the process of formal data collection and analysis. EDLD 850 Continuing Dissertation Seminar provides personal contact with the dissertation committee and is taken after students pass the compressive examination and defend their dissertation proposal. The student is expected to take at least one calendar year after the comprehensive examination to complete the dissertation. During this year, the student is considered as having a halftime course load. Each student has a three-member dissertation committee.

Note: Completion of Doctoral Degree

The degree must be completed within seven years of the date from which the student started coursework in the doctoral program. In exceptional cases, the department may recommend that the Dean grant an extension of this limit.

Requirements

Master ’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.