EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION  DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (ED. D.) DEGREE PROGRAM

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program in Educational Administration and Supervision is designed for those who wish to pursue professional careers in leadership roles in educational institutions. The program of studies prepares students for careers as school superintendents, principals, directors and supervisors; administrators in state, federal, and international agencies; professors of Educational Administration; and administrators in institutions of higher education. 

The curriculum is designed to enable students to become familiar with and utilize effectively both theoretical and technical knowledge. The program of studies is multidisciplinary and integrates broad intellectual perspectives into the study and practice of Educational Administration/Leadership. The nature of the program of studies may vary among students, depending on their academic background and professional interests. 

Admission Criteria:

Applications for admission to the program are encouraged from qualified applicants without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by the program faculty. The program does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available for new students. Special background and experience may allow for conditional admission of those not meeting stated criteria. 

Admission to the program is based on the following criteria: 

Admission Procedures:

In order to be fully admitted to the doctoral program, a student must be accepted by the College of Education and by the Program in Educational Administration and Supervision. Admission procedures are as follows: 

1. A completed application for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Office, Florida International University. (Application materials are available from the Admissions Office.) Official transcripts of all prior graduate and undergraduate academic work and an official copy of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (General Test) must be sent to the Admissions Office. Omission of any one of these items will delay the processing of the application. 
   

2. A letter of intent and a current resume (including educational and employment history) must be submitted to the Director, Office of Advanced Graduate Studies, College of Education, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199. 
   

3. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted to the Director, Office of Advanced Graduate Studies, College of Education, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, by persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s academic and/or professional competence. 
   

4. The Admissions Office forwards the applicant’s completed file to the College of Education. On the basis of its review and evaluation of the applicant’s file, the program faculty will either: (1) schedule an interview with the applicant; (2) withhold a decision and request additional information from the applicant; or (3) deny admission to the program. 
   

5. Admission to the program is determined by the program faculty on the basis of its evaluation of the applicant’s file, credentials, and the personal interview.

Program Requirements:

The doctoral program in Educational Administration and Supervision requires the completion of a minimum of 99 semester hours of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree. The typical program of studies incorporates approximately 110 semester hours of graduate work, including 36 to 42 semester hours that may be transferred to the doctoral program from a master’s degree program. -3- 

The coursework is organized as follows: 

Residency Requirement: 

In order to satisfy the residency requirement, a student must complete 18 semester hours of coursework in a 12-month period after admission to the program, exclusive of doctoral dissertation hours. 

Doctoral Candidacy Examination (“Comps”): 

When all required coursework is completed, the student must pass a written and oral Doctoral Candidacy Examination covering the subject matter in the major and related fields. 

Advancement to Candidacy:

A doctoral student does not become a candidate for the doctoral degree until granted formal admission to candidacy.  Advancement to candidacy is recommended by the Supervisory Committee and requires at least the following: 

Doctoral Dissertation: 

A candidate for the doctoral degree is required to prepare and present a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates a capacity for independent thought and for the application of the tools and methods of research to educational issues and problems. 

A candidate for the doctoral degree must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of dissertation credit (EDA 7980). Once enrollment in dissertation credit is initiated, a candidate must maintain continuous registration for at least 6 semester hours of dissertation credit (EDA 7980) each semester (including Summer Semester/Term C) until the dissertation is successfully completed and defended. 

Time Limit: 

All program requirements, including the successful defense of the dissertation, must be 
completed within nine years of first enrollment in the doctoral program. 

Financial Assistance: 

Various forms of financial aid are available to students enrolled in the doctoral program. Information on financial aid may be obtained from the Office of Advanced Graduate Studies in the College of Education, the University’s Financial Aid Office, or the University’s Division of Graduate Studies. 

Faculty Advisor: 

A student admitted to the doctoral program is assigned a temporary faculty advisor to provide guidance in the initial selection of program courses. During the first semester of doctoral study, or upon completion of twelve (12) semester hours of advised doctoral coursework, the student is expected to choose a Major Professor and Supervisory Committee. The primary function of the Supervisory Committee is to oversee the preparation and completion of the program of studies and the development and evaluation of the candidacy examination.. A Research Committee guides the development and completion of the doctoral dissertation. The Research Committee may or may not have the same membership as the Supervisory Committee. 

Doctoral Studies Policies & Procedures Manual:

The College of Education Doctoral Studies Policies & Procedures Manual provides a systematic set of policies and procedures that govern doctoral study in the College.

For further information, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Leader for the doctoral program in Educational Administration and Supervision: 

Rev.: Spring 2001