2013-2014 GRADUATE BULLETIN - The University of Akron

52 The University of Akron 2013-2014
4. Demonstration of doctoral level writing ability as evidenced by a Miller Analogies
Test (MAT) score of 399 or higher or a 550 on the verbal portion of the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE). Scores more than five years old will not be accepted
for evaluation of the doctoral application.
5. Controlled departmental writing sample assignment. This requirement will be
administered after the March 1 and October 1 application deadlines. Consult the
Department of Curricular and Instructional Studies Office at (330) 972-7765 for
specific writing sample date(s).
6. After March 31 (for Fall admission) or October 31 (for Spring admission) all candidates
will be asked to schedule a twenty minute interview with the doctoral
committee of the Department of Curricular and Instructional Studies. Candidates
may also be judged on depth and breadth of knowledge, poise, thinking ability,
ability to communicate verbally, relevant educational work experience, uniqueness,
potential success in desired field, and motivation and commitment to a
position of educational leadership. The opportunity to interview is no guarantee
of admission.
7. In certain cases an applicant may be required to take coursework on the graduate
level at The University of Akron before a final decision on his/her application
for admission is made.
8. Candidates must have at least three years of teaching experience. (This does
not apply to postsecondary/technical adult education area candidates.)
Note: Applicants who score less than 399 on the MAT or 550 on the verbal portion
of the GRE, do not successfully complete the controlled writing sample, and do not
meet the GPA requirement will not be admitted to the doctoral program.
Degree Requirements
The degree will be awarded to the student who, in addition to fulfilling the general
requirements of the Graduate School, has met the following specific requirements:
• Completion of all departmental admission requirements.
• Completion of a minimum 92 graduate credits including the doctoral dissertation.
A student considered deficient in any area may be required to take additional
courses.
• Completion of a foundation studies program designed to prepare the student
before specialization.
• Completion of a test in a language judged not to be the student’s native tongue
and excluding English. (See section on Additional Research Competency.)
• Completion of six credits in a cognate area.
• Completion of a comprehensive written and oral examination.
• Completion of a dissertation comprising 20 credits. Credits beyond the 20 hours
may not be applied to the degree. The oral examining committee must be constituted
of at least five full-time graduate faculty members, one of whom must be
from outside the College.
• Pass the general requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Additional Research Competency
In addition to successfully completing the approved program of courses, the Ph.D.
student must display competency in one of the following areas. Coursework taken
to develop the competency may not be applied to the total number of hours required
in the Ph.D. program.
a. Foreign Language
A reading knowledge of one foreign language. The Department will work
cooperatively with the Department of Modern Languages to determine that
the student does in fact demonstrate the ability to read in a foreign language
i.e., a language other than the student's native language and excluding English.
b. Statistics/Research Methods
Students will successfully complete a minimum of 9 hours of additional
advanced statistical/research methods courses approved by student's advisor.
c. Professional Publication
The preparation of a research or position paper accepted for publication by
a refereed professional journal. The student may serve as senior or co-author.
The advisor must file a letter of approval of the published writing. This letter
shall present the advisor’s review of the academic integrity of the published
article in terms of adequacy in meeting this requirement. A letter of acceptance
for publication shall be considered as published.
Curricular and Instructional Studies Ph.D.
Course Requirements
Curricular and Instructional Studies Core (15)
5500:600 Concepts of Curriculum & Instruction (or 5400:xxx) 3
5500:605 Seminar in Trends and Issues in Curriculum & Instruction (or 5400:xxx) 3
5500:800 Professional Doctoral Seminar in Curricular and Instructional Studies 3
5500:880 Seminar in Curricular and Instructional Studies 3
Three additional hours will be selected in the area of Curricular and Instructional
Studies with advisor approval.
Social-Philosophical Foundations (15)
5100:600 Philosophies of Education (or 602 or 604) 3
5100:620 Psychology of Instruction for Teaching and Learning (or 5100:624 or
5400:500) 3
5100:701 History of Education in American Society (or 5100:703) 3
5100:705 Seminar in Social/Philosophical Foundations of Education 3
5100:723 Teaching Behavior and Instruction (or 5100:721 or 710) 3
Research Foundations (18)
5100:640 Techniques of Research 3
5100:740 Research Design 3
5100:741 Data Collection Methods 3
5100:742 Statistics in Education 3
5100:744 Qualitative Methods I 3
or
5100:801 Seminar I: Exploratory/Qualitative 3
5100:745 Qualitative Methods II 3
or
5100:801 Seminar: Empirical or Seminar II: Ethnographic/Historical or Case Study Research
or Legal Research and Writing or another advisor-approved course for 3 credits.
Students must take either 5100:744 and 5100:745 or 5100:801and 5100:801.
Area of Specialization: 18 credit hours
Cognate Area Outside of Education: 6 credit hours
Dissertation: 20 credit hours
Total Program: 92 credit hours
Additional coursework taken to develop a competency area may not be applied to
the total number of hours required in the Ph.D. program.
Doctoral Programs in Counseling
Collaborative Ph.D. Program in
Counseling Psychology
(565000PHD)
The Collaborative Program in Counseling Psychology allows the student a choice
of entry points. Students with a master’s degree in counseling, guidance and counseling,
psychology, school psychology, or a related field may enter through the
Counseling Department of the College of Education. Students with a baccalaureate
degree may enter through the Psychology Department of the Buchtel College
of Arts and Sciences. Students receive exposure to both colleges through shared
coursework and faculty involvement with dissertations. Students of both departments
are expected to attain a level of broad scientific competence in the core areas
of psychology; the biological, social, cognitive-affective, and individual bases of
human behavior. Practicum and internship experiences are required of all students
and range from skill building in basic psychological assessment and counseling to
a year-long, full-time internship in an applied setting. The Collaborative Program in
Counseling Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
The Department of Counseling offers a four-year, full-time Counseling Psychology
program leading to a doctoral degree. Program emphasis is strongly placed on a
scientist-practitioner model of training. Beyond the basic core areas of psychology
students are expected to establish specific competencies in theory, research, and
practice of Counseling Psychology. Academic preparation incorporates the study
of theoretical approaches to counseling and psychotherapy, theory and practice of
assessment, diversity issues in counseling psychology, supervision, vocational psychology,
professional issues and ethics, statistics, and research design. Research
and publication are strongly encouraged. Graduates typically seek teaching,
research, and training positions in academia, as well as positions in counseling centers
and other mental health agencies.
Admission to the Collaborative Program in Counseling Psychology is handled
through the department associated with the student’s chosen entry point. Students
must fulfill both departmental and Graduate School admission requirements.
Admission Requirements—College of Education Ph.D.
• A Graduate School application and an official transcript of all undergraduate and
graduate coursework from each college or university attended must be completed
and returned to the Graduate School.
• A minimum combined score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General
Test (verbal and quantitative sections) of 1100 is recommended.
• A grade point average of 2.75 or above earned on all completed undergraduate
work or a 3.0 or above on the most recent 64 semester hours of undergraduate
work is required. A grade point average of 3.25 or above on all graduate work is
required.
• Applicants are required to submit a vita outlining educational and professional
experiences.
• Applicants are required to submit a declaration of intent outlining their occupational
goals and their interest in and commitment to the counseling psychology
field.