Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching and Leadership

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies' current minimum general admission requirements as stated in the academic catalog.  A complete application meets the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and those of the Teaching and Leadership Ph.D. Doctoral Program. The School of Graduate Studies application requirements include:

  •   Application Form and Fee. The application form and information about the fee can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website.
  •   Transcripts. One official copy of all academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, including undergraduate and graduate course work, must arrive electronically or in envelopes sealed by the registrar. Transcripts that have been opened or tampered with will not be accepted.  UND Students: You must arrange for your transcripts to be sent to the School of Graduate Studies.  If you have graduated from a college or university outside of the U.S. or Canada, you must also include an official or attested copy of your diploma or degree certificate sent by the registrar. All documentation must be in English or have an English translation attached. Students from India must provide all official or attested marksheets and a copy of their diploma.  Students from China must provide transcripts plus a Graduation Certificate and a Degree Diploma. Do not send High School/Intermediate/Secondary transcripts.
  •    Recommendation Checklist. Recommenders are to complete the "Summary of Evaluation" checklist which is located on the form "Recommendation for Admission."
  •    Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

In addition to the above, the Teaching and Leadership Ph.D. Doctoral Program requires the following documents be uploaded into the online admissions form as an additional part of your application:

  •    Statement of Professional/Educational Goals. Submit an essay not to exceed three double-spaced pages explaining why a Ph.D. in Teaching and Leadership is appropriate for your professional educational goals. Indicate your concentration area(s) and potential research areas or interests. The seven concentration area choices include: Childhood and Adversity Resilience, Constructivism in STEM Education, Family, School and Community Engagement, Instructional Coaching, Leadership in Curriculum & Learning, Literacy, Language & Culture, or School Reform & Public Policy.
  •    Essay. An original scholarly essay not to exceed five double-spaced pages on a controversial issue or a problem facing education today, including references. The writing will be reviewed for (a) overall suitability for doctoral-level study; (b) cohesive development of ideas; (c) support for ideas, and (d) writing conventions. The applicant must also sign a statement attesting that the work submitted was that of the applicant.
  •     Professional Resume. Submit a professional resume that includes the following information: educational background, professional experience, conference presentations (if applicable), publications (if applicable), professional honors and awards, and any other experiences you believe may aid the admission committee in evaluating your application.
  •    Three Letters of Recommendation. In addition to having recommenders complete the School of Graduate Studies "Summary of Evaluation," have them write a letter of recommendation. The Recommendation for Admission form allows recommenders to upload their letters electronically. The letter should address the following: academic ability, professional accomplishments related to your field of study, and positive character traits.
  •     Interview. Applicants who successfully meet all the above requirements may be interviewed by members of the Teaching & Leadership Admissions Committee in an online format. 

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Department of Teaching, Leadership, & Professional Practice.

