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ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOR THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM

The program is a cohort model. Students are admitted annually. The focus of the Ed.D. program is on educational leadership in the Pk-16 environment. The degree program is predicated on the scholar-practitioner model. Graduates of Tarleton’s Ed.D. program will be active consumers of educational research and subsequently able to utilize research knowledge and skills in the Pk-16 setting.

Admission to the Program

The admission process is a three-stage process. Stage 1 is the screening process, which includes submission of all appropriate documents by the deadline of April 1. Stage 2 is the evaluation process, review of a writing sample, and personal interviews. Stage 3 is the selection stage. During stage 3, the admissions committee determines the applicants most appropriate for admission to the doctoral program. Admission to the program is full admission; there is no conditional or probationary status.

Application Packet

On or before April 1, the College of Graduate Studies in Stephenville must receive all of the following items:

  • Official transcripts including completion of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
  • Minimum GPA of 3.5 on all graduate work
  • Minimum of 18 semester credit hours of graduate or undergraduate work in administration, management, leadership, or equivalent
  • A minimum of four (4) references – two from persons holding a doctorate (current TSU EDAD faculty may not complete the reference forms)
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). cannot be more than 5 years old
  • A leadership portfolio

Course Work

The doctoral program curriculum consists of 72 semester hours in educational leadership, research tools, specialization area, and electives. Course work taken more than 10 years previous to the date of graduation will not apply toward the degree. Undergraduate or master’s level work taken as leveling is generally not acceptable as doctoral level credit. Should any master’s level work be applied to the degree plan, approval must be made by the director of the doctoral program and the dean of the graduate college.

The grading system for doctoral students is the same as for master’s level students. Unsatisfactory performance in the program, a cumulative GPA below a 3.0 will result in probation for one semester and if not improved in the subsequent semester, suspension from the program. Any appeals are made to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies through the doctoral committee.

Doctoral students unable to maintain the cohort pace may request a leave of absence through their advisor and graduate committee.

Dissertation and Committee Role

A doctoral dissertation is required of all students in the program. Topics must be approved by the doctoral advisor(s), the doctoral committee and the dean of the graduate college. The student must enroll in a minimum of 12 semester hours of dissertation. A grade of In Progress (PR) will be recorded each semester until the dissertation is successfully complete. Upon completion of the dissertation, the dissertation committee chair will record a grade of satisfactory (S) for the last 12 hours of the dissertation.

Upon completion of the dissertation, the student will orally defend the final product to the dissertation committee and a representative of the College of Graduate Studies. Students whose performance is unsatisfactory will work with their advisor to reschedule an examination in the next semester.

Policies and procedures for all requirements for this program may be found in the Ed.D Educational Leadership handbook, available in hard copy and online.

Application for a Degree

See instructions under application for a degree in the master’s section.