UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE & SOCIETY (ECS)
PH.D. PROGRAM INFORMATION

GOALS OF DOCTORAL STUDY

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in education is an academic degree designed primarily to provide students with the intellectual background and research skills of a scholar. Correspondingly, it emphasizes disciplinary training and research methodology and culminates in a dissertation-an extended work of original scholarship that contributes substantially to the knowledge base in the field. While not exclusively intended for persons entering higher education, it is a degree that connotes advanced study in theoretical and research issues.

A THREE STAGE MODEL

It is helpful to consider the doctoral program in three stages. Stage one focuses on doctoral core distribution course work and culminates in the Preliminary Examination. In stage two, the student focuses on an educational problem or topic and takes additional course work in the specialty area, allied areas, and research methodology in preparation for the dissertation. Stage two culminates with the Qualifying Exam, which is an oral defense of the dissertation proposal. In stage three, the student implements, writes, and defends the dissertation.

Stage 1 - Requirements:

A. Core Distribution (21 hours)

The doctoral core distribution includes a choice of course work in each of the three major areas of the Department. All students must complete this work before beginning work on the preliminary examination.

•  History, Philosophy and Sociological Studies (6 hours)

•  Language, Culture and Curriculum (6 hours)

•  Educational Theory (9 hours)

B. ECS Courses

1. History, Philosophy, and Sociological Studies

6610 History of Education in the United States
6611 History of Teaching in the United States
6640 Sociology of U.S. Higher Education
6641 Social Inequality in U.S. Higher Education
6642 Impact of College on Students
6643 Affirmative Action & Diversity in Higher Education
7610 Social Movements and the History of Education in the United States , 1880-1950
7611 Social Movements and the History of Education in the United States, 1950-2000 [prereq: 7610]
7612 History of Black Education in the U.S.
7614 Culture Wars and US Educational Policy
7615 School, Work, and the State
7616 History of Women's Education in the United States
7620 Seminar in the Philosophy of Education
7621 Pragmatism & John Dewey
7623 African American Epistemologies & Pedagogies
7626 Whiteness Theory: New Directions for Research & Pedagogy[prereq: 6624/7624]
7629 The Writing Wars: Scholarship and the Construction of Knowledge

2. Language, Culture and Curriculum

6631 Minorities, Diversity & Control in Public Schools
6632 Issues & Research in Multicultural Education
6633 Curriculum & Instruction in Multicultural Education
6634 Bilingual/Bicultural Education
6636 Literacy as Cultural Practice
6637 Critical Issues in English Language Teaching
6640 Sociology of U.S. Higher Education
6650 Curriculum Inquiry & Practice
6652 Advanced Curriculum Theory
6653/7653 Foundational Theories of Language and Education
6710 Culture and School Success
6830 Classics of Educational Literature
6831 School Change and Reform
7630 Anthropology & Education
7635 Perspectives in Comparative Education
7638 Language Diversity in Education
7639 Language and Community
7650 Schools and Inequality
7655 Critical Pedagogy
7813 Teacher Research

3. Educational Theory

6640 Sociology of U.S. Higher Education
6652 Advanced Curriculum Theory
7615 School, Work, & the State
7617 Global Knowledge, Text, and Performance in Education[prereq: 6615/7615]
7622 Feminist Epistemologies & Pedagogies
7624 Whiteness Theory & Education
7625 Critical Race Theory: A Focus on FemCrit and LatCrit
7631 Sociological & Anthropological Theories in Education
7650 Schools & Inequality
7653 Foundational Theories of Language & Education

** Note: Special Topics Courses (6950/7950) are to be categorized according to the particular topic

C. FIRST AND SECOND YEAR FORMAL REVIEW

All doctoral students are required to complete a first and second year formal review. The purpose of these reviews is to assess students' progress, to identify any students who may be having difficulties in ways that are not reflected in their grades, and, when necessary, to make recommendations for additional course work. Procedures for these reviews are outlined in ECS Ph.D. Students First and Second Year Formal Review Procedures .

D. THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION (3-9 hours)

The preliminary exam consists of two essays responding to questions written primarily by the student and one essay responding to a question written by the student's preliminary exam committee. Students are expected to do their preliminary exam after successfully completing 36 hours of course work and before completing 42 hours of course work.

