Prepare for a career or advancement in educational or corporate settings.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Adult Learning and Leadership prepares scholars for careers or advancement as college or university faculty members or in other educational or corporate settings where the application of adult learning principles and theories and the development of new knowledge, theory, and research are important.
Challenging and insightful coursework along with opportunities to develop personal relationships with students and faculty provide future success in the adult learning and leadership fields.
Most courses meet one night a week for 8 to 10 weeks
Full-time faculty/advisors with experience as practitioners
Opportunity to specialize in area related to career
Can start coursework in fall, spring, or summer
Competitive, flat-rate tuition and fees
Scholarship opportunities
$510.60 per credit hour*
90 credit hours
Career specialization
*This estimate is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress.
Ph.D. Curriculum (90 credit hours)
The Doctor of Philosophy program allows students from a wide variety of professions to select courses that best meet their professional goals. Students can choose from more than 25 elective courses or create a specialization in leadership, teaching and learning, technology, or human resources/workforce development.
For students who have already received their master's degree, the program typically recognizes 30 credit hours toward their doctorate.
15 credits (waived if equivalent courses have been completed through Master's degree or at the graduate level)
These credits do not count as part of the 90 required credits for the degree.
Introduction to Adult Learning and Leadership
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Critical and Social Issues in Adult Learning
Program Planning in Adult Leadership
Research Methods
900-Level Coursework: (12 hrs minimum)
Foundations of Adult Learning and Leadership
Adult Development Theory
Organization and Administration of Adult Learning and Leadership
Significant Literature in Adult Learning
Seminar: Scholarly Writing
Seminar: Dissertation
Research Core: (15 hrs minimum)
Statistics
Qualitative Research Design
Experimental Design
Advanced Data Analysis
Electives
Select electives appropriate to the area of emphasis that satisfy the minimum 90 credit hours of the program.
Prelim Exam:
After completion of coursework, students will submit a research proposal for their dissertation.
Dissertation:
12 credit hrs
Ed.D. Curriculum (90 credit hours)
The Doctor of Education program can enhance the knowledge and skills necessary for students to succeed in a wide variety of professions, especially those who work with adults as educators, trainers, facilitators, advisors, managers or leaders.
For students who have already received their master's degree, the program typically recognizes 30 credit hours toward their doctorate.
No. Students in the adult learning and leadership program have a wide variety of bachelor's and master's degrees. Most have found themselves working with and/or teaching and leading adults in some capacity and have decided they want to learn more about how adults learn.
Because our courses are eight weeks long, most students take two courses each semester and finish the course work in three years and the dissertation research in about two to three years.