School of Graduate Education and Human Development: Degree Information

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The primary purpose of this degree program is to provide experienced educators in higher education and/or K12 contexts with a broad and systematic understanding of professional education, theory and practice, and the ability to conduct research and apply findings in an informed and critical manner. Candidates for the degree are recognized for their commitment to the application of knowledge on behalf of improved educational practice.

Admission Requirements In addition to the admission requirements described on the School of Education and Human Development (EHD) website, an Ed.D. applicant must hold a master’s degree or its equivalent and have previous professional experience in an area related to the program.

Enrollment Requirements Students may pursue the Ed.D. degree on a full or part-time basis.  Students must enroll for a minimum of 3 capstone credits during any semester in which they are working with their committee. Ed.D. students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester. 

Affiliated Status Students may request affiliated status after a successful defense of the capstone during the semester the degree is to be conferred.  The final decision for such requests will be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Affairs.

Time Limit All requirements must be completed within four years after passing the Ed.D. comprehensive examination and within seven years of admission to the Ed.D. program. Students exceeding the time limit will be required to reapply for admission. The student may be required to validate out-of-date work by examination. Program committees must determine the appropriateness and currency of all course work, especially if it is five or more years old.

Assessment of Progress Each program has determined key student competencies across each year of the doctoral program. Students document their evolving competencies annually, and receive written and oral feedback on their annual progress.

Course Requirements The Ed.D. program requires a minimum of 72 credits, including 60 credits of regular coursework (including up to 12 hours of internship if applicable, but not including capstone credits) with at least 36 course credits completed after admission to the program. Twelve credits of capstone project work are required and may be counted toward the total of 72 credits.

Ed.D. students take research courses covering topics such as inquiry research design, program evaluation, research literacy, practice-based research, and data-driven decision-making.
Students entering the doctoral program with a relevant master’s degree can apply up to 24 hours of credit toward their degree, pending evaluation and approval of program area faculty and the student’s advisor.  Course work must be current (less than five years old at the time of matriculation) and relevant to the doctoral program of study.

Internship Requirement If appropriate for the student’s program of study,  Ed.D. students may enroll in up to 12 internship credits.

Comprehensive Exam: Ed.D. students complete a written comprehensive exam that covers the knowledge base and methodology of their disciplinary area and demonstrates their readiness to undertake capstone research. At least two faculty members independently evaluate the examination.

Capstone Project: Students must complete a capstone project in two stages; a written capstone proposal/defense and the final capstone project defense. Faculty rate students on a pre-determined quality indicator.

The primary purpose of this degree is to develop educational scholars whose goals are to conduct original research and interpret and communicate the results of such research as authors, university faculty, and governmental or research agency officials. Specific requirements for Ph.D. programs are posted with each program description.

Enrollment Requirements Students in the Ph.D. program must be enrolled full-time during the fall and spring semesters while working toward the Ph.D. degree. After required coursework is completed, students may request to finish the dissertation on a part-time basis if the following conditions have been met: the student has maintained full time status; is no longer being funded by their department; has successfully completed all coursework and is at the dissertation phase; and is within the allowed time limits for the degree. Students must enroll for a minimum of 3 dissertation hours during any semester in which they are working with their committee, and must be registered for a minimum of 3 dissertation hours in the semester in which they defend the proposal and final dissertation.

Affiliated Status Students may request affiliated status after a successful defense of the dissertation during the semester the degree is to be conferred.  The final decision for such requests will be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Affairs.

Time Limit All requirements must be completed within four years after passing comprehensive examinations and within seven years of admission to the Ph.D. program. Students exceeding the time limit may be required to reapply for admission. In special cases, upon approval of the mentor, department chair, and the dean’s representative, out-of-date work may be revalidated by examination.

Assessment A student’s committee determines key student competencies across each year of the doctoral program. Faculty may use accreditation or licensing requirements as the foundation for these competencies. Students document their evolving competencies annually and receive written and oral feedback on their annual progress.

Coursework The PhD program requires 72 or more credits, depending on program requirements. Students must complete at least 60 credits of coursework. This includes content courses and research methodology courses, and up to 3 credits of research apprenticeship per semester, but does not include dissertation credits. At least 36 course and apprenticeship credits must be completed after admission to the program. Students should consult program-area descriptions for additional detail. Twelve credits of dissertation credit are required.

Students entering the doctoral program with a relevant master’s degree can apply up to 24 hours of credit to their doctoral studies, provided that committee members, the department chair and the associate dean agree that the courses are comparable to specific courses required in the doctoral program.

Students will ordinarily complete the program in 4 years of full-time study, or 3 years of full-time study beyond an applicable masters degree.

Dissertation All Ph.D. students complete a dissertation proposal and a dissertation following either the traditional model or the three-paper option described in the School of Education and Human Development Dissertation Manual which can be found on the EHD website.

Faculty Mentors All entering Ph.D. students are assigned a faculty advisor who serves as a mentor. Although not required, applicants are encouraged to make contact with potential mentors on the EHD Faculty to ensure an optimal match.