The exam has five aims: 1) to broaden and deepen the student's knowledge of research in a selected are; 2) to assist the student in synthesizing and analyzing important research in his or her area of expertise; 3) to facilitate the student's grasp of theories relevant to his or her area; 4) to help faculty members identify areas in which the student will need to do further work; 5) to identify students whose scholarly skills will not allow them to successfully complete a dissertation.

The preliminary examination is administered and evaluated by the student's preliminary examination committee. Students should enroll for 9 hours of prelim work over one or two semesters.

The members of the examination committee are chosen by the student and should include three members from within the Department. A student who fails the exam may repeat it once; a student who fails the exam a second time will be discontinued from the program. Procedures for taking the exam are outlined in the Student Checklist for the Preliminary Examination in ECS.

Stage 2 - Requirements:

A. Specialty Area (9 hours beyond the distribution core)

The specialty area is designed in consultation with your advisor. Typically, it includes nine additional hours in one of the two specialty areas: History, Philosophy and Sociological Studies; or Language, Culture and Curriculum.

B. Research Methodology (9 hours)

All students must complete a minimum of nine hours of course work in qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology. Courses should be planned in consultation with your advisor to equip you with the research skills you will need to complete your dissertation. Most students will enroll in ECS 7660, 7671 and 7673; some graduate students also take ECS 7672. Students in history and philosophy may make other arrangements to fulfill this requirement.

7670 Conceptual Issues in Qualitative Research
7671 Qualitative Research Methods
7672 Ethnographic Research Methods
7673 Evaluating Qualitative Research

C. Allied Course Work (9 hours)

All students must complete 9 additional hours outside the Department of Education, Culture & Society (ECS). These courses should be planned in consultation with your advisor and should complement your course of study.

D. Dissertation Proposal

After completing most of your course work and before your qualifying examination, each student must prepare a detailed statement of the research proposed for the dissertation. This proposal should include a review of the relevant research on the topic proposed for study, a thorough conceptualization of the goals and design of the project, and a rationale outlining its significance and value. Thus, the proposal must follow an intensive preliminary investigation of the topic. It should not simply sketch out an area or topic planned for study. ECS 7950 (Dissertation Seminar) is intended to help students begin work on the proposal. In addition, students may take up to 6 thesis hours prior to taking the Qualifying Examination.

E. Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Exam should be taken after the student's course work and proposal are completed and before the student begins full time work on the dissertation. This exam consists of a formal meeting with the student's supervisory committee. Prior to this meeting, the student should supply committee members with a written proposal that the student defends during the Qualifying Exam. What the student "qualifies" for is to begin work on the dissertation. Hence, the exam looks for the knowledge base, writing ability, and methodological training necessary to carry out a successful research project. The student's previous course work should focus on developing this background.

Stage 3 - Requirements

A. The Dissertation (a minimum of 15 thesis hours)

The dissertation is an original piece of research on a significant topic of relevance to education. It represents the culmination of a student's doctoral study, and the student will be expected to have mastered the relevant theoretical and research background of the issues involved in study of the topic.

B. Final Oral Defense

This presentation is evaluated by the student's supervisory committee at the conclusion of the program. A positive evaluation constitutes the formal acceptance of the student's studies and scholarship as suitable to a research doctorate. The text of the dissertation must be complete, and each member of the committee must be satisfied that it addresses their major concerns. The oral defense must be public (however, non-committee members may participate in the discussion only at the discretion of the candidate and the supervisory committee). The purpose of the presentation is to judge the overall quality of the dissertation and to assess the scope of the student's knowledge and understanding of the relevant topic.

C. Total Hours

Students must complete a minimum of 66 hours of course work (including thesis hours) to receive this degree. This includes up to 6 hours that may be transferred from the student's master's program. Students may be required to take more than 66 hours, at the discretion of their prelim and dissertation committees.

FACULTY RESEARCH SPECIALTIES

ECS Chair: Harvey Kantor, Ph.D. - 587-7805
ECS Director of Graduate Programs: Audrey Thompson, Ph.D. - 587-7803
ECS Academic Program Specialist: Hannah Morgan - 587-7814

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Doctoral program does not guarantee successful completion. Evaluation of the quality of each candidate's graduate performance is an ongoing process. You should be especially aware of the following requirements:

1. Satisfactory Performance in Courses: Each instructor will expect satisfactory performance in your course work. The Department will keep general track of the progress students are making in their program, and will inquire about students who seem to be stymied or lagging. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in “good standing.” T. A.'s and scholarship students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to receive a tuition waiver. No course grade below a C- can be counted towards your graduate degree.

