Doctorate in Learning and Leadership
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who might be interested in the program?
A:
Anyone interested in the learning and leadership process. This might include professionals from business, the private sector (health services, nonprofit agencies, social services), education, higher education, etc.
Q: How many participants will be accepted into the program?
A:
Each incoming doctoral cohort will not exceed 25 participants.
Q: What are the qualifications for entrance into the program?
A:
-
Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all prior graduate work
- Minimum of two years of professional experience, preferably in a leadership role
Q: What materials are required to apply?
A:
- Completed Graduate School Application (online) & non-refundable application fee
- Learning and Leadership Information Form
- Current resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose Essay
- Official transcripts for every institution previously attended (credit/non-credit, undergrad & graduate)
- Three letters of reference
- Official GRE scores (taken within five years of application)
Q: What criteria will be used to make admission decisions?
A:
We will consider a number of items holistically in our admissions process:
- Evaluation of professional and academic performance (GPA, GRE scores, reference letters, resume/cv)
- Evaluation of the Statement of Purpose Essay
- Evaluation of personal interview
(if applicable)
Q:
Is a minimum score required for the GRE?
A:
A minimum GRE score is not required; however, scores will be considered by the admissions committee.
Q: May I substitute other test scores for the GRE requirement?
A: No, other test scores may not be subsituted for the GRE requirement.
Q: What if it has been more than five years since I last took the GRE?
A: You will need to re-take the GRE at your local computerized testing center. ETS considers scores reportable for only five years. For details on the GRE, visit: www.gre.org.
Q: Are transfer credits permitted?
A: A maximum of fifteen (15) hours may be considered for transfer from a regionally accredited institution. Transfer credits will be limited to 15 credits of focused electives. Details are provided in the Graduate Catalog and Learning and Leadership Program Manual. All transfer credits must be approved by the academic advisor, Program Director, and Dean of the Graduate School
Q: What are the requirements for graduation?
A:
- Completion of 30 credit hours of required core doctoral course work
- Successful completion of 24 credit hours of focused electives
- Successful completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours of dissertation research
- Cumulative doctoral grade point average of 3.0
- Passage of the comprehensive assessment (ILLP)
- Successful completion and defense of the dissertation
A: Upon admission to the program, a member of the doctoral faculty will initially be assigned as his/her advisor. Advisors will provide guidance in selecting and approved focused electives, will conduct three evaluation checkpoints, and will assist the student in developing a tentative dissertation topic. Upon successful completion of the core program and electives, the participant will transition to a dissertation committee. The chair of the dissertation committee will be selected by the participant.
Q: How long will a participant be expected to be in the program to receive the degree?
A: That will depend upon a number of factors. Generally, a time frame of 3 to 6 years is anticipated. Participants must complete all degree requirements within a ten year time frame. In the case of transfer credits, the "clock starts" with the earliest course applied to the doctoral degree program. If any post-graduate elective credits are transferred, the timeline for degree completion will be shortened. With advisor approval, participants may also elect to take an excess of 6 credits during the core program to get a head start on elective credits (ex: Enroll in 9 credits per semester in lieu of the standard 6 credits per semester).
Q: How much course work will be involved?
A: 30 credit hours of core course work + 24 credit hours of focused electives + a minimum of 12 dissertation credit hours.
Q: Describe the cohort experience.
A: Each cohort will initially complete 30 credits of study together. The core course work serves as foundational knowledge for meeting mimimal competency in each of the seven domains.
Q: How will the course work be delivered?
A: The program delivery model is designed with full-time working professionals in mind. Course work will be offered via hybrid/blended delivery. Delivery formats may include face-to-face seminars on evenings or weekends, online activities, collaborative projects, live video-streaming, and/or independent study projects.
Doctoral participants will take a prescribed sequence of core courses (30 credits) for five consecutive semesters (fall, spring, and summer). During this phase of the program, participants enroll in two core courses (six credit hours) per semester. Each of the core courses may require up to four face-to-face meetings per semester (i.e., two courses = approximately eight face-to-face meetings per semester). These required sessions may be supplemented by small group or advisory sessions.
Following completion of the core program of stud (i.e, cohort experience), participants will work on an individualized basis to complete focused electives (24 credits) and the dissertation (12 credits minimum).
Q: What are focused electives?
A: The participant, with advisor approval, will select and take 24 credit hours of coursework in a concentrated area of interest (cognate area). These courses can be taken at any point during which the student is in the program. A maximum of 15 transfer credits, if approved, may be applied to the program as focused electives. All transfer credits and focused electives must be approved by the academic advisor, Program Director, and Dean of the Graduate School.
Q: Must doctoral participants complete a dissertation?
A: Yes, each participant will be required to register for a minimum of 12 dissertation credit hours. Participants who do not complete the dissertation hours within the 12 hour credit hour time frame must take an additional 2 dissertation credit hours each semester through graduation (continuous enrollment policy).
Q: Will each participant work with a dissertation committee?
A: Yes, the dissertation committee will guide the participant throughout the dissertation process. The committee will consist of graduate faculty members selected by the participant in consultation with his/her dissertation chair. The committee will have at least four members including the chair.
Q: Are there any major student evaluation points in the program?
A: Yes. The participant's academic advisor will review the student’s progress periodically– totaling three formal checkpoint evaluation points. The evaluation checkpoints provide an opportunity for the advisor to provide feedback regarding satisfactory academic progress including the development of the ILLP.
Q: Is financial aid available for doctoral participants?
A: Yes, a limited number of graduate assistantships are available at the doctoral level (part-time or full-time). Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver and monthly stipend during the regular academic year (summers are typically excluded). The priority deadline to apply for a graduate assistantship is February 15.
The majority of doctoral participants opt to finance their graduate studies with student loans.
Contact the UTC Financial Aid office as early upon admission to begin the loan application process.
Q: Will graduates of the Learning and Leadership program receive a Ph.D. or Ed.D.?
A: Graduates will received a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.).