Pre-dissertation Research Manuscript Under the guidance of faculty, students complete a pre-dissertation research project that results in a manuscript submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or an alternative scholarly publication consistent with the program area’s discipline. The student must submit the manuscript prior to undertaking dissertation work. There is no requirement that the paper be accepted for publication, but students are encouraged to revise manuscripts if resubmission is likely to result in publication. Advisors/mentors work with students to shape these papers toward eventual publication; co-authored papers are acceptable.

Qualifying Paper/Examination Students complete a written comprehensive examination that covers the knowledge base and methodology of their discipline and demonstrates their readiness to undertake doctoral dissertation research. At least two faculty members independently evaluate the examination.

Research Apprenticeship Ph.D. students participate in a research apprenticeship with their faculty advisors. This apprenticeship occupies approximately 10 to 20 hours of each student’s week. During this apprenticeship, the student will be involved in activities including data collection, data analysis, library research, presentations, writing for publication, and other related activities.

Research Methodology Emphasis All Ph.D. students take the Research Foundations course. Students take quantitative and qualitative courses except under two circumstances: (1) the student has completed comparable coursework elsewhere, or (2) the program area makes the case that their discipline does not require one of these courses.

In addition to introductory courses described above, PhD students take courses in research design, methods, measurement, and/or statistics. Coursework prepares students to carry out research comparable to that described in first-rate publications in the student’s field of study. Students take advanced-level courses, some of which may be taught in other departments in the University.

The Education Specialist degree is a planned 30-credit (minimum) post-master’s program in which candidates who already possess a current master’s degree in education are expected to attain a broad and systematic understanding of professional education, a definitive knowledge of a particular field of specialization, and an ability to integrate and apply theoretical concepts of education in an actual educational context. This degree level is designed for the accomplished, experienced practitioner with specific professional aspirations. It is not designed for those who wish to pursue a research emphasis as a prelude to doctoral study.

The Ed.S. degree may currently be pursued in the following areas:

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Reading Education

Comprehensive Examination or Project

This culminating experience is developed and administered in accordance with procedures determined by the department. Satisfactory performance must be demonstrated before the student can graduate. A student who fails to perform satisfactorily may petition for one additional opportunity to succeed.

Program Requirements

1. Of the 30 minimum credits, 24 must be taken after admission to the program.
2. All program requirements for the degree, as established by the individual program and area of emphasis, must be met.
3. The student must pass a comprehensive written examination as determined by the program area. In some program areas a project or thesis replaces this requirement.

Time limit

No requirements, including transferred credit, completed more than five years before the Ed.S. is to be awarded may be credited toward that degree. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the advisor, the department chair, and the dean, and are granted only when some emergency, such as illness, interrupts the student’s work. In such cases, the student may be required to validate out-of-date work by examination.

Program Requirements 

1. complete program requirements established by the faculty of the student’s program area,
2. demonstrate satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination in the program area. In certain program areas, a project or thesis replaces the comprehensive exam requirement,
3. complete a minimum of 30 credits of graduate work. Some programs may require additional credits to satisfy degree requirements.
4. apply no more than 6 graduate credits taken either at another institution towards the total number of required credits, or at U.Va. prior to admission,
5. complete a culminating experience (e.g., comprehensive exam, thesis), and register during the final semester.

Comprehensive Examination or Project

This culminating experience is developed and administered in accordance with procedures determined by each program. Satisfactory performance must be demonstrated before the student can graduate. A student who fails to perform satisfactorily may petition for one more opportunity to succeed.

Time Limit

All requirements, including transferred credit, must be completed within five years from admission to the program. Exceptions must be approved by the advisor, department chair, and the associate dean, and are granted only when some emergency, such as illness, interrupts the student’s work. In such cases, the student may be required to reapply and to validate out-of-date work by examination. 

M.S. Athletic Training

Program requirements

Students complete 67 hours of coursework during the 24-month, intensive program. All courses provide instruction related to Athletic Training and related health care professions. Courses are designed to meet the CAATE standards and competencies in each content area of 1) Evidence-Based Practice, 2) Prevention and Health Promotion, 3) Clinical Examination and Diagnosis 4) Acute Care of Injury and Illness, 5) Therapeutic Interventions, 6) Psychosocial Strategies and Referral 7) Healthcare Administration, and 8) Professional Development and Responsibility.

Courses

Students take 47 credits of didactic courses, 17 clinical practicum and 3 thesis or independent research credits. All students will complete a scholarly project as part of their graduate experience. All courses provide instruction related to Athletic Training and are taught by athletic training faculty for professional athletic training students.

Program Mission, Goals, Assessments, Outcomes and Technical Standards

MSAT student manual containing program mission, goals, assessments, outcomes and technical standards. 

Clinical Experiences

During each semester (including summers) every student will have a clinical experience at one of our approved affiliated sites. Included in these clinical experiences will be two immersive experiences which require the student to be at their clinical site full time.   Experienced clinical preceptors at each site provide clinical and professional mentorship to the master’s students. Clinical sites are available in the following settings: college/university (public and private), secondary school (public and private), physician clinic, therapy clinic, and non-traditional sporting/activity settings.