2. Examinations: You must complete a preliminary examination, a qualifying examination, including a defense of your dissertation proposal, and an oral defense of your dissertation. Any of these examinations can be failed; in the case of the preliminary exam and the qualifying exam, failing the exam twice will mean discontinuance from the program. In the case of the final orals, the Supervisory Committee will not sign off on the dissertation until it is entirely satisfied with its form and content.

3. Foreign Language: There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. in this department.

4. Residency Requirement: At some point in your program, you must meet a residency requirement of two consecutive semesters of full-time study. A student in residence must enroll each semester in no less than nine semester hours of study on the campus of the University of Utah (2X9=18 credit hours total). Internship, field study hours, and dissertation hours are acceptable for meeting the residency requirement. The residency requirement assumes that there is educational value in full-time participation in a university community. This full-time study requirement, aside from assisting materially in obtaining a graduate degree, is intended to encourage students to take full advantage of the varied intellectual and cultural resources of the university.

5. Dissertation: At the conclusion of your Doctoral program, you will be expected to complete a research-based dissertation, subject to the review and approval of your Supervisory Committee. This project is both symbolically and substantively the culmination of your advanced graduate work.

 

OTHER IMPORTANT REGULATIONS

In planning your course work, be aware of the following:

1. Time Limit : There is a seven year limit on completion: All work towards the Doctorate should be completed within seven consecutive calendar years. In unusual cases, youmay request an extension of this time limit.

2. Transfer Hours : A limit of 6 credits are allowed from other universities, subject to the approval of your Supervisory Committee. Courses must be graduate level, must have direct relevance to your program, and must have a grade of "B" or better. Grades of "P" or "NC"(pass/no credit) are not acceptable. For any course you wish to have considered, you must provide a copy of the course description from the official catalog of the institution from which the course was taken. The University Library has catalogs from most Universities. The above information should be submitted along with the Course Work Proposal. Official transcripts must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office when the Candidacy form is submitted as evidence that these courses have been satisfactorily completed.

3. Non-matriculated Course Work : Not more than 9 credits can be counted toward a graduate degree. These must be appropriate to your program and will need to be agreed to by the Supervisory Committee.

4. Total Credit Hour Registration Limitations : Graduate degree candidates are not permitted to register for more than 16 credit hours in any semester. Teaching assistants, research assistants, an others employed approximately half-time are limited to a maximum registration of 9 credit hours.

5. Graduate Level Course Work : 5000 level classes in other departments outside the College of Education may be included in your program of study, if they are appropriate. Classes in the Department of Education, Culture & Society at the 5000 level are not appropriate.

You must also have the prior approval of the Chair of your Supervisory Committee to count course work toward your graduate program that is not taught by regular faculty or is not part of the regular curriculum, including certain workshop courses, in-service courses, or any course that does not involve substantial library research and writing.

6. Minimum Continuous Registration : All graduate students must maintain a minimum continuous registration of at least three units per semester, unless granted an official leave of absence, from the time of admission to the time of completion of the programs.

This regulation applies only to the academic year; Summer Semester is excluded. During a semester in which you are otherwise not enrolled, you must register for 3 credit hours of "Faculty Consultation" (ECS 7980); once you have passed the qualifying examination and completed your 15 dissertation units (ECS 7970), you may register for "Continuing registration" (ECS 7990), at a reduced tuition rate. You must be regularly enrolled at the University for 3 or more credit hours during the semester in which the final oral examination (dissertation defense) is taken.

7. Credit/No Credit : Subject to approval by their major department and review by the Dean of the Graduate School , graduate students are granted the option to enroll in some courses outside their major with a credit/no credit option rather than a letter grade. For details see the Graduate Bulletin, available at the University Graduate Office (410 Park Building).

8. Independent Reading and Research Courses (ECS 7960) :Individual reading and research courses are offered for the purpose of allowing students to pursue interests and specializations that may be more appropriately served by independent reading that in conventional courses taught on a group basis. Administrative procedural forms and a statement of standards are available from the Academic Specialist (MBH307). If you take independent study or course work, you must attach a description of the project when you submit your Program of Study form.

9. Exceptions: If you have exceeded the seven-year time limit, or if the courses you have taken do not match those listed on your Candidacy Form, your chair must submit a letter of justification to the Dean of the Graduate School explaining the discrepancies. The Dean of the Graduate School will then rule on the request.

