Doctorate of Education

About the Program

Doane’s Doctorate of Education (EdD) prepares candidates for leadership roles through the development of research and analysis skills. This process allows candidates to create in-depth and highly specialized knowledge and expertise in a specific discipline or field of study. While the major focus of the EdD degree program of studies is research, the Doane University EdD is a practitioners’ degree in which students apply the research process to present issues, problems, or programs which, in turn, will define the scope of study in which the candidate will be engaged.

EdD graduates develop the capacity to have an impact in their professional and personal roles and in the communities in which they serve. Candidates develop expertise in a discipline or topic/field of study that has both immediate and future relevance to their professional roles, as well as the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be continuously engaged in issues of policy, program, and practice throughout their professional career.

This degree is for anyone involved in education at pre-K12, post secondary education, industry, healthcare, and not-for-profit organizations who seeks an advanced degree as a capstone of their preparation.

Mission

The Doctorate of Education (EdD) prepares candidates for leadership roles through the development of in-depth and highly specialized knowledge and skills in a specific discipline or specific field of study. While the major focus of the EdD degree program of studies is research, the Doane University EdD is a practitioners’ degree in which students apply the research process to present issues, problems, or programs which, in turn, will define the research in which the candidates will be engaged.

Vision

EdD graduates will develop the capacity to have an impact in their professional and personal roles in the communities in which they serve through:

development of expertise in a discipline or topic/field of study which has both immediate and future relevance to professional roles in education and
development of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to maintain their capacity to be continuously engaged in issues of policy, program and practice throughout their professional career.
development and application of research and analysis skills

Program Outcomes

The following are the strategic outcomes of the EdD degree experience.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of:

Scholar Leadership by creating original research plans, conducting research, completing analysis and sharing and disseminating the results of their original research.
Strategic Leadership by creating strategic plans to improve a need area within their organization or a community organization.
Curriculum Leadership by creating a curricular plan relative to their organization and position or an community or culture with whom they work
Organizational Leadership by applying research and metaphors to current organizational structures and creating representations of organizational models. .
School-Community Leadership by identifying existing partnerships and creating a partnership plan.
Policy and Political Leadership by following specific legislative policies and creating testimony and/or products to influence/provide information relative to legislation.

Admissions Eligibility

The candidate has completed an MA/MS program from an accredited institution.
Successful completion of at least six hours of graduate-level coursework in the past five years or documentation of completion of the equivalent in continuing-education units.
Completion of a disclosure statement of criminal history and any history of violations of the Code of Ethics of the Professional Practices Commission.
Completed application.

Application Process

Completion of the Application for Admission to Graduate Studies in Education-Education Doctorate Program plus $30.00 enrollment fee. The application can be found at web.doane.edu/apply
Completion requires:
1. an official transcript showing the candidate’s undergraduate degree mailed directly from the institution to Graduate Studies in Education, Doane University, 303 N 52nd Street, Lincoln, NE 68504 or emailed to etranscripts@doane.edu, official transcript(s) of all graduate hours completed and graduate degrees received,
2. official transcripts of all graduate hours completed and graduate degrees received mailed directly from the graduate institutions to Graduate Studies in Education, Doane University, 303 N. 52nd Street, Lincoln, NE 68504 or emailed to etranscripts@doane.edu a written statement by the candidate of the reasons for interest in the program including professional goals for leadership in his/her field, and the candidate’s philosophy on the role of research and scholarly knowledge (250-500 words),
3. three letters of recommendation,
4. a copy of the candidate’s current certifications, and
5. a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Selected candidates will participate in an entrance interview

Selection Process

To be selected for an interview, the application and admission materials and documents will be reviewed by the graduate faculty of the College of Education at Doane University.

Full Graduate Standing

Full Graduate Standing will be granted to students upon the successful completion of 9 hours of Graduate Education credit with a 3.00 or higher cumulative grade point average. A student receiving any grade below a B for any graduate course will have their file reviewed even though the student’s cumulative GPA may be 3.00 or higher.

Decisions are communicated to the student in writing as soon as practical after the student completes 9 hours of Graduate Education credit.

Advising Policy

The Advising Office is housed on the Lincoln campus. The Director of the Doctorate of Education program advises the doctoral students until such time that they have finished their course work and begin working on their dissertation. After doctoral students complete the required program coursework and while they are working on their dissertation, advising will be done by the Director of the program and the dissertation chair.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit will be assessed by the program director prior to beginning Doctorate of Education coursework. While transfer credit is accepted, a minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed at Doane University in order to obtain a degree from Doane.

Dissertation

Doctoral Candidates complete a dissertation. Students must be continuously enrolled in dissertation credits (from 0-12 credit hours). Dissertation credits must be passed or said credits count toward academic probation. All 12 credit hours must be completed to graduate. Students must be enrolled in at least one credit hour during the term of completion.

In the event a student does not register for thesis/dissertation or fails to maintain an active status within one semester after official acceptance by a thesis committee, the committee chair has the option of dissolving the committee, in which case a new committee must be secured and approved before registration can be authorized.

If a student must suspend work on the thesis/dissertation for reasons acceptable to the committee chair, the student should obtain a planned educational leave of absence. These leaves may be approved for two to four semesters. If the leave is approved, the committee shall continue its existence until the student returns.

Time Limitations

In the Doctorate of Education program, a student is expected to complete the degree within a maximum of ten years of beginning the doctoral program at Doane University. If a student withdraws, a review by the program director and College Director will be required prior to resuming courses. The program director will determine if a student can resume participation in the program if the time away from the program extends beyond one year. If the course material is no longer relevant, the student must then retake appropriate graduate courses as part of the program of study. If a student stays out three years or more, the coursework must be repeated.

Program Completion Criteria

All students must successfully meet the following requirements to complete the Doctorate of Education degree.

Successful completion of a minimum of 57 credit hours in courses numbered 600-999
Successful completion of all doctoral core courses
A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher
Successful completion and defense of a dissertation
File an application for degree form no later than the required date

Programs