The College of Education offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership Program degree with a variety of concentrations. The Ph.D. curriculum has the following components:

Core Courses: All students are required to take five (5) research methods courses and three (3) required theory courses in the field of educational leadership. These courses provide the foundation for the elective courses which students may pursue in their specialized concentrations. All courses are valued at four (4) semester credits.

Note: Students are required to purchase IBM SPSS Statistical Software for the quantitative research courses and dissertation research. 

Concentration Courses: In addition to the required core courses there are three (3) concentration courses (electives) needed to complete the degree plan. Students may select one concentration from an offering of three concentrations. These courses are generally in the specific area of the research that the student will pursue. All elective courses are valued at four (4) semester credits.

Comprehensive Exam: It includes written and oral qualifying exam. Students will be examined on their understanding of research methods and statistical concepts related to the research process. The comprehensive exam will be conducted after the students have finished all of their courses via phone conference or e-conference (Elluminate).

Establishing the Committee: A dissertation Committee and dissertation chairperson will be established for each student. Each committee shall consist of three faculty members, one of whom serves as Chair of the Committee. One member of the committee or the Chairperson must be external to TUI. The Chairperson and the Committee will be responsible for guiding the student during the dissertation process.

IRB Application: Pursuant to Federal law and regulations, Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) review and approval is required for research involving human subjects. Accordingly, prior to the student conducting research involving human subjects, including the collecting and analyzing of data, the proposed study must be reviewed and approved by the TUI IRB.

Dissertation Study: Students demonstrate a synthesis of their doctoral study, knowledge and scholarship with a significant quantitative research project that contributes to general principles of knowledge in the field(s) potentially affected by the research. Following the completion of the course work including the Dissertation Proposal Seminar (DEL 699), students will work on the dissertation and register in subsequent sessions in the dissertation series (DEL700, DEL701, DEL702), and dissertation continuation courses (DEL703 and above).

Please visit dissertation handbook for the detailed information.

Total Degree Credit Hour Requirement:

• 8 core courses (32 credits)
• 3 elective courses (12 credits)
• 3 dissertation series courses (12 credits)

Concentrations: 8 core courses (32 credits) + 3 elective courses (12 credits)

• Educational Technology
• Higher Educational Leadership
• Teaching, Learning and Development

A detailed list of all Program/Concentration/Certificate course offerings and their descriptions is available on Trident University International’s catalog at http://www.trident.edu/catalog-handbook.

Trident University offers high quality degree programs designed to impart the skills and knowledge required to compete in today’s marketplace for high demand careers. While our mission is to prepare students effectively to pursue career and professional development in their respective fields, finding gainful employment is the individual responsibility of the student. We do not imply or guarantee that students will find employment or be placed in any particular job as a result of completing an educational program. In order to help students make informed decisions about academic choices, Trident University provides the following gainful employment information for all of its program offerings.

OPEID: 041279

Program Name and Length

Cost

Debt at Program Completion July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012

Program Completion in Normal Time July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012

Related Occupations

11-9030Education Administrators

11-9031Administrators, Childcare Center

11-9031Childcare Center Administrators

11-9031Childcare Center/Program Education Administrators

11-9031Directors, Head Start

11-9031Directors, Preschool

11-9032Education Administrators, Elementary School

11-9032Education Administrators, Secondary School

11-9033Postsecondary Education Administrators

11-9033Provosts

11-9033University Administrators

25-1065Professors, Public Policy

25-1081Professors, Primary Education

25-1081Professors, Special Education

25-9031Curriculum and Assessment Directors

25-9031Curriculum Specialists

This program is designed to prepare graduates to pursue a job in this field or related fields. Although career and professional development services are available to students and graduates, finding a job is the individual responsibility of the student. We do not guarantee that any student will be placed in any particular job, or at all.

Bureau of Labor Statistic’s SOC Websites:
http://www.bls.gov/soc/home.htm
http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc_alph.htm
http://www.bls.gov/soc/major_groups.htm

O*Net Websites:
http://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/
http://www.onetcenter.org/taxonomy.html

Job Placement

Job Placement Rate for Program Completers: Data Not Available

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least 30 graduate level semester credits;
• Proof of completion, with a grade of B or better, of one course in Research Methods or Statistics at the Master’s or higher level. (If a student does not meet the research requirement, it may be met by successfully completing a Research Methods course from the TUI masters program);
• A cumulative GPA of 3.4 in the Master’s degree in a related field. (An official transcript is required);
• Analytical and critical thinking skills sufficient for the doctoral program.  (A sample of research oriented writing or publication must be submitted);
• Writing and oral communication skills. (An essay that includes current personal, intellectual and professional interests and why the applicant is applying to the degree program at TUI must be submitted);
• Current Curriculum Vitae; 
• Information technology skills sufficient to participate effectively in TUI’s Ph.D. pedagogical model, including Internet skills to conduct research effectively;
• International students must provide proof of English proficiency (see catalog section on English Proficiency).
• Have successfully completed, with a grade of B or better, at least one course in Research Methods or Statistics at the Master’s or higher level. If a student does not meet the research requirement, it can be met by successfully completing a Research Methods course (MAE504) from the TUI Masters program with a grade of B or better. This course will be considered a prerequisite and not included in the total number of Ph.D. course units required by the student's degree plan.
• Doctoral students are required to provide official transcripts of their master’s degree. 

*You may apply only once to the TUI Ph.D program, if denied no additional applications to the same program will be accepted.

TUI has adopted the following conditions and procedures for transfer of credits:

• TUI accepts no more than four semester credits of Doctoral level courses from regionally accredited doctoral granting institutions, provided the transferred course meets the same content standards as the TUI course.
• Students are required to provide official transcripts of ALL prior academic work without exception.
• Prior academic work will be articulated during the admission process.
• Transfer credits will be posted to the student’s permanent record.
• Transfer credits will not be included in the calculation of overall GPA.
• Students may formally appeal transfer decisions to the Provost or designee.  Appeals must be submitted in writing within 5 business days and must be accompanied by supporting documentation or evidence.