UTS course code: C02042
Testamur title: Doctor of Education
Abbreviation: EdD
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Jenny Hammond
Course fee: see note (local); $6,900 per semester (international)

Note: Research degrees are offered on a sponsored, scholarship, faculty part-sponsored, or full-fee-paying basis. Students should contact the faculty or the University Graduate School for further details. There are, however, student service fees to be paid (see Fees and costs).

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Assessment
Rules and regulations

Overview

The degree of Doctor of Education is designed to meet the needs of practitioners by providing extended advanced study for those whose background and experience are appropriate for leadership in the various sectors of education (e.g. teachers, trainers, administrators, planners, managers and policy advisers in both school and post-school education, working in government, industrial, commercial or community settings). Its purpose is to enhance, through advanced coursework and research, the practitioner's capacity to question, analyse, critique and develop the profession and its practices. It is a research-based degree since its purpose is to assist professionals in the field to become aware of the relationship between research and their professional activities in areas such as policy development and appraisal, innovation and administration.

Course aims

Both the EdD and the PhD may be undertaken by a range of education practitioners, and both require you to produce a substantial research thesis. In addition to some differences of aim (as above), the EdD differs from the PhD in the following ways:

• the EdD involves some substantial coursework
• the EdD has a more structured program
• the EdD includes more regular and ongoing interaction with a group of other Doctoral students.

Admission requirements

Normal admission

Formal educational requirements: Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours (Division 1) or above, or a Master's degree in education or a related discipline.

Pre-entry occupational requirements: Three years' work experience in an education/training context.

Evidence of strong academic record

As part of the application process, applicants must provide evidence of a strong academic record, such as a previous thesis or example of academic writing (eg. a Master's essay) on which the quality of their work may be judged.

Other prerequisites: A capacity to carry out research, analyse educational issues, and apply reflective practice as demonstrated by course and/or workplace achievements. Students who meet this criterion but do not have a history of formal research subjects may be required to undertake specified research subjects at Master's or Doctoral level. An ability to nominate and justify an area of research suitable for a Doctoral dissertation in the Faculty is also required.

Special admission

Applicants who do not qualify for normal admission may be admitted if they can demonstrate a history of achievement in research and policy analysis through, for example, scholarly publications or a major involvement in research projects.

Attendance

The Doctor of Education is offered as a part-time course only. The four compulsory subjects are normally offered in block mode (usually Fridays and Saturdays). The usual attendance pattern is to complete these four subjects in the first year.

Attendance at the University once the coursework is completed depends on arrangements with your supervisor(s), though it normally involves meeting once or twice a month. You are also expected, where possible, to take an active role in the research culture of the Faculty, attending seminars, presenting your work, and so on.

Course duration

It is expected that you enrol in this degree as a part-time student and that you continue your professional work while you study. As a part-time student, you are expected to complete the degree in a minimum of six and a maximum of nine semesters.

Course structure

You are required to complete four compulsory semester-length subjects (9 credit points each). The main goal of this degree is to undertake a dissertation related to an issue or problem arising from practice.

Course program

016716 Introduction to the Doctor of Education 9cp
023999 Research Literacies 9cp
016714 Dissertation Development and Appraisal 9cp
016715 Analysing Professional Practice 9cp

The dissertation is 40,000–60,000 words and comprises two-thirds of the course load.

Assessment

Before, or at the end of the first two semesters (full time) or three semesters (part time) after the completion of your coursework, you present your work for the doctoral assessment, which requires a seminar presentation and a developed research proposal of about 10,000 words.

Rules and regulations

You should also be aware that in accordance with Rule 3.3.6.1, any postgraduate coursework candidate in the Faculty of Education who records failures in any one subject twice or in any two subjects is deemed to be making unsatisfactory progress and may have his or her registration discontinued by the Faculty Board.