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)

The Student Advisory Committees have existed since 1969, when they were created by the University Senate to give voice to the student body in matters of faculty retention, promotion, and tenure (RPT) decisions, and any other departmental policies that affect students (see Faculty Regulations, chapter V, section 2). This mandate is somewhat open-ended: SAC's are allowed the opportunity to play a significant role in various departmental matters beyond RPT, if the students are willing to do so. SAC's therefore have served as student advocates, liaisons between faculty and students, members of search committees, organizers of academic and social events, etc. You are encouraged to contact the SAC Chairperson for information about current SAC activities.

STUDENT APPEALS

All graduate students have the right to have disputes regarding academic matters resolved in a fair, uniform, and expeditious manner. It is the policy of the University to solve such problems internally and at the level most closely related to the origin of the dispute. A graduate student who believes he or she has been mistreated in any way by a member of the faculty or the administration should discuss his or her problem directly with the person involved. If the student is not satisfied at this level, or if discussion of the problem seems inappropriate because of the nature of the student's complaint, the student should seek advice from the Head of Graduate Programs. Depending on the nature of the problem, the Head of Graduate Programs may deal with the situation directly or refer the matter to the chair of the appropriate department.

In instances where the Supervisory Committee or the Graduate Committee must approve some aspect of the student's program, and where the judgment of the student and the Supervisory Committee or Graduate Committee differ, the student may ask the Chair of the department to adjudicate the difference of opinion.

The Graduate School has adopted an appeal procedure to be used in dealing with students who wish to appeal decisions made by the faculty or administration concerning some aspect of their graduate work at the University.

PROCEDURES FOR APPEALS

Several different university committees have been authorized to hear graduate student appeals which cannot be resolved at the department level. Matters that relate to violations of academic freedom should be appealed to the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual , 8-7. A student who wishes to assert a discrimination complaint relating to race, color, religion, national origin, age, handicap, or sex should appeal to the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual , 2-32. A student who wishes to appeal dismissal from a course or the grade received in a course should direct an appeal to the Academic Evaluation Appeals Committee of the college or department in which the instructor is appointed. If an Academic Evaluation Appeals Committee has not been appointed, the student may appeal directly to the Student-Faculty Relations Committee. Matters relating to student misconduct are handled by the Student Behavior Committee. The appropriate university committee for purposes of filing a complaint is determined initially by the student and the departmental or college committee where the complaint is filed.

Graduate students who have complaints relating to admission to graduate school, degree requirements, preliminary and qualifying examinations, problems relating to thesis or dissertations, or dismissal from Graduate School should direct their appeals to the Chair of the Supervisory Committee, Director of Graduate Programs, department Chairperson, and to the Dean of their college, in that order. Normally, these university officials will attempt to work out a solution by bringing the parties together in an informal, nonadversial manner. Inquiry at this stage is usually limited to a determination of whether the graduate student has been treated in an arbitrary or capricious manner, or in some way not consistent with previously announce policy guidelines.

If the problem cannot be resolved through this process at the college level, an appeal may be taken to the Dean of the Graduate School . The Dean of the Graduate School will normally appoint an appeals committee of no fewer that five members who are mutually satisfactory to both parties, three of whom will be faculty members and two graduate students. This appeals committee will hold a full evidentiary hearing into the merits of the case. The burden of proof shall rest with the complaining party. Proceedings shall be commenced by a written complaint to the Dean of the Graduate School citing the specific grievances, regulations, or policies that have allegedly been violated. This complaint will then be submitted to the parties charged in the complaint for their response. Both those making allegations and those complained against may, if they wish, be represented by counsel and cross-examine witnesses, but the appeals committee is not bound by strict rules of legal evidence and may develop procedures which they consider to be fair and equitable to the particular circumstances of the case. The hearing shall be closed unless the committee believes that an open hearing would be preferable.

The decision of the appeals committee shall by majority vote and will be advisory to the Dean of the Graduate School who is responsible for taking appropriate action. Any further appeal shall be directed to the President of the University.

ETHICAL STANDARDS

Matriculated students in the Department of Educational Studies are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics of the University of Utah Student Code .

Student behavior is governed by provisions of the Student Code which defines rights and responsibilities and encourages students to conduct themselves with integrity and to respect the rights of others. The Student Code prohibits such behaviors as
(1) academic dishonesty (in all its forms including, but without being limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, and collusion);
(2) theft;
(3) malicious destruction; and
(4) disruptive practices.

