Overview
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree includes a focus on facilitating the development of action researchers and experienced practitioners.
The EdD program generally is for those seeking advanced practitioner research experiences to become school leaders, instructional lead coaches, and advancing pedagogical knowledge. Professional goals may included some of the following:
- Pursuit of LEA instructional leaders
- Teaching college instructors/professors
- Conduct research (examples)
- at the classroom level
- use of existing measures (or modifications)
- implement & study professional development
- Pursuit may be full time or part time
- Alternative residency options exist
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is mainly focused on research and theory. Program requirements include the acquisition of special skills that would be useful in conducting scholarly investigation and traditional research.
The PhD program generally is for those seeking professional goals that include some of the following:
- Pursuit of a tenure track research or teaching faculty position
- Conduct research (examples)
- that tests and/or develops theory
- that involves students and/or teachers knowledge
- that focuses on cognitive development
- Will pursue full time graduate study as a graduate research assistant
While this is not always the case it is a good barometer to begin thinking about
Admission Requirements
Please visit the Graduate School.
Application Process
- Please click here for a list of program requirements, application deadlines, and contact information.
- Complete the Application Form.
- Pay the application fee. The application fee is $65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $80 for international students. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. The application fee is waived for the following groups:
- Veterans and current members of the US military (please submit your DD 214 or current assignment orders during the application process).
- Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program students (please email gradschool@ua.edu for more details).
- University of Alabama undergraduates applying to a graduate program in the same subject area. To qualify for this application fee waiver a student must have no time break between the undergraduate and graduate program and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Applicants who have previously enrolled in Graduate School at The University of Alabama.
- Within 48 hours of completing steps 1 and 2 you will receive an email with your Campus Wide Identification (CWID) number. It is VERY important that you keep this number somewhere safe.
- If you have submitted your application before July 12, 2018, manage your supporting documents and check application status by clicking here. Otherwise, please use the “Application Form” page.
Program Requirements
Secondary Mathematics Emphasis Sample Program
Doctoral students will take a minimum of 24 hours in their major field of study (curriculum and instruction) and a minimum of 24 hours in their minor field of study (mathematics education). The major field of study consists of courses examining research, pedagogy, instruction, teacher education, current educational issues, and other courses related to curriculum and instruction. Of the 24 hours in the major field, a minimum of 12 hours will be from the doctoral core of courses in the department of curriculum and instruction. The 24 hours in the minor field of study sample may look like this set of courses.
Secondary Mathematics/Education Courses for the Minor Field (24 hours)
- CSE 666 – Secondary School Mathematics
- CSE 675 – Improving/Researching Mathematics Teaching with Technology
- CIE 680 – Research Seminar in Mathematics Education (K-12)
- CSE 694 – Advanced Problems in Secondary Mathematics Education
- Math 503 – Advanced Algebraic Connections and their Development
- Math 505 – Transformational Geometry for Secondary Teachers
- Math 591 – Teaching College Mathematics
- Math 593 – Collegiate Mathematics Education Research
Additional independent study courses are possible, including additional graduate level mathematics courses if doctoral students in mathematics education wish to seek faculty positions in mathematics departments. Co-Teaching is possible for full-time doctoral students in secondary math education, both with mathematics content courses and mathematics education courses.
In addition to the major and minor fields of study, doctoral students will take 15 hours in research methodology courses spanning two qualitative and two quantitative research methods courses. The fifth course is specific to the doctoral student’s needs in preparing them for the dissertation research. The remaining 12 hours will consist of courses comprising educational foundations, education history, and/or educational philosophies with the possibility to take additional courses relevant to the goals and desires of the doctoral student’s career focus of the program. An individual program of study will be created for each student individually tailored to each student’s respective interests and career goals.