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	DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM
Bizzell Statue

The doctoral program in Adult and Higher Education is directed toward the development of scholars and practitioners in Adult and Higher Education and is intended to serve individuals who have promise of making scholarly and professional contributions to the field of Adult and Higher Education. Doctoral emphases within the Adult and Higher Education program include: (1) adult and continuing education; (2) continuing professional and continuing higher education; (3) higher education administration, institutional research, student personnel services, and community college administration; (4) distributive learning and distance education; and (5) training and development.

The Ph.D. program in Adult and Higher Education is intended to be flexible in order to serve the professional developmental needs of the individual doctoral student. However, in order to enhance the success of completion of the program, all doctoral candidates are expected to take a certain number of research proficiency courses and will be expected to fulfill residence requirements.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Ms. Trudy Rhodes (405-325-4202 or tbrhodes@ou.edu) in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies to get the necessary application materials. In addition, prospective students should review both the Graduate College Bulletin and information on the EDAH website which describes in greater details the procedures and requirements for doctoral study in Adult and Higher Education.

Admission Procedures and Requirements

Applications for the doctoral program will be reviewed each Spring, with applications due by March 1. Prospective students interested in applying to the doctoral program must submit their applications to both the University Admissions Office and to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

The University Admissions procedures require the following:

• the Graduate College Admissions Application Form (a print version is available from the Graduate College, Robertson Hall 100, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, 405-325-3811);
• official transcripts verifying both graduate and undergraduate work; and
• a $25.00 application processing fee.

Departmental application materials should be sent to Ms. Trudy Rhodes, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, College of Education, 820 Van Vleet Oval, Room 227, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0260. The Department's application process consists of the following parts:

• unofficial copies of transcripts (photocopies);
• GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) (photocopies are acceptable);
• resume or curricular vita;
• statement of goals;
• a minimum of three letters of references (to include both academic and professional references but they cannot be from EDAH faculty);
• a sample of scholarly writing.

The statement of goals is a 3-5 paged essay in which the applicant should address the following: (a) professional aspirations, (b) the relationship between previous experience and professional aspirations, (c) a description of potential research interests, and (d) the ways in which the program in Adult and Higher Education can assist the scholarly and professional development of the applicant. This statement should demonstrate a mutual compatibility between the applicant's professional interests and the EDAH program. In all cases, it must give evidence that the applicant has carefully investigated OU's offerings, has appropriate qualifications to meet the challenges of the proposed studies, demonstrates a deliberate and reflective approach to her or his intellectual and professional development, and can write a well substantiated, clearly focused, persuasive essay.

Graduate Assistantships

Limited number of graduate assistantship are available. Graduate research and teaching assistantships offer a $4,500 (quarter-time requiring 10 hours a week of employment) to $9,000 (half-time consisting of 20 hours a week of work) stipend for the nine-month academic year. Some summertime employment may be available depending on available funding. Students interested in a graduate assistantship should contact the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and complete the required paper work. Applications for graduate assistantships should be submitted to the Department by April 1 of each year.

Admissions Screening Procedures

Only once a year (in the spring) the EDAH Admissions Committee, consisting of three EDAH faculty members, will screen all applicants to the doctoral program. After careful deliberations, the Committee will forward its recommendations to the general faculty either to (1) deny an applicant or (2) request that the applicant appear before the faculty for an interview. The selection process is highly competitive due to the limited number of slots available each year. The criteria for determining interviews include (1) match in professional and research interests between the applicant and the program area, and (2) potential for original scholarship and professional contributions by the applicant to the field of adult and higher education.

After the interview process, the EDAH faculty will make a decision on the admissibility of each applicant and assign an initial faculty advisor to each admitted student. The criteria for initial faculty assignment include (1) match in professional and research interests between the student and faculty; and (2) whether the faculty has slots available to take in additional students. The maximum number of doctoral advisees a faculty can have at one time is ten, but that number can change depending on a variety of factors including the status of progress of current advisees, and the number of doctoral students currently engaged in dissertation research.