Scholarly Project

All students are required to complete a substantial scholarly project.  This can consist of an original research thesis or alternatively, a non-thesis scholarly project. The expectation is that these will be of such quality that it will be presented at a national professional meeting (NATA, ACSM or another related association or organization related to sports medicine) and acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Thesis topics must be performed in the area of expertise of one of the core athletic training faculty members. Core athletic training faculty include:

The Master of Teaching (M.T.) degree is for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree and wish to qualify for a teaching license. M.T. programs include academic course work in the specialization field and teacher education experiences leading to initial endorsement in one or more specialties. (Opportunities for applicants to correct deficiencies in liberal arts preparation may also be required based on undergraduate course work.) 

M.T. degree programs are available in elementary education (PreK-6); special education (general curriculum K-12); English as a Second Language Education (prek-12) foreign languages–French/German/Spanish/Latin (preK-12); and secondary education (6-12), with specialization in English, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, earth and space science, physics), or social studies.

State Assessments of Teacher Education  Under the Commonwealth of Virginia’s approved program status for schools of education, all students enrolled in a teacher education program at the University of Virginia must take the appropriate licensing exams required by the Commonwealth of Virginia for program area endorsements.

A testing schedule for all required tests is provided on the EHD website.

Admission Requirements Post-graduate Master of Teaching applicants seeking teacher licensure must have a B.A. or B.S. degree with the equivalent of an academic major in the arts and sciences (or an appropriate discipline) and an acceptable general studies component. The general studies component should be a well-planned sequence of courses and experiences that includes theoretical and practical knowledge gained from studies in mathematics, natural science, social science, U.S./American history, English, communication, literature, and other humanities. Specific program requirements for general studies and content studies are listed on each program page on the EHD website.

Applicants must provide ACT, SAT, VCLA, and/or Praxis I scores that meet criteria described on the application web site. 
 
Program requirements The following requirements must be met:

1. An approved program of study leading to licensure and endorsement. Information on specific program course sequences can be obtained on the EHD web site. 
2. Teaching Internship (student teaching) in which students demonstrate an ability to integrate the theoretical concepts of education with academic material in a practical teaching experience. This associateship is equivalent to an entire semester’s course work (EDIS 588X: 12 credits).  Candidates in the part-time M.T. program may be eligible to substitute one year of full-time teaching in the endorsement area in lieu of the teaching internship requirement.
3. Satisfactory Academic Performance in courses required for the B.A. degree or teaching specialty. Courses taken at or below the 4000 level may be successfully completed with a passing grade of D- or better. Courses in the major must reflect a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Courses taken at the 5000 level or above require a minimum grade of B- or better; 5000-level courses in which a student has performed below the level of B- must be retaken. The advisor and the Director of Teacher Education must approve course substitution or retaking a course. Program deficiencies may require that the student be suspended from the program.
4. Passing scores on Praxis Specialty Tests are required for initial licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for graduation.
5. An application for the Degree must be submitted by October 1 for January graduation, by February 1 for May graduation, and by June 1 for August graduation.
6. Passing scores on the Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) exam are required for students in the Elementary Education and Special Education.
7. All students must complete the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
8. The completion of statuary licensure requirements, including hands-on training in CPR, First Aid, and AED; dyslexia training; and child abuse and neglect reporting training. Elementary and social studies candidates must also complete civics training.

TED policies are listed in the Student Advising Handbook, which can be found on the Teacher Education website.  
 
Transfer Credit  A maximum of six transfer credits may be counted toward the M.T. degree. The advisor and the Director of Teacher Education must approve transfer credits.

Time Limit   No requirements completed more than five years before the M.T. is to be awarded may be credited toward this degree. In special cases, an extension may be granted for extenuating circumstances when approved by the advisor, the director of teacher education, and the dean’s office.

General

Professional Development (PD) status is designed for those who hold at least a baccalaureate degree and wish to improve their professional knowledge and skills by enrolling in individual courses. The link to the electronic application for permission to enroll as a PD student may be found on the EHD website. Enrollment in specific courses requires the approval of both the instructor and the advisor. If enrolling on a full-time basis (i.e., 12 credits per semester), PD students must take a minimum of one course in the School of Education and Human Development. PD students may enroll only in instructor-led classes. Enrollment in an independent study requires an independent studies contract. During their enrollment, PD students are subject to the Graduate Academic Regulations of the School of Education and Human Development.

Any non-degree student who wishes later to apply for a degree program must submit the required application materials. It is possible to apply up to 6 graduate credits toward a degree. The student’s advisor must approve such credit. All other University of Virginia course work must be earned after admission to a degree program. Students planning to become degree-seekers are responsible for knowing the requirements for admission to, and completion of, that degree.

Coursework leading to Licensure or Endorsement Certificates

The School of Education and Human Development offers a number of certificate programs. Applicants interested in these programs must submit an online application and any other materials required for admission. (See program-area web pages for additional information.). Students may apply up to 6 credits from other institutions if taken prior to admission to the certificate. They must earn grades of B- or better to remain enrolled in the program. All requirements must be completed within 5 years after admission.

For more information, go to the EHD website (https://education.virginia.edu/).