Program Overview

Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.D.

The Ed.D program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is designed to develop educational leaders with research skills to conduct place-based, applied research in support of communities, schools, teachers, and students. Ed.D. program graduates take teaching faculty positions in higher education, leadership positions in pre-K-12 schools and education non-profit organizations, and various administrative positions in governmental agencies, such as the Alabama State Department of Education. The program is delivered online.

Admissions

The Ed.D. program accepts applications for fall semester entry only. The Curriculum & Instruction Online EdD program accepts new cohorts of students every two years. The next application portal will open in fall 2026, with an application deadline of February 5, 2027.

In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Purpose with the following parts:
  • A) Identify a research question or problem within curriculum and instruction that you're passionate about investigating.
  • B) Briefly outline your academic and professional experiences that have led you to pursue a doctoral degree and this research interest specifically.
  • C) Describe your long-term career aspirations and how our EdD program will help you achieve these goals.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation

Preferred qualifications are a master’s degree and at least two years of experience in related professions, curriculum design, or instructing learners at any level. Not everyone who meets minimal and preferred qualifications will be admitted to the program.

Curricular Requirements

1. Students will take a minimum of 33 credit hours in departmental coursework as follows, as approved by advisor:
   1. 18 credit hours of departmental doctoral core classes (e.g., CIE 610, CIE 621, CIE 630, CIE 645, CIE 670, CIE 693, CEE 690, CSE 690)
   2. 15 credit hours of other coursework related to the student's professional area of interest (e.g., CIE 605, CIE 606, CIE 609, CIE 656, CIE 686, CRD 690, CEE 616, CSE 663)
2. Students will take 6 credit hours of humanistic/behavioral support coursework from a wide range of applicable coursework within the College of Education and the university (e.g., courses beginning with AEL, BEP, or BEF), as approved by advisor.
3. Students will take a minimum of 9 credit hours in educational research (e.g., BER 631, BER 632, BER 633, BER 640), as approved by advisor.
4. Students will take a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation research. Dissertation hours can exceed 12 hours as some students carry out research investigations that may take more time to complete than do others.

Total coursework will be 48 hours plus a minimum of 12 hours additional dissertation credit equaling a minimum of 60 hours.

Current Departmental Doctoral Core Coursework

Required 15 hours minimum related to the student's primary professional area of interest

Research Coursework

Behavioral/Humanistic Coursework

Dissertation Hours

Transfer Credit

At the discretion of the Major Professor, it may be possible to transfer up to 24 credit hours from a relevant master’s or Ed.S. degree program.

Doctoral Plan of Study

Graduate School information on the Doctoral Plan of Study can be found here.

Comprehensive Exams

The Ed.D. program will require a comprehensive examination when coursework is within 6-9 hours or less of completion. Students must be registered for at least one hour in order to take comprehensive examinations per Graduate School policy.

The comprehensive examination will be developed and scored by the doctoral program committee, which includes the Major Professor. If a student fails the comprehensive examination, they must wait until the next semester before taking it again. A student may only retake their comprehensive examinations once. If a student fails the comprehensive examination twice, they will be terminated from the program.

The goals of the comprehensive examination are (a) to give students an opportunity to reflect on and integrate the knowledge and skills they have developed in their doctoral studies, and (b) to give faculty members the opportunity to evaluate whether students show sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in their particular fields.

More details about the comprehensive examination format and content are available from the Ed.D. Program Coordinator.

Admission to Candidacy Requirements

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, and completion of coursework, the student will be admitted to candidacy and can begin taking dissertation hours in the following semester.

Continuous Enrollment Policy

Graduate School information on Continuous Enrollment.

Dissertation Requirements

Once admitted to candidacy, the student will complete and defend a dissertation proposal and then complete the dissertation research proposed under the supervision of the Major Advisor and dissertation committee. Upon completion of the dissertation research, which includes the submission of a draft of the written dissertation to the doctoral dissertation committee, the student must successfully defend the work via an oral presentation to the committee, which is also open to the public. A successful defense may still entail some revision to the written dissertation.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Graduate School information on Time Limits.

Academic Misconduct Information

Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.

Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information

Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.

Academic Grievances Information

Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.

Grades and Academic Standing

Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.

Graduate School Deadlines

Information on Graduate School Deadlines.

Application for Graduation

Information on the Application for Graduation.

Funding for Students with a Professional Area of Interest in Music Education

Acquisition of Financial Support

Students in good standing in the Music Education Graduate Program may be supported by a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) funded by the Department or School of Music at the .25 or .5 level. Both assistantship levels provide a stipend and benefits along with paid (partial or full) tuition and fees. Students awarded assistantships receive financial support through the first two years in the program for traditional master's degree students and the first three years for doctoral and EdS students who meet performance expectations and who do not meet any Conditions for Termination of Financial Support.

Students will be informed of impending financial support termination at least one semester prior to the support termination date, except in special cases noted under Conditions for Termination of Financial Support. Doctoral students in good standing may petition the Music Education Department Chair for continued GTA support beyond the third year on a semesterly basis. Petitions for continuing support must be submitted at least three months prior to the start of the final semester of guaranteed support.

Performance Expectations for Continuing Financial Support

To remain eligible for financial support, students must:

• Maintain good academic standing in the Music Education MA, EdS, EdD or PhD program.
• Adhere to all university, college, and department policies, including those related to ethical conduct and professional behavior.
• Complete all mandatory annual training and abide by all policies held by The University of Alabama, the College of Education, the Department of Music Education, and the School of Music.
• Perform all duties assigned as a graduate teaching assistant in a timely and professional manner, as defined by the Music Education Department Chair.
• For doctoral students, engage in research under the direction of a department-approved advisor beginning in the first semester of the third year, with continuous progress expected as guided by the advisor and dissertation committee.

Conditions for Termination of Financial Support

Students may face termination of financial support under the following conditions, pending administrative review by the Department. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the Department Chair —along with input from the Graduate Committee—may recommend immediate termination , termination at the end of the current semester , or termination at the end of the following semester.

1. Dereliction of Duty – Includes, but is not limited to:
   • Failure to comply with all university conduct policies.
   • Unexcused absences from assigned responsibilities.
   • Failure to satisfactorily complete GTA responsibilities as defined by the Music Education Department Chair.
2. Academic Misconduct – A resolved finding of academic misconduct may result in loss of financial support, with penalties determined in consultation with the Graduate School and/or College of Education and/or School of Music.
3. Failure to Secure a Dissertation Advisor – Students must secure a department-approved dissertation advisor at the beginning the first semester of their third year in the program. Students who fail to do so may lose financial support, at the discretion of department.
4. Loss of Good Academic Standing – Students placed on academic probation have one semester to return to good standing. Financial support will be terminated if good standing is not restored. Additionally, students who receive more than two grades of ‘C’ or at least one grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ will undergo a faculty review, which may result in termination of financial support or dismissal from the program.
5. Failure to Complete Annual Self Reviews – Doctoral students must complete all required annual progress reviews in a timely manner. Failure to meet deadlines may result in probation and, if unresolved, termination of financial support.
6. Insufficient Research Progress – A student’s dissertation committee evaluates research progress annually. If the committee determines that progress is inadequate, the student will have one probationary semester (fall, spring, or summer) to address deficiencies while maintaining financial support. Failure to meet expectations by the end of the probationary semester will result in immediate termination of financial support.