Admission To Full Graduate Standing

Successful applicants will be recommended to the Graduate College for full graduate standing. Once approved by the Graduate College, the students may begin their doctoral coursework, which can be as early as the summer term following the spring semester. In order to facilitate a smooth start, students are advised to seek academic advising from their assigned faculty advisors regarding courses to take and strategies which can enhance their success in their doctoral pursuit. Here is helpful Graduate College information about the doctoral pursuit.

The Advisory Committee

During the fall semester, the students, in consultation with their initial advisors, should begin discussions about the composition of their doctoral advisory committees. The function of this advisory committee is to advise and mentor the students throughout their doctoral pursuit. The students' initial advisors usually serve as the chairs of these advisory committees but the students are free to make substitutions if another faculty member is available and willing to serve. Only faculty in the adult and higher education program area with graduate status with the Graduate College can chair student doctoral committees. At least one member of the committee must be from the area in which the doctoral work is being undertaken.

In general, the Advisory Committee must consist of at least five members, at least three of whom must be from the Department. There must be at least one "outside member," who is defined as any OU faculty member not affiliated with the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The designated "outside member" is charged with assuring that the rights and interests of both the student and the Graduate College are maintained.

The decision to serve on an Advisory Committee will depend upon the faculty member's area of expertise, interest, advising load, and committee load. In certain cases, a general advisory committee serves up to the point of the general examinations, at which time a specific Dissertation Committee is formed to take its place, usually directed by the major professor. The Dissertation Committee, whether or not it has the same make-up as the Advisory Committee, consists of a group which brings particular expertise to the student's area of interest, with each member typically having a unique contribution and role.

When all invited committee members have agreed to serve, the student should obtain and complete the Doctoral Committee Appointment Form (Word), obtain the signatures of the members and the advisor, and submit the form to the Department for recording and forwarding to the Graduate College. Any committee changes must be processed on the Change of Advisory Conference form.

Qualifying Examination

During the Spring semester following admission, applicants will take a qualifying examination. Prior to taking the qualifying examination, students are encouraged to take the four core courses in the master's curriculum in order to prepare them for the qualifying examination. At least one month prior to the examination date, students must complete a request approved by their advisor to take the qualifying examination and submit this form to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The qualifying examination will be administered each Spring semester and scheduled with the master's comprehensive examinations.

The purpose of the qualifying examination is to determine mastery of the core competencies. The examination is designed to examine the student's knowledge of the adult learner, critical literature, administration, and research in adult and higher education. The primary focus of the examination is less on information from the readings and classes than on the student's ability to integrate and evaluate the key concepts in the field. The examination is a proctored, four-hour, written examination. Students who have successfully completed an EDAH master's comprehensive examination within five years prior to the first semester of doctoral course work are not required to take the qualifying examination.

A committee of three faculty members will read the qualifying examinations and make a recommendation of pass or fail. Students who fail the qualifying examination will be permitted to retake the examination once within a one-year time period. A student who fails the qualifying examination twice will be disenrolled from the program.

Following a "pass" recommendation, the committee will recommend to the Graduate College that the student be allowed to continue in the program and proceed with the Advisory Conference meeting.

The Advisory Conference

The Advisory Conference should be scheduled no later than the first full semester (usually the fall semester) following the completion of the qualifying examination. Well before the conference, the student and the major advisor should prepare a tentative program, including all required coursework, the research proficiencies selected, and residency requirements. The student should obtain a copy of the Advisory Conference Form from the Graduate College and complete it as fully as possible, including all previous, as well as tentatively planned, work for the doctoral degree. In addition, in consultation with the advisor, the Residence Requirement Form should be completed.

The purpose of the Advisory Conference is to make program recommendations and approve the student's plan of study and residency plan. The Committee will review the program of study and identify areas of integration that will serve as the content for the general examinations. The Committee may also discuss with the student issues related to performance on the qualifying examination.

The student, in preparation for the Advisory Conference, should duplicate for each committee member (a) the Advisory Conference Form with tentative program, (b) the Residence Requirement Form (Word) (c) a personal vita sheet, and (d) a tentative time frame for completion of the remaining degree requirements. Clearing with the committee members an agreed upon time and scheduling the meeting place are the next responsibilities of the student. Following the Advisory Conference all completed forms must be sent to the Graduate Records Office where they will be checked for accuracy and completeness and transmitted to the Graduate College for approval by the Graduate Dean.

