Doctoral Strand on Exceptional/Diverse Learners

Doctoral students interested in Gifted Education should apply to the Ed.D. Program in Instructional Leadership, with their main focus on the Exceptional and Diverse Learners Sequence(12-15 credits). The complete requirements are outlined below.

After successfully completing the Doctoral comprehensive examination, students develop a doctoral dissertation proposal, which must be approved by a designated committee. Enrollment in the Doctoral Research Seminar is required until the dissertation and the oral defense is completed. The dissertation topic must include gifted students.

I. Core courses (12 credits )

  • EDU 7004 Essential Readings in Curriculum in the 20th Century (3 credits)
  • EDU 7579 Observational Analysis for Teachers (3 credits)
  • EDU 7701 R & D in Innovative Instructional Strategies (K-Adult) (3 credits)
  • EDU 7708 Trends and Techniques in the Evaluation of Programs (3 credits)
  • EDU 7410 Seminar in Identification and Diagnosis of Gifted and Special Populations (3 credits)

II. Areas of Interest: Exceptional and Diverse Learners Sequence (27 credits)
For Specialization select courses in any two areas

Area: Educational Issues of Gifted/Talented Students

  • EDU 7411 Programs, Curriculum and Materials for the Gifted and Talented (3 credits)
  • EDU 7412 Teaching Creative Thinking and Problem Solving to Gifted and Talented Student (3 credits)
  • EDU 7413 Professional Collaboration and Leadership in Gifted Education (3 credits)

Area: Educational Issues of Students With Disabilities

  • EDU 9700 Research in Collaborative Partnerships and Strategic Instruction for General, Special and Inclusive Education (3 credits)
  • EDU 5810 Administrative Principles and Practices in the Implementation of PL 94-142 (3 credits)
  • EDU 9713 Theories of Learning and Development Related to Special and Gifted Populations (3 credits)

Area: Educational Issues of Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Students

  • EDU 9002 Psychology and Sociology of Language and Bilingualism (3 credits)
  • EDU 9004 Content Area Instruction for Linguistically/Culturally Diverse Learners (3 credits)
  • EDU 7000 Sociological/Psychological Foundations of Learning (3 credits)
  • EDU 5301 Leadership Values, Decision Making and Multicultural Organizations (3 credits)

III. Required Research Methodology (12 credits)

  • EDU 5655 Educational Research & Data Analysis I (3 credits)
  • EDU 7211 Educational Research & Data Analysis II (Prereq. 5655) (3 credits)
  • EDU 7901 Educational Research and Data Analysis III (Prereq. 5655 & 7211) (3 credits)
  • EDU 7800 Multivariate Data Analysis (Prereq. 5655 & 7211) (3 credits)
    OR
  • EDU 7900Qualitative Research Methods in Education (Prereq. 5655) (3 credits)

IV. Behavioral and Social Sciences Component (6 credits)

V. Doctoral Comprehensive Examination.

VI. Doctoral Research Seminar