Leadership and Professional Practice FAQs

A: Anyone interested in the relationship that learning and leadership play in the professional/instructional process. This might include professionals from business, technology, health/social services, education, nonprofit agencies, higher education, etc.

A: Each incoming doctoral cohort will not exceed 25 participants.

A: Minimum qualifications include:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution 
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on all prior graduate work
• Minimum of two years of professional experience in an organizational/institutional setting, preferably in a leadership role

A: Application requires the following materials:

• Graduate School Application
  • Essay Questions
  • Non-refundable application fee (first time UTC graduate students only)
  • Three (3) Academic/Professional recommendations (using the online form provided) 
  • Resume/CV 
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, even if a degree was not awarded 

A: The Admission Committee considers all required items holistically in our admissions process:

• Professional and academic performance (GPA, recommendations, resume/CV)
• Essay Questions 
• Personal interview*

*Applicants who reach the second phase of the application process will be invited to a video conference interview.

A: If an applicant is accepted to a particular cohort (Summer term) and is unable to fully engage in and successfully complete the LEAD 7000 foundational course (1 credit), s/he may request to defer admission for one academic year. 

A: New cohorts are currently admitted in Summer only. Due to the cohort nature of the programs, we do not offer rolling admission.

A: Graduation requirements include:

1. Successful completion of 42 required credit hours and 24 elective credit hours
2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the doctoral program with no more than two grades below a “B”
3. Successful completion/defense of the Comprehensive Assessment 
4. Successful completion/defense of the Research Project of Practice and approval by the Graduate School

A: All newly admitted doctoral participants are required to successfully complete a foundational course during the initial Summer semester. The foundational course includes two synchronous meetings and extensive work in the Virtual Classroom (online) through discussions and readings. Should an admitted participant be unable to fully participate in the foundational course, the participant may request to defer admission for one academic year.

A: The Program Director/Advisor will provide guidance through the core coursework sequence and in selecting and approving electives. Upon successful completion of the core program, electives, and the Comprehensive Assessment, the participant will transition to candidacy and will work with a Research Project of Practice Committee.

A: The cohort will complete the required foundational course and core coursework together online (Virtual Classroom). During the required core program of study (24 credit hours), each participant enrolls in 6 credits per semester until the core has been completed (Fall, Spring, and Summer continuous enrollment). This core coursework serves as seminal knowledge for the demonstration of competency in each of the program domains.

A: Enrollment in 6 graduate credit hours is required during the core program of study. Due to the rigorous nature of the core program in addition to the participant’s professional practice, enrollment in additional credit hours during the core program of study requires pre-approval by the Program Director/Advisor. Additionally, due to the cohort nature of the program, enrollment in fewer than 6 graduate credit hours (at UTC or other institution) during the core program of study requires pre-approval by the Program Director/Advisor.

A: The program delivery model is designed with full-time working professionals in mind. During the required core program of study, each participant enrolls in 2 courses (6 credits) per semester until the core has been completed (Fall, Spring and Summer continuous enrollment). Core course work is delivered asynchronously online, with occasional synchronous meetings with faculty. The online delivery model includes material work in the Virtual Classroom through discussions and readings, along with self-directed/small group study.

The program is offered primarily online (asynchronously) via the Virtual Classroom (LMS/Canvas), however, there are a few exceptions. During the initial Summer semester, all new EdD majors enroll in a one-credit hour foundational course (LEAD 7000) which includes two synchronous meetings and material work online. Additionally, some synchronous Zoom sessions may be encouraged and/or required during coursework (examples: Virtual Office Hours, Optional Statistics Review Sessions, 3 synchronous class meetings per semester for select LEAD elective courses, periodic committee meetings/defenses for the culminating project, Research Project of Practice, etc.). 

A: Each doctoral participant is expected to demonstrate basic computer skills and to have working knowledge and capability with computer hardware as well as a variety of software applications. Each doctoral participant must have administrative rights to the computer being used during coursework in order to install necessary software. A number of software applications are provided by the university/UT at no charge for all current participants and faculty. Minimum technology requirements for the EdD Program include:      

• PC or Mac computer with Windows-based operating system*
• Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint (2010 version or newer)
• High speed Internet connection
• Webcam
• Adobe Reader
• EndNote
• SPSS statistical analysis software
• Zoom video conferencing
• UT system provided survey software
• Other applications as indicated by the faculty

*We highly recommend using a PC type computer. Our program faculty/staff and university administration utilize Windows and Microsoft software; therefore, a PC type computer is preferred to ensure compatibility. While the majority of the required software programs are available in both PC and Mac formats, select software programs are not available for use with the Mac operating system and require a Windows-based operating system. Some participants have experienced difficulty and noticed differences when formatting documents when using a Mac Operating System (Mac OS).

