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  3. Teacher Education & School Improvement PhD

Teacher Education & School Improvement PhD Course of Study

Course of Study

CourseDescriptionCredits
 Core Courses 
EDUC 791AReview & Retrieval of Research3
EDUC 790CHistorical and Social Foundations3
 Content Area #1 Sociopolitical Context of Education: at least 1 course 
EDUC 726Introduction to School Leadership3
EDUC 755Urban Education3
EDUC 837Social Contexts of Schools and Politics of Reform3
EDUC TBDAfrican-American Literacies3
 Content Area #2 Teacher Education Research and Practice: at least 1 course 
EDUC 722Research on Teacher Education3
EDUC 851Principles of Supervision3
 Content Area #3 Curriculum Teaching and Learning: at least 1 course 
EDUC 665Curriculum Development3
EDUC 692KFoundations & Theories of Learning3
EDUC 694GTheories of Interest and Motivation3
EDUC 730Research on Teaching/Theories of Critical Pedagogy3
EDUC 797MChildren's Thinking and Learning3
 Content Area #4 Conducting Original Research: 4 courses (2 quantitative*) 
EDUC 555Introduction to Statistics I*3
EDUC 619Qualitative Research Methods3
EDUC 652Mixed Methods Research*3
EDUC 656Introduction to Statistics II*3
EDUC 661Education Research Methods I*3
EDUC 718Action Research3
EDUC 794DCritical Discourse Analysis3
EDUC 797AQualitative Data Analysis3
EDUC 815Ethnography (2 semesters)3
 Electives and Dissertation 
Elective CoursesNon-Thesis Writing9
Dissertation 10

EDUC 790C Historical & Social Foundations of Education

This course introduces doctoral students to key historical and philosophical legacies and debates in American public education, with particular attention to those relevant to current issues in the fields of curriculum, instruction, and teacher education.

EDUC 726 Introduction to School Leadership

An introduction to basic concepts, skills, strategies, and research related to leading and managing schools.  Topics include organizational culture, and models of decision making, leadership, learning, and instruction.

EDUC 755 Urban Education

Survey of curriculum techniques, methods, materials, and programs related to teaching urban children.  Students develop innovative methods and curricula for urban schools.

EDUC 722 Research on Teacher Education

Research and overviews of initial and inservice education of novice and veteran teachers.  Typical topics include induction programs, peer coaching, mentoring, programs for new teachers, programs for experienced teachers, and evaluation of pre- and inservice programs.

EDUC 851 Principles of Supervision

Entry-level course for anyone involved in supervision of students for prepracticum, practicum, microteaching or administrative internships.  Emphasis on introduction, examination, and practice of various models of supervision.

EDUC 692K Foundations & Theories of Learning

The proposed course is an in-depth survey of major psychological and socio-cultural theories of human learning as they have been developed over the last 125 years.  It is designed to provide master degree and first year doctoral students with a broad understanding of the various learning theories currently held by professional educators and educational researchers, as well as an understanding of the historical roots of these theories.  Participants will engage in readings, discussions, and individual and group projects in both face-to-face and online learning environments as a means of constructing their knowledge of this area.  The course is centered on the explication of two major theories regarding human learning; the information processing theory of cognition and the situated learning theory of cognition.

EDUC 694G Theories of Interest and Motivation

In-depth treatment of theories of motivation and interest in- and out-of-classrooms.  Historical treatments of the subject, psychological models of motivation and interest, and contemporary socio-cultural theories of engaged participation in cultural practices.

EDUC 730 Research on Teaching

Examination of the ecology of the classroom.  Typical topics include a historical perspective of research on teaching, research on effects of teaching, teachers' knowledge, research on teaching specific subjects and grade levels, and responding to students' alternative conceptions of subject matter.

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