The Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Education is a strongly research-oriented degree. It
is designed for individuals preparing for a career in basic research
or college-level instruction. Major focus includes theory, research
methodology, basic studies, and in-depth knowledge in education
and an approved cognate field.
1. ADMISSION
To be admitted to the Ph.D.
program, a student must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Applicants must also have demonstrated academic excellence and
the potential for scholarly research. A student is admitted by
a Division and must formally apply for a change of Division.
2. FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
The Department of Education
does not have a foreign language requirement for the Ph.D.; however,
the Social Sciences and Comparative Education Division requires
that, prior to advancing to candidacy, students must demonstrate
reading competence in a language other than English. Student's
must submit a memo from their dissertation chair verifying their
competency.
3. FULL-TIME YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT
The Department of Education
has committed itself to transforming the way PH.D. training is
to be delivered; moving from a heavy course-based, lecture/seminar,
training to an apprenticeship/mentoring model.
The Department's Ph.D. students are now required to commit to a minimum of one residential year of full-time engagement (some Divisions may require more) where they are fully present, taking classes, participating in colloquia and seminars, working on research projects, etc. Although, the required full-time year of engagement is generally the second year, students should check with their respective Divisions to be certain. The Department of Education has a policy of targeting fellowship funds (GSRs, GSIs, unrestricted) to support Ph.D. students in their required engagement year. Students should consult with their faculty advisors and their Divisions regarding the availability of Research Apprenticeship Courses (RACs), Ed 288, during their year of engagement. (See Section III C for more information on RACs.)
4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A program of study for a Ph.D. student is determined by the student and advisor, and must meet divisional requirements. A minimum of eighteen courses is required as indicated below. At least ten of the total courses must be in the 200 series. Some Divisions may require 3 quarters of Ed 288 (RAC) as part of or in addition to the eighteen course minimum.
a) A sequential three-quarter research practicum (299A,B,C). This practicum is designed to provide an overview of research in the field of study. Students complete a research paper by the end of the sequence.
b) Five courses from offerings in the student's selected Division.
c) Three upper division or graduate courses from other academic departments of the University related to the student's proposed area of research (the cognate). Students must formally petition for approval of these courses (see Section III B for more information).
d) Three research methods courses, with no more than two introductory (first tier) courses and at least one intermediate/advanced (second tier) course selected from the departmental list approved for the Ph.D. (see Appendix I for list of first and second tier research methods courses).
e) The remainder of the courses to complete the required total may be chosen by the student; such courses must be in compliance with the selected Division's guidelines and must be approved by the student's faculty advisor. Divisional course requirements may be waived, under exceptional circumstances, by the Division upon petition by the student and his/her advisor to the Division Head. Whenever additional academic background is needed, a faculty advisor may require other coursework.
f) Courses must be completed
with a grade of "B-" or better and with a cumulative
GPA of at least 3.0.
5. TRANSFER OF GRADUATE COURSE CREDIT
a) With a GSE&IS Master's Degree:
Each Division will assess the petition of a student who wishes to be granted doctoral course credit from another GSE&IS Divisional program. The assessment is based upon the student's prior work and may include the successful completion of the GSE&IS Doctoral Screening Examination in the student's new Division. If the divisional faculty agree, a Division may award a maximum of eight courses, including up to three doctoral level research methods courses, but excluding cognate courses, toward the eighteen course doctoral minimum requirement. Any decision to award a student doctoral credit for work done in a Master's program in another Division must be on the basis of a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this issue.
