Educational Administration Doctoral Programs

Doctoral Degrees in the Educational Administration Program include:

 

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  
   

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
 

For New Ed.D. Cohort :

The Ed.D. program in Educational Administration is a cohort-based program intended to develop highly competent leaders for senior administrative positions in school systems, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions (such as the Ministry of Education). The program is specifically designed to help working professional educators develop the intellectual and research skills to refine their practice as leaders in school systems and in post-secondary education. Candidates for this program have the opportunity to undertake a significant academic accomplishment while continuing to work at their current roles.

The focus of the program is on advanced, theory-informed, professional practice and accordingly, this program values the world of practice as a rich field for research and reflective practice. Reflective practice is used as the lens through which advanced theory and research on policy, leadership, change, and social diversity are applied to practical administrative problems. The program is designed to satisfy the needs of leaders who recognize the need for further professional inquiry and analysis to deal with the increasing complexity of problems related to the operation of educational organizations. Through their studies in this program, candidates will seek to understand theory, make research-informed decisions, examine their own practice, critically evaluate policy, and engage others in collaborative endeavors to improve student learning.

Candidates to this program may be from post-secondary education, elementary and secondary schools, and other educational institutions. Diversity is valued and encouraged in order to build wider understandings of the work in educational leadership across organizations. Candidates should be aware this program takes a minimum of three years to complete and includes a thesis requirement.

Key aspects of the Ed.D. program include the following:

Cohort: The program is cohort-based in order to encourage the development of networking and communication skills, to build a collegial community of practice and quality connections between students and faculty.

Sequence: In order to support the cohort model, there is a specified sequence to the recommended courses.

Practice: The courses are based in the practice of educational administration and focus on reflective practice. Knowledge and theory are applied to address issues and problems the administrators are facing in their work.

Research: This program encourages candidates to lead future research and evaluation work in educational settings. There is, in addition, a strong reflective practice basis to the course offerings, including one reflective practice course.

 

Admission Requirements:
 

In addition to the general requirements given in the Minimum Admission and Degree Requirements, the Educational Administration program specifies the following for admission to the Doctor of Education program:

a) the applicant should hold a Master's degree with specialization in Educational Administration or an equivalent degree. Additional coursework may be required from those who do not have a background in administrative studies.

b) A qualifying research paper (QRP) will be required.

c) the applicant must be in a successful leadership position in education; or must have held a leadership position successfully; or must demonstrate potential for leadership. Evidence of this will be provided by at least one letter of reference that the applicant secures from a senior administrator to whom the applicant has reported, commenting on the applicant's achievement in identifying and solving educational problems; ability to lead others; accomplishments; and awareness of current social and educational issues. A curriculum vitae must be submitted.

d) the applicant must also furnish at least one letter of reference from a professor under whom the applicant has studied, commenting on the applicant's scholarly achievement.

 

Degree Requirements:

The Ed.D. degree program is organized into five complementary components:

1. Ed.D. core courses are six mandatory half courses:

• TPS3025 Personal and Professional Values of Educational Leadership (examines the personal and professional values and ethics of educational decision-making and policy)
   
• TPS3040 Administrative Theory and Educational Problems I:
  People and Power in Organizations (applies theory and research to problems of people, power, and policy in organizations)
   
• TPS3041 Administrative Theory and Educational Problems II: Doctoral Seminar on Policy Issues in Education (examines the content, development, and significance of educational policy)
   
• TPS3042 Field Research in Educational Administration (a field research course where candidates examine methods of field research, action research and case studies in educational administration)
   
• TPS3044 Internship/Practicum in Educational Administration (there are three options - all three practical experiences have the same structure: a reflective practice core, an authentic growth problem, and work with a mentor/mentee)
   
• TPS3047 Research Seminar on Research in Authentic Settings (the focus is as a participant in the research - reflective practice and/or action research)
   

2. Two other half courses, one of which must be at the 3000 - level;

3. Successful completion of a portfolio of reflective practice including a comprehensive examination;

4. A thesis proposal hearing;

5. A doctoral thesis, one component of which may be a document of the kind used in the field, such as a policy document or policy handbook, white paper or restructuring plan.

