An interdepartmental Ph.D. degree in Educational Studies with specializations from multiple departments.

Description

This is an interdepartmental program. See specific specializations for more information.

Specializations

1. Educational Leadership and Higher Education

   • On Campus

   This program provides academic preparation and professional development for individuals interested in the study of educational leadership and higher education or those who aspire to leadership positions in educational organizations.

   This program does not lead to Superintendent certification.  For Superintendent certification, apply instead to the "Educational Administration (UNL-UNK) (EDD)" or "Educational Administration (UNL-UNO) (EDD)".

   See Educational Administration for more information.

   Admission Requirements

   • Personal Statement:  Your statement should address the following three areas: (2-3 pages):
     1. How does a doctoral degree figure into your career trajectory and goals as an educator?
     2. How will your doctoral studies contribute to the vision of this department and in relation to the scholarship/expertise of faculty members with whom you would like to work?
     3. What is your plan and strategy to complete your degree in a timely manner? (For instance, online coursework, occasional and/or required on-campus residency requirements, development of research and writing skills.)
   • Essay:  Describe what you see as one pressing educational challenge or opportunity, why this challenge/opportunity is important to address, and how you might address it through your doctoral studies and/or dissertation work. Explain how your scholarly inquiry regarding this challenge could add to the research literature. Maximum 4 pages. 
   • Resume/CV
   • 2 Writing Samples
   • 3 Letters of Recommendation

   Department

   Educational Administration

   Graduate Chair

   Elizabeth Niehaus

   Elizabeth Niehaus

   Support Staff

   Cindy DeRyke

   Cindy DeRyke
2. Innovative Learning Technologies

   • On Campus

   This specialization prepares educators to use technology to support teaching and learning. This may occur in an array of settings, including classroom instruction, instructional design and development, and digital learning. Upon completion, participants will be cognizant of theory and research related to best practices, take part in creating effective use of technology in instruction, and assist others in using technology effectively for teaching and learning. To choose this specialization, you must take 18 credits from the approved specialization courses. For your remaining advanced graduate courses, please consult the TLTE graduate catalog.

   See Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education for more information.

   Admission Requirements

   • Resumé or Curriculum Vitae (required)

   • Scholarly Statement (required): This autobiographical statement of 4-6 pages should briefly describe your professional career to date and highlight experiences, philosophies, goals, and service work. Please discuss past research productivity, leadership, and/or contributions to your profession. Address in particular the role of research in your areas of scholarly interest and explain your reasons for pursuing a doctorate in TLTE. Finally, describe what would be important to you in being mentored as a doctoral student. (TLTE graduate faculty member profiles are available at https://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/tlte-faculty-and-staff.)
   • Writing Sample (required):  Provide a writing sample that demonstrates your scholarly writing ability. For example, you may submit a term paper, a thesis, or published research article.

   • Undergraduate GPA: minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Graduate GPA: minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale;
   • Professional experience: a minimum of two years as an educator in a school or non-school settings;
   • Fit between the applicant's goals/interests and the department's ability to address those goals/interests;
   • Evidence of strong writing ability.

   Department

   Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education

   Graduate Chair

   Jenelle Reeves

   Jenelle Reeves

   Support Staff

   Joelle Tangen

   Joelle Tangen
3. Special Education

   • On Campus

   The focus of the Ph.D. program in Educational Studies is to prepare scholars for leadership roles in teaching, research, and program supervision and development.

   The emphasis is upon the generation of new knowledge or the reformulation of existing knowledge as a basis for the development of educational theory through research efforts. The test of knowledge is on the possible contribution to the development of educational theory, but you will also develop skills to improve educational practice.

   All applicants for the doctoral program in special education are required to discuss their professional goals/interests with at least one faculty member in the department and secure faculty sponsorship before admission is awarded.

   See Special Education and Communication Disorders for more information.

   To be considered for priority funding, apply by January 15 for the Fall term.

   Admission Requirements

   • Entrance exam(s): GRE
   • Minimum English proficiency: Paper TOEFL 550, Internet TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5
   • Statement of Personal/Professional Goals
   • Resume
   • Three recommendation letters
   • Statement of Writing or Research
   • Mentor/Advisor agreement: The Advisor Agreement Form (or an equivalent memo directly from the advisor), with all affirmative responses and a faculty member signature, is required before a student can be admitted to this program.

   Department

   Special Education and Communication Disorders

4. Teaching, Curriculum and Learning

   • On Campus

   This specialization focuses on advancing research about teacher preparation and teacher professional development in connection to curriculum theory, philosophy and ethics of education, mentoring and teacher induction, teacher identities, professional learning communities, teaching and learning, and education across all settings. Consult TLTE graduate catalog to choose your advanced graduate courses.

   See Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education for more information.

   Admission Requirements

   • Resumé or Curriculum Vitae (required)

   • Scholarly Statement (required): This autobiographical statement of 4-6 pages should briefly describe your professional career to date and highlight experiences, philosophies, goals, and service work. Please discuss past research productivity, leadership, and/or contributions to your profession. Address in particular the role of research in your areas of scholarly interest and explain your reasons for pursuing a doctorate in TLTE. Finally, describe what would be important to you in being mentored as a doctoral student. (TLTE graduate faculty member profiles are available at https://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/tlte-faculty-and-staff.)
   • Writing Sample (required):  Provide a writing sample that demonstrates your scholarly writing ability. For example, you may submit a term paper, a thesis, or published research article.

   • Undergraduate GPA: minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Graduate GPA: minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale;
   • Professional experience: a minimum of two years as an educator in school or non-school settings;
   • Fit between the applicant's goals/interests and the department's ability to address those goals/interests;
   • Evidence of strong writing ability.

   Department

   Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education

   Graduate Chair

   Jenelle Reeves

   Jenelle Reeves

   Support Staff

   Joelle Tangen

   Joelle Tangen

Graduate Admission Requirements

• Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
• One set of transcripts.
• If International: upload copies of all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

  * Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

• If the student’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.

  * When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed

• If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
• Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.

Admission Deadlines

Specialization in Ed Leadership & Higher Ed: January 15 for Fall.

Specialization in Innovative Learning Technologies: January 15 for Fall.

Specialization in Teaching, Curriculum and Learning: January 15 for Fall.

Specialization in Special Education: January 15 for Fall and priority consideration for funding; otherwise rolling admission.