A student who wishes to be granted doctoral course credit within the same Division may receive up to full credit at the discretion of divisional faculty. This may also include successful completion of the Doctoral Screening Examination.
b) With Non-GSE&IS Master's Degree, or Graduate Courses with No Advanced Degree:
Each Division will assess
the petition of a student who wishes to be granted doctoral course
credit from another institution. The assessment is based upon
the student's prior work and may include the successful completion
of the GSE&IS Doctoral Screening Examination. There is a
distinction between transferring students who have completed a
Master's degree from another institution, and those who have merely
taken graduate level coursework elsewhere. For the former type
of student, GSE&IS divisional faculty have the option
of requiring a Doctoral Screening Examination for those who wish
to transfer course credit to the GSE&IS doctorate. However,
students of the latter type who wish to transfer course credit
to the doctorate program are required to take the Doctoral
Screening Examination. A Division may award a maximum of five
courses, but excluding
research methods and cognate courses,
toward the eighteen course doctoral minimum requirement. Any
decision to award a student doctoral credit for work done in graduate
studies elsewhere must be on the basis of a recommendation of
a two-thirds majority of all divisional faculty voting on this
issue.
6. WRITTEN AND ORAL EXAMINATIONS
a) Doctoral Screening Examination:
A written examination taken after the completion of appropriate coursework determined by the Division. This examination is concerned with central topics in the selected Division and field of emphasis. Questions are comprehensive in nature and are designed to measure the breadth and depth of knowledge, as well as an ability to focus that knowledge on specific problems.
The examination is offered twice yearly; once in the Fall Quarter and once in the Spring Quarter.
Students taking the Doctoral Screening Examination will ordinarily not be allowed to take more than nine courses before taking the exam. This limit is intended to insure that students demonstrate basic competencies as early as possible in their doctoral training.
All students admitted to a doctoral program without a Master's degree are required to take the Doctoral Screening Examination. NOTE: A Division may establish policy that would require all doctoral students to sit for the Doctoral Screening Examination. Students should check with their respective Division and the Office of Student Services to determine if this or any other examination is required.
In a first sitting for this examination, students may be "passed," "passed with honors," "passed at the Master's level" (the "terminal" Master's), or failed. Students "passed at the Master's level" will be given one further opportunity to pass at the doctoral level; students who have failed will be given a second opportunity to take the examination at the Master's level only.
Students who pass at the Master's level or fail the Doctoral Screening Examination but who have been allowed to re-take the examination must do so at the next sitting. They can take up to 12 units per quarter until they have successfully completed the examination. Of these 12 units only 4 may be a doctoral 200- or 400-level course; the remainder must be the Ed. 597 course.
b) Doctoral Written Qualifying Examination:
The Written Qualifying Examination tests the core knowledge of the Division and emphasis the student has selected. The questions on the examination reflect a research and theoretical orientation. The examination is offered twice yearly, once in the Fall Quarter and once in Spring Quarter.
Students may be "passed," "passed with honors," or "failed" on this examination. Students who fail this examination will be given a second opportunity to take the examination and a third opportunity upon a two-thirds majority of all faculty voting on this issue. No fourth sitting for the examination is permitted.
Students who fail the Doctoral Written Qualifying Examination but who have been allowed to re-take it should do so at the next scheduled sitting.
c) The University Oral Qualifying Examination:
This examination is conducted by the student's doctoral committee, which selects topics from both education and the cognate discipline(s) that are related to the student's written research proposal. This examination is open only to the committee and the student. Upon majority vote of the Doctoral Committee, the Oral University Qualifying Examination may be repeated once.
d) Final Oral Examination:
The decision as to whether a final oral examination is required is at the discretion of the doctoral committee. A final oral examination is open to faculty, students, and other interested researchers at the discretion of the dissertation Chair and the student.
7. DOCTORAL COMMITTEE
The Doctoral Committee is
formed subsequent to successful completion of the written qualifying
examination. For the Ph.D. degree, the committee consists of
three members from the Department of Education and one member
from a department other than Education. This committee, nominated
by the Department of Education and appointed by the Dean of the
Graduate Division, conducts the Oral Qualifying Examination.
(The doctoral committee for CSULA/UCLA joint doctoral students
in special education consists of six members: two from the Education
Department at UCLA, two from the Special Education Department
at CSULA, one member from the student's cognate department at
UCLA and one member from the student's cognate department at CSULA.)
8. DISSERTATION
The dissertation, required
by every candidate for the Ph.D. degree, must embody the results
of the student's independent investigation, must contribute to
the body of theoretical knowledge in education, and must draw
on interrelations of education and the cognate discipline(s).
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