Doctorate in Adult Education Leadership

The EdD in Adult Education Leadership (EdD AEL) program has purposefully been designed to cross the traditional boundaries between education and business. This program is designed for professionals working with adult learners in various organizational settings including higher education, corporate structures, health care organizations, government and military settings. The study of adult learning theory and practice and program planning for adult education activities serves many types of organizational needs. As with any doctoral degree, graduates will master the English language and applied research methodologies.

The EdD in Adult Education Leadership degree program’s mission is to graduate successful and influential adult education leaders who are critical thinkers—with exceptional knowledge, skills, and integrity—who are able to apply theory to the creative and innovative solutions of practical adult education and training problems. The EdD in Adult Education Leadership degree program is designed to be of service to both students and the learning organizations and communities that graduates serve. The School of Education trusts that students who have met the program’s rigorous admission standards are mature individuals who are dedicated to their professional growth as well as the growth and well-being of their organizations and communities.

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT IN CONTENT AND DISSERTATION ADVISING (DOC) COURSES IS MANDATORY.

Required Program Disclosures

Program Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyze and evaluate current practice as well as synthesize and apply critical thinking to the student’s academic deliverables and professional lives.
  • Examine, select and integrate solutions to practical problems in designing and recommending training needs.
  • Assess and select current research that is practical, relevant and appropriate to the students’ chosen research topic and methodology, and integrate this information into course synthesizing projects, the dissertation and other academic deliverables.
  • Perform research and recommend practical solutions to a problem, question or issue relevant to the student’s area of research interest or specialization.
Who Should Enroll: 

The Doctorate of Education (EdD) in Adult Education Leadership degree program prepares key adult education leaders who serve as Higher Education faculty, administrators and researchers; Business and Industry human resource training personnel; Military training and development professionals; Healthcare education training and development leaders; Government training and development professionals; Staff Development professionals and entrepreneurs who work with adult education and other learning organizations. Like all doctoral programs, mastery of the English language and the ability to conduct action-based research are requirements of all successful graduates.

HOW TO APPLY:

Your course sequence will be determined in cooperation with your Student Support Counselor.

CURRICULUM
1 Orientation Course - no costNo Credit
6 Core Content Courses18 Credits
5 Research Courses15 Credits
1 Leadership Capstone Elective Specialization Course 3 Credits
1 Comprehensive Written Examination Course3 Credits
1 Formal Proposal Course4 Credits
4 Dissertation Research Courses16 Credits
13 Dissertation Writing Courses13 Credits
TOTAL Required for Graduation
72 Credit Hours
1 Orientation Course - no costNo Credit
DOC900 Doctoral and Specialist Programs: Year 1 Colloquium
6 Core Content Courses18 Credits
EDU770 Foundations of Adult Learning
EDU775 Program Planning Needs Analysis
EDU776 Program Planning
EDU778 Instructional Delivery Methods
EDU779 Assessment of Learning Programs
EDU782 Leadership in Adult Education
5 Research Courses15 Credits
RES700 Foundations of Doctoral Research Methods
RES701 Qualitative Doctoral Research Methods
RES702 Quantitative Doctoral Research Methods
RES704 Trend Forecasting
RES705 Leading Change
1 Leadership Capstone Elective Specialization Course 3 Credits
EDU783 Adult Education Leadership Capstone
1 Comprehensive Written Examination Course3 Credits
EDU850 Comprehensive Examination, School of Education
1 Formal Proposal Course4 Credits
EDU851 Formal Proposal, School of Education
4 Dissertation Research Courses16 Credits
DISS820 Dissertation Data Gathering
DISS821 Dissertation Analysis
DISS822 Dissertation Results
DISS823 Dissertation Final Defense
13 Dissertation Writing Courses13 Credits
DOC910 Foundations of Doctoral Writing
DOC911 Foundations of Doctoral Research
DOC912 Structure of the Literature Review
DOC913 Developing the Research Question
DOC914 Structure of the Research Methodology
DOC915 Structure of the Introduction and the Prospectus
DOC916 Initial Drafts of the Literature Review
DOC917 Initial Drafts of the Research Methodology
DOC918 Final Draft of the Literature Review
DOC919 Final Draft of the Research Methodology
DOC920 Initial Drafts of the Introduction
DOC921 Final Draft of the Introduction and IRB Application
DOC922 Proposal and IRB Approval

Transfer credit is available for applicable courses.