 

Intake:
 

Intake to the program occurs every three years, allowing the third year to be an intake year.



How this Ed.D. program differs from the Ph.D.:

 

• Application (includes CV and experience in admin.)
• Internship course (includes the internship/practicum)
• Research course (includes action research component)
   

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (Ed.D.)

Regular Program:

The Ed.D. program in Educational Administration is designed to develop highly competent personnel for senior administrative positions in school systems, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions and agencies and for academic positions in universities and colleges. The program is designed to satisfy the needs of practicing and aspiring educational administrators and academics who, because of the increasing complexity of problems related to the operation of educational organizations, have recognized the need for further professional education. The emphasis is on developing skills in the application of knowledge from theory and research to practical administrative problems. To accomplish this, the program is flexibly designed and involves numerous collaborative experiences among faculty members, students and administrators.

 

Degree Requirements:

The Ed.D. Program is organized into six complementary components:
 

1. Two Ed.D. core seminars that apply theoretical knowledge to problems likely to be experienced by senior administrators in educational organizations:
   
   • TPS3040 Administrative Theory and Educational Problems I: People and Power in Organizations
   • TPS3041 Administrative Theory and Educational Problems II: Doctoral Seminar on Policy Issues in Education
     
      
2. Two of the following three half-courses or their equivalent:
   
   • TPS3042 Field Research in Educational Administration
   • TPS3043 Survey Research in Educational Administration
   • TPS3044 Internship/Practicum in Educational Administration
      
3. Two further courses in Educational Administration at the 3000 level. Students may choose to focus on one of the five program strands: Policy, Leadership, Change, Social Diversity, or Ethics and Values
4. Two required elective courses, although more may be taken. It is suggested that at least one elective be taken outside of the Educational Administration Program
5. A comprehensive examination
6. A doctoral thesis
    

A student's program of study will normally begin in the Fall Session. The internship/practicum, if selected, would normally be undertaken in the first term of the Summer Session (May/June); however it can also be undertaken at other times.


back to top

 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program fosters the study of problems in the administration and leadership of educational programs. It best serves those who have a commitment to scholarship and research as a means for deepening their understanding of administrative action in schools or in other educational and service institutions. The program comprises of at least six new half-courses, a comprehensive examination, and a thesis. Students who have already attained an acceptable level of competence in research methodology may be authorized to choose a course in a different area of specialization. As students' course selections are not formally authorized, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the selected program meets the departmental requirements. Students are encouraged, but not required, to concentrate course selection on one of the five program strands: Policy, Leadership, Change, Social Diversity, or Ethics and Values. Any deviation from the program described must be approved in writing by the Ph.D. Program Coordinator.

 

Degree Requirements:

1. Four required courses are:
   
   • TPS3040 Administrative Theory and Educational Problems I: People and Power in Organizations
   • TPS3042 Field Research in Educational Administration
   • TPS3043 Survey Research in Education Administration
   • One elective advanced-level (3000) course in Educational Administration
      
2. Two other half-courses
3. As part the thesis proposal hearing, students must pass a comprehensive examination
4. A thesis
    

The Ph.D. program may be taken on either a full-time or flexible-time basis. To be admitted on a flexible-time basis applicants should be active professionals who demonstrate connections between their professional work and their proposed course program, or between their professional work and their proposed research.


 

Time Limit for Completion of Program Requirements in a Ph.D. Program

The following is the School of Graduate Studies policy on "Time Limit for Completion of Program Requirements in a Ph.D. Program":

The policy specifies that:

A candidate for the Ph.D. degree enrolled in a full-time (as opposed to a flexible-time) program will be denied further registration in that program and will have his or her candidacy terminated at the end of the third year of registration in the case of a four-year program, or at the end of the fourth year of registration, in the case of a five-year program (direct entry from a bachelor's degree), if by that time, either

 

1. the candidate has not completed all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis research - including course requirements, qualifying departmental examinations -
   or
2. the candidate does not have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, or supervisory committee.
    

All doctoral students who entered their program in September 2009, should have completed all requirements for the degree exclusive of the thesis research by August 31, 2012 in order to continue in the Ph.D. program.