Doctoral Degree Programs

Interested in advanced study and research to prepare you for leadership positions and careers in academia?

We offer two doctoral programs for those committed to dedicating themselves to a rigorous course of study in the research and scholarship of human resource education.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

 

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Human Resource Education is designed to be a "professional degree" as it focuses on using, rather than producing, knowledge and is designed to prepare individuals for high-level administrative and/or instructional-supervisory roles. It is earned through the completion of at least 64 hours beyond the master's degree, in addition to other requirements specified by the College of Education and the HRE Department. Please see the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook for more information.

 

Minimum Requirements:

  • Major Subject (minimum 24 hours)
  • Ed.D. Cognate (minimum 16 hours) Coursework in field(s) outside of HRE Department.
  • Research methods coursework (minimum 8 hours)
    • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
    • EPSY 480: Educational Statistics
  • Thesis Research hours (HRE 599) (minimum of 4 hours/maximum of 16 hours)
  • Residency Requirement Continuous residency with part-time course work for four continuous semesters
  • Qualifying Examination
    • General Field Exam
    • Special Field Exam
    • Research Methodology Exam
  • Preliminary Oral Exam (Dissertation Proposal)
  • Final Oral Exam (Dissertation Defense)
  • Professional Association Membership
  • Submit Manuscript to a Journal
  • Internship

Ed.D. Degree plan worksheet: (PDF) (MS Word)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Resource Education is intended to prepare individuals for leadership roles and faculty positions that require the use of the tools and concepts of inquiry and analysis in activities such as research, evaluation, and curriculum development. Its primary intent is to prepare individuals for conducting research. It is earned through the completion of at least 64 hours beyond the master's degree, in addition to other requirements specified by the College of Education and the HRE Department. Please see the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook for more information.

Minimum Course Requirements (64 sem. hours beyond master’s, plus Research Specialization):

  • Core Course Prerequisites (if applicable)
  • Required Courses and Major Subjects (minimum of 52 semester hours)
  • Thesis Research (4 semester hours minimum – 32 semester hours maximum)
  • Research Specialization (minimum of 16 semester hours)

Specific Requirements:

  • Core Course Prerequisites: (Must be taken for credit in Year 1 – Prerequisites do not count toward minimum Ph.D. requirements)
    • HRE 400: Principles of HRE
    • HRE 401: Training in Business/Industry or HRE 411: Instructional Design
    • HRE 530: Organization Development
  • Required HRE Doctoral Courses (Minimum of 20 semester hours):
    • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
    • HRE 582: Designing Research Studies
    • HRE 509: Advanced Theories in HRD
    • HRE 590: Seminar for Advanced Students (Advanced Adult Learning)
    • HRE 492: Supervised Internship in HRE
      Note: HRE 580 also meets part of the Research Specialization requirement.
      HRE 492 (internship) can be waived with prior experience.
  • Major Subject Area (Minimum of 32 semester hours – 8 semester hours may be non-HRE courses):
  • Early Research Project (ERP)
  • Thesis Units (Minimum of 4 semester hours; Maximum of 32 semester hours)
  • Research Specialization (Minimum of 16 semester hours, plus HRE 580)
    See Ph.D. Research Specialization Requirements for descriptions and specific requirements.
    Select one Research Specialization:
    • Evaluation
      • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
      • Evaluation Methods
      • Evaluation Methods
      • Evaluation Theory
      • Evaluation Practice
    • Interpretive
      • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
      • Methods Course
      • Specialization
      • Specialization
      • Complementary research requirement: Introductory Statistics Course
    • Qualitative
      • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
      • Introductory Course
      • Methods Course
      • Specialized/Advanced
      • Complementary research requirement: Introductory Statistics Course
    • Quantitative
      • HRE 580: Disciplined Inquiry in HRE
      • Introductory Statistics
      • Specialization
      • Specialization
      • Complementary research requirement: Qualitative Research Course
  • Residency Requirement Two consecutive semesters of full-time (12 hours or more) coursework.
  • Qualifying Examination
    • General Field Exam
    • Special Field Exam
  • Preliminary Oral Exam (Dissertation Proposal)
  • Final Oral Exam (Dissertation Defense)
  • Professional Association Membership
  • Submit Manuscript to a Journal

Ph.D. Degree plan worksheet: (PDF) (MS Word)