Pennsylvania State University Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate June 12-14, 2007

Penn State offers a Ph.D. & D.Ed. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is conferred in recognition of high attainment and productive scholarship in some special field of learning as evidenced by: 1.The satisfactory completion of a prescribed period of study and investigation; 2.The preparation and formal acceptance of a thesis involving independent research; 3.The successful passing of examinations covering both the special subject and the general field of learning of which this subject forms a part.

The D.Ed. degree is conferred in recognition of advanced preparation of a high order for work in the profession of education as evidenced by: 1.Satisfactory completion of a prescribed period of study; 2.Ability to apply scientific principles to practitioner problems in a variety of education endeavors; 3.Preparation of a thesis demonstrating ability to undertake an educational problem with originality and independent thought; 4.Successful performance on major and minor examinations, showing a satisfactory grasp of the field of specialization and its relation to allied education areas.

The following programs offer the Ph.D. and D.Ed.: Higher Education Administration Educational Leadership Instructional Systems Workforce Education Curriculum and Instruction Adult Education Counselor Education

The following programs only offer the Ph.D only: Educational Theory and Policy Educational Psychology School Psychology Counseling Psychology Special Education

Work underway: –Committee in place to examine Ph.D. and D.Ed. across 12 fields of education study (meetings, on- line discussion group, common readings) –Some D.Ed. programs are popular and we are trying to learn from those to help other programs. Some D.Ed. programs have a lack of faculty support. –Ph.D. is designed as research degree to expand knowledge base and theoretical understandings in each education field. –D.Ed. focuses on applied research and practice in education

Goals for project - To have clear understandings of the differences between the Ph.D. and D.Ed. Degrees, and to articulate these based on the missions and objectives of the respective programs - To ensure that we are not relying unreasonably on the Ph.D. to meet the needs of our students - To provide appropriate, well-designed, and rigorous advanced programs of study for graduate students

Actions steps to be taken: –Committee work is in progress –Committee will consider appropriateness of offering the D.Ed given the program area and its goals –Committee needs to study waxing/waning of Ph.D and D.Ed in various fields and gauge decisions based on the field –Committee will make recommendations for next steps

Evaluation –Responses will be collected from program graduates and their employers –Programs will be benchmarked with others in the field –Faculty will continue to evaluate programs through self study