Doctoral Degrees, Specific Requirements
Doctor of Audiology degrees (Au.D.) are awarded for completion of the professional practitioner program designed for entry level activity as an audiologist. Audiologists are professional practitioners responsible for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of hearing disorders in children and adults.
Doctor of Arts degrees (D.A.) are awarded for completion of content-oriented programs to prepare the candidate for a career in college or university teaching. The student is expected to specialize in a specific field of study but is not expected to specialize in a single facet of the chosen field. General components of the program include coursework in the major area, supervised practica in college teaching, and individual studies in effective teaching. Students are offered considerable flexibility in program development. The degree is not research-oriented, but the recipient will demonstrate research competence by preparing a dissertation designed to support college/university teaching. A wide range of topics is permitted for this document, and the study may develop a presentation that is unique to the discipline.
Doctor of Education degrees (Ed.D.) are awarded for completion of professional or practitioner programs designed to prepare candidates for positions of leadership in all fields including elementary and secondary education, higher education, business, industry, government, and the military. These doctoral programs prepare graduates for service in instructional, supervisory, and administrative capacities.
Doctor of Philosophy degrees (Ph.D.) are awarded for completion of the research degree granted only to students who have 1) mastery of definite fields of knowledge to the extent they are familiar both with what has been done in their specific field and with the potentialities and opportunities for further advances, 2) a demonstrated capacity to do original and independent scholarly investigation or creative work in their specific field, and 3) the ability to integrate their specific field or specialization with the larger domains of knowledge and understanding.
Post-Doctoral Programs of research and advanced study are available in selected areas to persons holding the earned Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Philosophy, or Doctor of Psychology degree. Work at the post-doctoral level may be taken in areas such as educational leadership and policy studies, educational technology, educational psychology, counseling psychology, elementary education, special education, applied statistics, and other disciplines.
The specific research project or program of study is planned by the post-doctoral student in conference with a faculty committee appointed to advise the student throughout the program and to assess the student's progress at the end of the program.
The Center for International Education
The Center for International Education provides support through ongoing orientation, advising, cultural, social and educational activities for students from other countries and American students interested in studying abroad. The Center offers services related to immigration and cross-cultural programming for the entire university community. In addition, a comprehensive English program is offered for international students who need to improve their English proficiency in order to pursue a degree at an English-speaking university. Courses are offered every semesters for Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Graduate-level students.
Orientation
An orientation for new graduate students is held prior to fall semester and provides information about important services, issues, and policies for graduate students. For information about the orientation, please call the Graduate School and International Admissions Office at 970-351-2831, after July 1.