The EdD degree consists of 5 semesters of primary coursework, plus 24 hours of  elective coursework, plus 3-4 semesters of Research Project of Practice (culminating project). The participant’s degree timeline will vary depending on a number of factors including (but not limited to) whether s/he has earned eligible transfer elective credits, his/her elective course enrollment, whether s/he requests a Leave of Absence due to an unexpected life event or remains continuously enrolled, etc. 

A: Participants must complete all degree requirements (66 graduate credit hours) within a 10 year time frame. The "clock starts" with the earliest course applied to the doctoral degree program, including any program-approved transfer credits. The participant’s degree timeline will vary depending on a number of factors including (but not limited to) whether s/he has earned eligible transfer elective credits, his/her elective course enrollment, whether s/he requests a Leave of Absence due to an unexpected life event or remains continuously enrolled, etc. Due to the nature of doctoral-level study, individual timelines vary considerably as a result of personal, professional, and personal commitments.

A: Yes, each participant must remain continuously enrolled in course work. Continuous enrollment in the doctoral program applies to the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. During the initial Summer semester, each participant enrolls in 1 credit hour. During the core program of study, each participant is required to enroll in 6 core credit hours. Once the core program of study has been completed, the participant is required to remain continuously enrolled in course work (between 3-6 elective credit hours per semester). Upon admission to candidacy, the candidate is required to enroll in LEAD 7750r Pre-Research Project of Practice Seminar (5 credits). Upon successful completion of LEAD 7750r Pre-Research Project of Practice Seminar, the candidate is required to continuously enroll in a minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) LEAD 7889r Research Project of Practice credits every semester through the successful defense and acceptance of the Research Project of Practice by the Graduate School. Failure to remain continuously enrolled will result in program dismissal.

A: The participant, with Program Director/Advisor approval, will identify and successfully complete elective coursework (24 credit hours) in subject matter appropriate for the participant's professional practice.

Minimum Elective Course Requirements:

• Credits must be taken for graduate credit (5000-level or above) from a regionally accredited institution
• Credits must have documented objectives or outcomes that are consistent with graduate level learning (higher order thinking skills)
• Credits must be academic in nature (not internship, practicum, continuing education, etc.)
• Credits must be assigned a letter grade of "B" or higher
• Credits cannot have been used for a previously conferred Master’s degree
• Credits must be approved by the Program Director/Advisor

Transfer Credit Policy:

• Any transfer credits cannot exceed 24 graduate hours (8 courses) and are limited to elective credit
• Previous transfer credits must have been taken within 5 years of entrance into the program.
• Any transfer credit requests for previous course work should be submitted to the Program Director/Advisor, along with course syllabus(i) from the semester the course was taken.  Any approved transfer credits will be documented as part of the Program of Study.
• Any additional transfer credit must be approved in advance and requests must be accompanied by a course syllabus (the most recent version available, no more than one year old) and an official transcript must be submitted upon completion of approved courses

The following types of courses will not be accepted as elective credit toward the doctoral program:

• Courses designed as bridging or leveling work for Master's programs (Foundations of..., Concepts in..., etc.)
• Courses that are very similar in scope to core coursework (Principles of Instructional Design, Organizational Effectiveness, etc.)
• Courses offered at the undergraduate level (4000) with a graduate (5000) option

A: A maximum of 24 credit hours (8 courses) may be considered for transfer from a regionally accredited institution (see elective credit policy above).

A: Yes, each candidate will be required to register for a minimum of 12 credit hours (Research Project of Practice) and present/defend the Research Project of Practice to a committee. Candidates who do not complete the Research Project of Practice within the 12 credit hour time frame must take an additional 3 Project of Practice credit hours each semester through graduation (per continuous enrollment policy).

A: Potential research projects are developed by the candidate with guidance and input from the doctoral faculty. Participants in the Leadership and Professional Practice doctoral program will develop their individual research agendas throughout the program of study. In the completion of the Research Project of Practice, the candidate will show evidence of competence in conceptualizing, carrying out, and reporting research. Specifically, the Research Project of Practice provides the opportunity to showcase the ability to identify a current measurable program, describe and relate that program to an extant knowledge base, and effectively evaluate the active program within the professional workplace. This research project represents the final project for the degree and will include a formal presentation/defense to a committee.

A: The Leadership and Professional Practice doctoral degree requires a minimum of 66 total graduate credit hours. As a distance program, the doctoral program has a specific fee schedule. To review the current university fee schedule, please visit the Bursar’s website (link: Bursar's website). Select Fee Information > select current semester > select Online & Distance Learning Fee Schedule > scroll down to Graduate Fees (in-state or out-of-state).

A: Financial Aid at the doctoral level is typically limited to student loans and employer sponsored tuition reimbursement programs. For additional information, please visit the Financial Aid website (link: Financial Aid website).

A:  Doctor of Education: Leadership and Professional Practice