The student should familiarize him/herself with the research proficiencies and residency requirements early on. Once the student has determined those proficiencies in which to qualify, it is a good idea to begin work on the proficiencies and residency requirements immediately. Do not postpone them. Taken early, they will be very useful in other coursework, and will lay the groundwork for necessary skills in reading research, assisting with and completing research, and successfully completing the dissertation.

Required Coursework and Residency Requirements

The minimum credit hour requirement for the Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education is 95. This number is inclusive of credit hours gained in the student's master's degree program (this has no time limit) or any post-master's work not enveloped in a degree (these credit hours can be accepted as long as they are no older than five years). Potentially up to 44 credit hours may be considered contingent on the student's career objective and the best judgment of the student's doctoral committee. The required credit hours can consist of courses in the program area and outside, practica, independent studies, research tools, and dissertation hours. Learning opportunities and experiences not covered by coursework but are judged to be necessary for the student's development will be covered in residency requirements (see next section).

Residency Requirements

The doctoral degree is more than a series of courses, and successful candidates must show evidence of the ability to engage in scholarship, whether as professors or practitioners. The purpose of the residency requirement is to promote and ensure the quality of academic and professional growth. A variety of activities beyond the traditional course work, examinations, and dissertation research is necessary for complete preparation. Therefore, the intent of the residency requirements is to both broaden and extend those experiences that will enhance the student's skills and abilities. These activities include: (a) research, writing and speaking, (b) professional service, (c) teaching, (d) development, consultation, and project management and (e) general professional participation.

The residency plan will be reviewed and approved during the Advisory Conference. Students should submit a list of activities and expected products which represent competency in each of the major categories of residency activities. The student may include activities that are a part of their current professional responsibilities, but must be prepared to demonstrate to the doctoral committee how doctoral study has impacted this work.

Time Limits On Progress

Doctoral students are expected to complete the general examination within four years of their first graduate registration at OU (regardless of their student status at the time). All degree requirements, including defending the dissertation and filing the dissertation in the library must be completed within five years after passing the general examination.

Research Proficiencies

Minimum research proficiencies consist of the following: (1) an introduction to doctoral study in Adult and Higher Education, including an introduction to both naturalistic and positivist research, library resources, various writing styles and other logistical considerations; (2) proficiency in both qualitative methods of research and data analysis techniques; (3) proficiency in quantitative methods and data analysis techniques; and (4) a prospectus development seminar. A minimum of 21 hours is required to establish minimum proficiency in these four areas. All research-related credits count toward the minimum 95 hours required for a doctorate in the department.

Note: Doctoral students who were admitted prior to Spring 2001 are expected to fulfill their research proficiencies under the old research proficiency requirements. However, as an alternative, students who have not had their advisory conferences can still opt for the following new plan:

1. The introduction to doctoral study may be fulfilled by completing one of the following (3 hours):

(a) EDFN, EDAH, or EACS 6970 Pro Seminar or
(b) EDAH 5043, Introduction to Research in Adult and Higher Education

2. The Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis may be fulfilled by completing two of the following courses (6 hours):

• ANTH 5023 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology I
• ANTH 5123 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology II
• ANTH 5543 Research Design
• COMM 5313/SOC 5313 Qualitative Methods: Participant Observation
• EDFN 6933 Naturalistic and Qualitative Research
• EDFN 6973 Documentary and Narrative Research
• EIPT 6043 Qualitative Research Methods I
• EIPT 6083 Qualitative Research Methods II
• EIPT 6970 Advanced Qualitative Methods
• PSC 5940 Qualitative Research Methods

3 (a). The Quantitative Research Methods competency requirement may be fulfilled by completing one of the following courses (3 hours):

• EIPT 6033 Research Methods in Education
• PSY 5143 Quantitative Methods in Evaluation Research
• SOC 5953 Advanced Methods of Social Research

3 (b). The Quantitative Data Analysis competency requirement may be fulfilled by completing one of the following sequences:

Sequence A
EIPT 5023 Quantitative Data Analysis I
EIPT 5920 Quantitative Data Analysis I Lab
EIPT 6023 Quantitative Data Analysis II

EIPT 6063 Applied Multivariate Statistics in Educational Research (Note: This course is not required in this sequence.  If taken, the student may, with the adviser’s approval, take one course fewer from requirement 2 or 3a listed above.)