The Student Code is administered by a student-faculty committee which has jurisdiction to impose sanctions.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFERENCES

Graduate students should consider joining and becoming active in national and regional scholarly associations. This is important for several reasons. First, these organizations and their conferences represent the primary forums for current educational research. Second, attending and presenting papers at these conferences can be very important for stimulating the intellectual development of graduate students. Third, conferences are an essential part of the national job market in education; attending and presenting papers at conferences can be essential to securing a professional position.

The most important single organization, and conference, is the American Educational Research Association. It has a national and international focus, it includes divisions covering every major field of educational inquiry, it represents annually much of the very best educational research, and it has a prestigious influence on educational policy at the national level.

There are additional organizations, and conferences, in countless specialty areas. Some of the organizations that members of this department are active in include:

American Educational Studies Association Council of Anthropology and Education History of Education Society John Dewey Society National Association for Research on Science Teaching National Council for the Social Studies National Council of Teachers of English National Reading Conference Philosophy of Education Society Society for Research in Child Development

In most cases, there are regional branches of these organizations, along with regional conferences. Some students find it less threatening to "break in" to a field via regional societies rather than the large national parent groups. Participation in one or more of these societies and conferences should be considered a significant aspect of your intellectual and professional development in graduate school.

FINANCIAL AID

There are some sources of financial aid available to students in the department.

1) GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS: Graduate assistantships are available in the department each year. Applications for these should be submitted by March 1st. Generally, a graduate assistantship will include as a major part of its responsibilities assisting a faculty member in the teaching of a course, or teaching a course on one's own. However, preference will be given (other things being equal) to students and faculty who have other projects in mind as well.

Students can apply for a graduate assistantship by obtaining application materials from the Graduate Secretary. This application should stress their instructional, research, and other professional skills. The application should include grade point average and recommendations, preferably from faculty who have worked with the student. The application should also include a personal statement that addresses the following: first, if there is a particular faculty member and particular project the student proposes to work with; second, the student's academic and professional goals, and how this project relates to those goals; and third, a discussion of financial needs, including expected income and expenses, in-state or out-of-state tuition needs, family responsibilities, etc. Having a faculty sponsor and a particular project in mind are not necessary for the application, but they are factors that will weigh in a student's favor.

Students who have received a graduate assistantship may reapply in subsequent years; there is a four year limit on the number of years a student can receive support, though exceptions may be negotiated with approval of the department chair. Selection is always in comparison with other student applicants and their abilities an needs. Another factor that will be considered with reapplicants is whether they are making consistent progress towards completing their degree, and this should be addressed in their personal statement and/or recommendations. Finally, reapplicants should include some evaluation of their prior performance in the graduate assistantship by the faculty member responsible for their supervision. Because continued support is not guaranteed, students who have been receiving a graduate assistantship should always be exploring other avenues of support.

2) TUITION WAIVERS: Tuition waivers are a kind of "voucher" that defrays the cost of all or part of a graduate student's tuition. They are distributed by the Graduate School and are connected to teaching or research assistantship. Student applications for these will be reviewed by the Director of Graduate Programs, who will make recommendations to the Chair of the department. Students may receive tuition waivers for up to three years; students must be enrolled in 9 hours of course work each semester they receive a tuition waive. T A's and scholarship students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to receive a tuition waiver

3) OTHER FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: The university, and various national organizations, do make fellowships available from time to time. Students interested in pursuing some of these opportunities should consult the Director of Graduate Programs.

However, the burden of responsibility in making application for these opportunities is entirely up to the individual student.

For example, each year the university awards approximately 35 research fellowships to graduate students. Persons interested in applying should contact the University Research Committee. The application deadline is March 1st, but students should begin their application well before this deadline so that appropriate supporting documents (letters of recommendations, transcripts, etc.) can be gathered.

Another source of financial assistance is the Steffensen Cannon Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was created to support candidates in the College of Humanities , the Graduate School of Education and students in other disciplines (particularly math and science) who intend to go into teacher education. Scholarships are for $12,000.00 per academic year plus tuition and there were ten recipients in the College of Education for the 1992 year. Application deadline is January 15th and interested parties should contact the Steffensen Cannon Committee, c/o Graduate Fellowships, 312 Park Building.

4) GRANTS AND OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT: Graduate students should stay abreast of grant writing opportunities in the department and college. Not only is participation in a grant an excellent way of acquiring concrete research skills and experience; it can often be a source of financial support as a research assistant. Once again, it is up to students to find out about and pursue such opportunities.

(Revised 3/20/07)