Degree Requirements

• Learning in a Content Area
• Policy and Leadership
• Social and Philosophical Foundations
• Psychological Foundations
• The 9 credits that the student will take will be outside the student's own program.

Literacy Education Area of Specialization Required Courses

• 15:252:514 Issues of Diversity in Language and Literacy Learning
• 15:299:561 Foundations of Literacy Instruction
• 15:299:564 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties
• 16:300:516 Developing a Theory of Language and Literacy Education
• 16:300:532 Language in Education II
• 15:299:566 Seminar in Reading Research and Supervision
• 15:252:615 Independent Study (Qualifying Paper)

An additional 9 credits taken in literacy education or in relevant areas within or outside the GSE. Elective courses require advisor approval.

Research Methodology (9 credits consisting of courses in 2 of the following three areas)

Courses require advisor's approval.

• Quantitative Foundations
• Qualitative Foundations
•  Program Evaluation
• Courses require advisor's approval.

The qualifying examination requires students to respond to two questions in 15-20 page papers. Each year one common question will be given to all candidates. This question will center on an issue that cuts across areas of specialization and will be designed to guarantee both that students are current in their knowledge and that they are able to use research and theory to advance their own arguments. The second question will be developed by the advisor and will center on the area that the student plans to investigate in his or her dissertation. Like the course work, then, the qualifying exam is designed to ensure that our students have both sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge. Qualifying examinations must be read by two members of the core faculty.

Dissertation (24 credits)

250:701 Dissertation Study in Learning & Teaching (Note: No more than 12 credit hours of dissertation study may be taken before the successful completion of the Qualifying Examination.) The Dissertation Committee consists of at least three members approved by the program and department chair. The chairperson of the Dissertation Committee must be a member of the Graduate School of Education, and at least one Committee member must be a member of the student's program. At least two committee members must be Rutgers faculty members; at least one must be from outside the student's department.

Total Credits: 72

Please note: 

• Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in the doctoral coursework and dissertation research courses.
• Students may petition the faculty to transfer up to 18 graduate credit hours of coursework taken elsewhere to meet these requirements. Transfer of credits is not guaranteed, and it must be demonstrated that transferred credits meet the specific goals of the program. The faculty will review each petition and decide if the coursework taken elsewhere meets the standards of courses sponsored by the Ed.D. program.
• Degree programs will be approved by both student's program advisor and by the chair of the department.

Time Limits: 

Students have seven years from the time of admission to complete coursework and qualifying examinations, and they will have a total of 10 years to complete all requirements.