Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction

Program Overview

The University of West Florida's online Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction prepares educators for leadership roles by emphasizing diversity, research, educational theory, and technology. Through rigorous coursework and an ePortfolio, students develop skills in assessment, data analysis, and educational policy evaluation. Graduates are equipped to use technology effectively and pursue careers as superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, and other educational leaders.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of West Florida is a fully online program designed to prepare you for leadership roles in education. The program emphasizes diversity, quantitative and qualitative research, educational theory and philosophy, educational technology, and multicultural education. Through rigorous coursework taught by experienced educators, you will gain familiarity with the professional literature and understand issues in education, assessment, data-driven decision making, and accountability measures. You will also develop research, professional writing, presentation, evaluation, teaching, and public service skills. By evaluating and applying extant research, you will be able to develop and utilize appropriate tools and methods to assess and evaluate educational policy and practices. Ultimately, graduates will use technology appropriately and effectively to communicate with the public, peers, students, researchers, and supervisors.

Outline:

The program consists of 27 semester hours in the professional core and 18 semester hours in the specialization. The professional core will provide you with the foundational knowledge for leading curriculum development and evaluation efforts. You will learn the psychological and philosophical foundations of curriculum and instruction. You will also examine critical issues in education—particularly those surrounding topics such as culture, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, age, sexuality, and disabilities—and learn how to conduct educational research. To complete your degree, you will:

• Write a dissertation that will be approved by a committee of faculty.
• Maintain an ePortfolio of your work throughout the program.
The ePortfolio will be reviewed by a faculty committee as part of both a mid-point and final program review.

Assessment:

The assessment methods used in the program include:

• Coursework: Your coursework will be assessed through a variety of methods, including exams, papers, presentations, and projects.
• Dissertation: Your dissertation will be assessed by a committee of faculty.
• ePortfolio: Your ePortfolio will be reviewed by a faculty committee as part of both a mid-point and final program review.

Teaching:

The program is taught by experienced educators who are committed to providing you with a high-quality learning experience. The faculty use a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Online lectures
• Discussion boards
• Virtual meetings
• Group projects

Careers:

Upon completion of the program, you will be prepared for a variety of leadership roles in education, including:

• Superintendent
• Principal
• Curriculum director
• Instructional coordinator
• Literacy coach
• Educational researcher