Lifelong Education Administration and Policy

Educational Administration and Policy

Program requirements

Coursework and Program of Study

There are seven major areas of coursework: 1. Educational leadership core, 2. Cognate Graduate Area of Study, 3. Specialization or performance based core, 4. Research methodology, 5. Apprenticeship in academe or internship in educational administration and policy, 6. Pre-candidacy, and 7. Dissertation-candidacy. All coursework and programs of study are determined in consultation with the major professor and doctoral committee and approved by the Graduate Coordinator. The following description represents the minimum requirements for the degree. The major professor and the doctoral committee can require additional coursework.

Educational Administration and Policy Core (18 semester hours)

Students in Plan A and Plan B share a common core of courses.

EDAP 9010	Educational Administration & Policy Analysis	3 semester hours
EDAP 9015	Curriculum & Educational Policy	3 semester hours
EDAP 9020	Education Finance & Policy	3 semester hours
EDAP 9025	Law & Educational Policy	3 semester hours
EDAP 9045	Administrative Theory	3 semester hours
EDAP 9250	Supervision Theory	3 semester hours

Performance based core (12 semester hours)

The supervised residency provides candidates a multitude of opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and practice and develop the skills identified in the Common Core Knowledge Standards through substantial, sustained, standards-based work in real settings, planned and guided cooperatively by the institution and school district personnel. Candidates demonstrate the ability to accept genuine responsibility for leading, facilitating, and making decisions typical of those made by educational leaders. The experiences will provide candidates with substantial responsibilities that increase over time in amount and complexity and involve direct interaction and involvement with appropriate staff, students, parents, and community leaders.

EDAP 8115 or EDAP 8120	Building-level Administration [EDAP 8115*] or District-level Administration [EDAP 8120]	3 semester hours
EDAP 8611/8711 (3 hours)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District Level	3 semester hours
EDAP 8612/8712 (3 hours)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District Level	3 semester hours
EDAP 8613/8713 (3 hours)	Supervised Educational Leadership Residency – Building/District Level	3 semester hours

Electives (12 semester hours)

Students who are not pursuing leadership certification (Plan B) will complete at least 12 graduate semester hours in a specialization (e.g., law, finance, curriculum, supervision, administration, policy) within the field of educational administration and policy. These courses, selected by the student in consultation with the major professor and the doctoral advisory committee, will provide in-depth understanding of a specialization within the field of education leadership. These courses will be selected from courses offered through the Program in Educational Administration and Policy or from courses in related disciplines across the College of Education and the university. Areas within Educational Administration and Policy in which doctoral students can specialize include: Administration, Curriculum, Finance, Educational Law, School Improvement, Instructional Supervision, Professional Development of K-12 Teachers and Administrators, just to name a few.

Research Methodology (9 semester hours)

Students will complete at least three courses (9 graduate semester hours) in research methods beyond such courses that were part of a Master’s Degree or cognate studies so that they will possess expertise in one research methodology and a working knowledge of a second. Recognizing that coursework in research methodology varies from field to field, for example, from law, to economics, to history, in consultation with the student, the doctoral advisory committee will identify research competencies necessary for the student to engage in his/her area of research and will direct the student toward appropriate coursework. Recognizing that research competencies are not effectively developed through separate courses alone, coursework in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership will require the application of research methodologies to actual data sets throughout the student’s program.

Comprehensive Examination and Prospectus (Minimum of 3 semester hours; however, number of hours will vary)

After coursework is completed, students begin preparing for the written and the oral exam, known as the comprehensive exam. During this time, the student, major professor, and the dissertation committee develop a timeframe for this work. After the successful completion of the oral exam, the student works on preparing the prospectus. Each major professor and committee determines the scope of the prospectus. Typically, the prospectus is the first three chapters of the dissertation. Again, what constitutes a prospectus is articulated by the major professor. A student enters candidacy after the completion of the written and oral exam and the successful defense of the prospectus. It is not unusual for a student to take three or more semesters to remain in pre-candidacy for three or more semesters after completing the coursework. Students enroll in EDAP 9000 once coursework is completed and until such time that the written and oral exam is completed, and the prospectus has been successfully defended.

Dissertation-Candidacy (10 semester hours)

Students are expected to complete an academically rigorous dissertation in which they conduct an independent investigation that results in an original and significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge and/or practice in their field. Dissertation planning, approval, and defense will be conducted in accordance with current Graduate School policies at the University of Georgia.

Students will complete at least three hours of dissertation study. However, it is a Graduate School Policy that students must sustain a minimum of 10 semester hours of credit with the count starting the semester in which a student enters candidacy until the time of graduation. Typically, a student will sustain 10 semester hours of EDAP 9300, counting from the time a student enters candidacy until graduation. This policy also aligns with the continuous enrollment policy of the Graduate School at the University of Georgia. An overview of the steps to completion is available. Additional policies guiding student progress in EDAP can be found here.

Familiarity with Policies and Regulations

There are many rules and regulations affecting graduate enrollment, examinations, and dissertations that are made by the Graduate School rather than by the Program in Educational Administration and Policy. It is the student's responsibility to become informed about Program in Educational Administration and Policy, Graduate School, and University of Georgia regulations, policies, and procedures.

Policies and regulations will change, and this homepage will be updated regularly to reflect these changes; however, any policy or procedure that changes will be in effect irrespective of these changes being posted on these pages. Further, while this document represents a good faith effort to describe current program requirements, in the case of any errors, omissions, or inconsistencies between this document and approved policies, approved university, department, and faculty policies control. If you have further questions please contact a faculty advisor.
The Educational Administration and Policy homepage provides additional information.

Page last updated on March 10, 2009