Sequence B
PSY 5003 Psychological Statistics I
PSY 5013 Psychological Statistics II

Sequence C
PSC 5913 Introduction to Analysis of Political and Administrative Data
PSC 5933 Intermediate Analysis of Political Data

4. Prospectus Development Seminar in EDAH, EACS, or EDFN 6970. Prospectus Development should be taken only when the student has completed all coursework (including research tools) and the general examination. This seminar cannot be effective if the student is not ready to handle his or her dissertation topic. The student should seek the approval of his or her major advisor before signing up for the seminar.

5. Depending on the student’s research interests, other courses may be identified which supplement the student's program.  The courses listed below may be in the student’s program of study, but do not substitute for any of the requirements listed above.

COMM 6013 Content Analysis
COMM 6013 Conversation Analysis
COMM 6013 Interaction Analysis
EDFN 6970 Gender, Knowledge and Educational Inquiry
EDFN 6970 Writing Seminar in Educational Inquiry
LIS 5523 On-Line, On-Disc Retrieval
LIS 5703 Electronic Access to Social Science Research Resources

General Examination

Upon completion of the required course work (exclusive of the dissertation and prospectus development seminar), the student must complete the General Examination. The General Examination must be taken within four years after initial enrollment. Prior to attempting the General Examination, a student must demonstrate research proficiency by completing all research tools with a grade of B or better.

The purpose of general examinations is to assess the student's mastery of a number of related fields as well as the capacity for synthesis, sound generalization, and critical ability. The general examinations consist of a written and oral examination in the major and (if any) minor fields. The nature and content of the written examination will be determined by the committee and will be discussed during the Advisory Conference. The general examination may take several forms involving a proctored exam, a position paper, a synthesis, an annotated bibliography, or any other product that corresponds with the purposes of the degree and examination.

During the semester prior to taking the general examination, the student should meet with the Chair of the Advisory committee to discuss the general examination. The Chair will contact the committee members to determine the content and method of examination. The student must be questioned in at least three areas. Application for the General Examination must be submitted to the Graduate Records Office for transmittal to the Graduate College at least 10 working days prior to start of exam. Upon completion of the written examination, the student will turn in all monitored examinations and projects. The committee Chair will distribute copies of all examinations, papers and projects to each member of the Advisory Committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination. Once the written examination is completed, the student will set the time and place for the oral examination. The oral examination will take place in the presence of the entire committee. The oral examination will include questions which pertain to the student's written examination, program of study, progress toward residency, and residency activities.

A student must be enrolled for credit in at least two graduate credit hours at the University of Oklahoma in the semester the general examination is held. General examinations must be held during normal class session and will not be scheduled during the summer semester unless special circumstances require the student to petition the program area faculty.

If a student fails either the written or oral portion of the examination, the advisors committee will determine what, if any additional steps may be taken. If reexamination is required, the student must elect to retake the examination within one calendar year. The advisory committee will determine whether the student must retake the entire examination or a selected portion of the examination. The examination may not be taken a third time.

Prospectus

After the student has been admitted to candidacy, the student should begin to develop the prospectus. At this time the Advisory Committee Chair becomes the Dissertation Chair.

The nature of the doctoral program, by exposing the student to new knowledge, typically broadens interests and introduces new vistas that often make topic selection more complex. It is not unusual for the student to lose interest in a topic as knowledge grows and interests change. Should this occur, another topic should be chosen rather than to pursue the original one merely because one has invested some time in exploring it. The dissertation has meaning and excitement only to the extent that the researcher is truly interested in the question. However, if the student's topic changes from one emphasis area to another, the student may need to identify a new Dissertation Chair. The student and Committee Chair should discuss the need for a change in Chair and, if agreement is reached, the student must identify a new Dissertation Chair. The responsibility for serving as Dissertation Chair rests solely upon the faculty and depends upon a variety of factors, including current advising load.

