2005-06 Ed.D. Handbook

The international Ed.D. program

Educational leadership and policy decision-making is the focus of this doctoral program. Students completing program requirements earn an Ed.D. degree (the highest professional degree in the field) in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Minnesota.

This innovative Ed.D. program is intended for experienced school administrators, teachers, and other educational leaders associated with international schools. It is not a licensure program or a degree in higher education. The Ed.D. program is designed to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of practicing PK-12 professionals through advanced graduate study.

This cohort doctoral program is specifically designed to meet the needs of educational leaders in international schools. Core courses integrate knowledge and skills to prepare students for a leadership role within an international school. The program is made up of 18 relevant credits from previous graduate work, 40 credits of new coursework in leadership, educational policy and administration, comparative education systems, education finance, program evaluation, and a 24 credit applied field study thesis which students individually design to match specific needs and interests. The major features of this program include cohort model of learning, application of systematic inquiry, incorporation of a policy and leadership context for international educators, and concentrations of summer course work. Required courses are delivered online during the fall and spring semesters.

The International Ed.D. program uses a cohort learning model. A cohort is comprised of a group of individuals pursuing the same curriculum and schedule, with some opportunity for individual elective courses. A cohort provides a learning community in which members support and learn from each other.

Program requirements

Students seeking admission to the Ed.D. degree program must have completed a master’s degree. Students admitted to the EdPA international Ed.D. degree program may be permitted to apply eighteen credits from a master’s degree or other graduate-level course work toward the total number of semester credits in course work required for graduation (see later section on transfer credits for details).

Maintaining active student status
The Ed.D. must be completed within five years of the completion of the oral preliminary examination. The Graduate School requires students to register every fall and spring semester throughout their program to remain active. The We bsite <www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/registration/active_status.html> contains current information and policies regarding registration to retain “active” status. If students become “inactive” they will automatically be withdrawn from the Graduate School and must reapply for admission to the department and the Graduate School.

If for any reason, you will not be registering for coursework during a semester, be sure to maintain your active status. Contact the department coordinator of Graduate Studies and your adviser should you need to register for 0999 to keep your active status. Information regarding 0999 can be found at the Graduate School Web page: <www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/registration/grad_999.html>.

A Graduate School readmission process is in place, however students should avoid falling out of active status. Readmissions procedures can be found on the department Web site. See <www.cehd.umn.edu/edpa/StudentResources/readmit.htm>.

Ed.D. enrollment and fees
Registration for all cohort courses will be completed by each student. Students must register once per semester. Students will receive a bill form the University of Minnesota. Students bringing in 18 semester credits from a previous graduate program are responsible for assuming that official transcripts reflecting those credits are on file in the Graduate School (submitted at the time of application). While the U of M Office of the Registrar maintains and releases official transcripts, an unofficial transcript may be obtained at no charge online at <www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html> with a limit of two per day. There you can also check your grades and total credits.

Finances
Depending on the qualifications and number of registered credits, students may be eligible for loans, grants, scholarships or fellowships. One Stop <http://onestop.umn.edu> is the primary source for student issues, including tuition, financial aid, fees and billing. Information regarding financial assistance, awards and scholarships.

Health insurance
If registering for 6 or more credits for on-campus courses, students must demonstrate that they have hospitalization insurance or they are automatically billed for the student insurance. If you have your own insurance, you must indicate the insurance company and policy number on the paper registration form or on the computer registration screen. International students must purchase the university sponsored health plan while studying at the university or show proof of insurance coverage in accordance with university guidelines. Up to date immunizations are also required, see <www.bhs.umn.edu/services/immunization.htm>.

Course schedule
This illustrative program is representative of the typical pattern for an international Ed.D. student.

Course requirements:

The Ed.D. program for international educators is divided into cohort courses, elective studies and an individual research-based, applied thesis project. The three-year program is comprised of a total of 81-82 semester credits: 39-40 cohort semester credits of new course work, including at least 3 credits of electives, 18 relevant semester credits from previous graduate degree work, and 24 field project semester credits (see below for details).

Thesis credits (24 semester credits):
All students are required to register for EdPA 8888 for 24 semester thesis credits after completing the preliminary oral exam. The 24 credits must be taken over two or more terms.

Transfer credits (18 semester credits):
Most students in the International Ed.D. program transfer 18 semester credits earned in their Masters’ degree. With the approval of adviser, DGS and Graduate School, some graduate degree program course work, e.g., from a master’s program taken at the University of Minnesota and/or other recognized graduate institutions, may be applied toward the Ed.D. degree. Policies in both the department and the graduate school determine the number and nature of the credits that can be transferred.

Department policy on transfer credits:
Under certain conditions, doctoral students may be allowed to transfer up to 18 credits of previous work. The credits earned must 1) meet criteria expressed in the Graduate School Catalog, 2) closely match the planned program emphasis, and 3) be approved by the adviser. In the EdAd program at least 9 of the 18 credits must be University of Minnesota EdPA graduate coursework; transfer requires adviser approval in accordance with each student’s individualized Ed.D. program plan.

Any credits beyond 18 semester credits of master’s or previous graduate level work that might brought into the program for a special reason may not be applied toward the total 52--59 semester credit count. Students who wish to transfer previous graduate course work to the departmental core or program core requirements may do so only with approval of the adviser and by formal petition to the appropriate program coordinator.

Credits are transferred by listing the courses on the proposed degree program form. Credits not accepted as part of a student's degree program can not be transferred to the Graduate School transcript.

Graduate school policy on transfer credits
Some of the general graduate school rules that apply to transfer of credits are below. For specific factors that might be applicable, students should check the details in the Graduate School Catalog.

• Graduate level courses taken before the award of the baccalaureate degree cannot be transferred.
• Graduate level courses taken through the College of Continuing Education or College of Liberal Studies at the University of Minnesota will not be accepted for transfer.
• Credits taken the year before admission through 99PRD registration (graduate, non-degree seeking status through the university) do not count against the department 18 credit limit and may be brought in above the credit limit if the courses were taught by current, regular faculty. However, the graduate school has a limit on these 99PRD credits (see below).
• The Graduate School allows a maximum of 12 semester credits taken in a non-degree status (99 PRD and other types of non-degree seeking registrations). Please refer to the Graduate School Catalog for details and consult with DGS staff and adviser before making assumptions about transfer credits.
• Official transcripts of the course work must be attached to the degree program form if not submitted earlier in the admissions process.

Quarter/Semester credit conversion
To convert quarter credits to a semester-based program, multiply the number of quarter credits by .67 to obtain semester credits.