  1. Completion of 90-semester credits beyond the baccalaureate degree
  2. Maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA for all classes completed as a graduate student.
  3. With the approval of a student’s Faculty Advisory Committee, up to one-half of the work beyond a master’s degree (maximum of 30 semester credit hours) may be transferred from another institution that offers post-master’s degrees in the discipline.
  4. At least one-half of the work must be in the major field, including: 
    • At least 10-12 credits of dissertation, which incorporates independent work that is an original contribution to knowledge in the field
    • A minimum of 12 credits of scholarly tool courses
  5. Successful completion of comprehensive exams
  6. Successful completion of a dissertation, which incorporates independent work that is an original contribution to knowledge.
  7. Meet one of the three residency options described below:
    • Complete a residency while enrolled in a minimum of nine semester hours of credit during each of two consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring or Spring, Fall).
    • Complete a residency while enrolled in a minimum of eight semester hours of credit during each of three consecutive summer sessions.
    • Complete a residency over a period of three consecutive years of continuous enrollment in a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit (twelve credits per year for three years).
  8. As part of your residency, the faculty also expects that you will: 
  • Communicate with your advisor/committee chairperson on a regular basis.
  • Engage regularly in dialogue with other graduate students.
  • Attend classes, meetings, and internship/practicum assignments when they are offered, with only occasional reasonable interruptions.
  • Complete the work of a semester or summer school on schedule; incomplete's are assigned only in cases of illness or an emergency.
  • Maintain grades high enough to remain in good standing with the School of Graduate Studies.
Teaching & Leadership Doctoral Core Courses (9 credits)
T&L 571Teacher Education: Focus on the Teacher3
EDL 574Organizational Theory for Educational Leaders3
T&L 586Research in Teacher Development and Professionalization Policies3
Educational Research Apprenticeship (ERA) (12 credits)
T&L 543Scholarly Writing3
T&L 549Doctoral Seminar (I and II)2
T&L 587Educational Research Apprenticeship (ERA)1-3 credits, Repeatable to 7 credits
Educational Research (12 credits)
(Your advisory committee may recommend exceptions to these courses)
Required Scholarly Tools Courses:
EFR 510Participatory Qualitative Research Methods3
EFR 516Statistics II3
Plus six credits from the following courses:
EFR 514Advanced Textual Analysis3
EFR 518Multivariate Analysis3
EFR 520Translational and pluralistic designs in qualitative research3
EFR 523Structural Equation Modeling3
EFR 530Learning Analytics3
T&L 569Action Research3
T&L 579Inquiry into Professional Practice3
Concentration Areas (Minimum of 12 credits) Choose one of the following seven concentration areas. Students could transcript more than one concentration area.
Concentration Area One: Childhood Adversity and Resilience (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 517Social Emotional Learning Guidance3
T&L 529Language Development Cognition in Children3
T&L 570Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience3
LAW 294/T&L 590 Indian Child Welfare Act2
SPED 5454
T&L 590Special Topics (Early Childhood Mental Health)3
SWK 560Topics Of Social Work Practice (Children's Mental Health)2
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Two: Constructivism in STEM Education (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 518Curriculum and Methods for Teaching STEM3
T&L 554Nature of Science and Science Education3
T&L 555Issues of Motivation and Equity in STEM Education3
T&L 556Constructivism in STEM Teaching and Learning3
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Three: Family, School, and Community Engagement (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 517Social Emotional Learning Guidance3
T&L 553Collaborative Relationships: Home, School and Community3
SPED 5433
EDL 517Social, Cultural, Political, and Community Dimensions of Schools4
EDL 571School Community Relations3
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Four: Instructional Coaching (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 532Leading K-12 Educator Learning3
T&L 563K-12 Classroom Based Coaching Practices3
T&L 564Designing Professional Development for K-12 Educators3
T&L 565K-12 Instructional Coaching Clinical3
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Five: Leadership in Curriculum and Learning (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 532Leading K-12 Educator Learning3
T&L 539College Teaching3
T&L 545Adult Learners3
T&L 548The Professoriate3
T&L 552Online Teaching Practice Innovation3
T&L 572Teacher Education: Focus on the Learner3
EDL 531School District Leadership3
SPED 5433
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Six: Literacy, Language, and Culture (Minimum of 12 credits)
T&L 514Introduction to Multilingual Education3
T&L 523Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners3
T&L 524Reading in the Content Areas2
T&L 528Children's and Young Adult Literature in the Classroom3
T&L 530Foundations of Reading Instruction3
T&L 537ELL Methods and Materials3
with co-requisite T&L 591
T&L 551Second Language Acquisition for ELL Teachers3
T&L 591Readings in Education (Literacy Education)1
EDL 517Social, Cultural, Political, and Community Dimensions of Schools4
LAW 294/T&L 590 Indian Child Welfare Act2
T&L 584Internship in Education1
Concentration Area Seven: School Reform and Public Policy (Minimum of 12 credits)
EDL 516Education Finance and Policy3
EDL 517Social, Cultural, Political, and Community Dimensions of Schools4
EDL 526Business Management in Education3
EDL 527Legal Issues in Education3
EDL 531School District Leadership3
EDL 571School Community Relations3
EDL 572Educational Systems and Planning3
EDL 575Education and Public Policy3
EDL 593Internship in Educational Leadership1-8
Dissertation
T&L 999Dissertation (or)10-12
EDL 999Dissertation10-12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Master degree credits: 28-30 credits may be transferred from a previously earned master's degree.