Once the Dissertation Chair is identified, the student will work to complete the prospectus. When the major advisor agrees that the prospectus is ready, the student should distribute copies to the doctoral committee members and then set a time for convening the committee for the Prospectus meeting. At that time the committee will make final recommendations for any improvements or modifications. When the prospectus is accepted, all committee members sign their approval and the signed copy is filed in the Graduate Records Office. The student is now cleared to proceed with the dissertation research. If for some reason, as the research progresses, modifications are necessary, the committee must approve such changes. The changes must be filed as amendments to the original prospectus in the Graduate Records Office.

Dissertation

The method of preparation and handling of the dissertation will vary from committee to committee as well as topic to topic. The student should ascertain precisely the particular requirements of format and documentation. The student should also learn from the advisor and committee exactly how each wishes to review work in progress, i.e., chapter by chapter or in larger portions. In the dissertation process the committee members will be of great assistance to the student and frequent consultation is in order as the reading copy is developed. The student should pay careful attention at this point to all the necessary procedural steps regarding dissertations and defense listed on the doctoral checklist, and all deadline dates. Attention should be paid to the requirements of the OU Institutional Review Board.

While working on the dissertation and after the completion of the general examinations, the candidate must maintain continuous enrollment by enrolling in at least two hours of EDAH 6980 Dissertation Research (see Graduate College Bulletin). If continuous enrollment is interrupted for two consecutive semesters, and a summer session, the candidate is dropped from the rolls and must reapply for admission if he/she wishes to complete the program.

The department allows five academic years following successful completion of the general examination to complete the dissertation. If not completed within that time span, the candidate must retake the general examination in order to obtain approval to continue or petition the Graduate Liaison for a one year extension. The Council on Graduate Education has more information about the nature and role of the dissertation.

Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)

The culminating point of the doctoral process is the final examination: the oral defense of the dissertation. Upon completion of the dissertation, reading copies must be prepared for each committee member. A request for degree check can be submitted the Graduate College ten working days prior to submission of the reading copy. When approved by the major advisor, one copy of the reading copy of the dissertation, along with a memorandum of approval from the major advisor and endorsed by the graduate liaison, is presented to the Graduate College by routing it through the Graduate Records Office.

The Graduate College will provide the Authority for the Examination form, microfilm contract, dissertation title data entry form, Graduate College Exit Survey and Survey of Earned Doctorates form. The Graduate Dean may add a member-at-large to the doctoral committee to represent the Graduate Council. The examination, which is open to the public, is not to be scheduled during the period of final course examinations or at any time when a suitable committee cannot be assembled. At least four members of the doctoral committee, including the major professor and the outside member, must be present to conduct the examination. Summer examination dates will not be scheduled except upon approval of program area faculty. Please check with the Graduate College or Graduate Records Office for dissertation defense dates.

Students should distribute reading copies to committee members at least two weeks before the final oral examination (defense of dissertation). Obtain their corrections and comments and incorporate these into the final dissertation copy. It is the student's responsibility to arrange the date, hour, and place of the final oral examination with members of the doctoral committee. Consult with the Graduate Records Office for the format of the announcement, abstract, and vita. Copyright and microfiche procedures can be confirmed with the Graduate College. Within seventy-two hours after the Final Examination/Thesis Defense, the completed Report of the Comprehensive/Final Examination must be filed in the Graduate College. Three final copies of the dissertation on 100% cotton bond paper with original signatures of the committee must be delivered to the Graduate College. A student must deposit the three final copies of his/her thesis in the Library within sixty days following successful defense of the thesis or on the last day of classes, whichever is first.

Academic Misconduct

The EDAH faculty take acts of academic misconduct seriously. All students are advised to familiarize themselves with the OU Academic Misconduct Student Code (PDF), particularly on matters related to cheating and plagiarism. The Provost Office and the OU Library has a few more tips offers a few tips on avoiding plagiarism.