Education at CGU provides students with the flexibility to design individual programs that will best support the achievement of personal goals. In consultation with faculty, students tailor programs of study to individual background, interests, and future goals. In addition to combinations with other CGU disciplines, the program offers opportunities for emphasizing study in the following areas:  

• Higher Education/Student Affairs 
• K12 Education and Equity
• Urban Leadership (cohort program)

Students may also design a more-customized program of study that crosses concentrations and thematic areas within education.

*Please see below for more detailed information about these areas of study.

Admission. Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

University Policies. Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

Degree Requirements 

Coursework.  A minimum of 72 semester units of coursework is required.

Required Courses.  Students in the doctoral program are required to enroll in the following two courses.

• EDUC 580A - Proseminar for Doctoral Study, must be completed during the student’s first year in the program. This 2-unit course is offered in Fall semester only.
• EDUC 580B - Capstone for Doctoral Research, must be taken after completion of 62 units and is required prior to taking the oral qualifying examination. This 2-unit course is offered in Fall and Spring semesters.

Transfer Credit.  The University’s policy on transfer credit  applies.  The Education program permits the transfer of up to 20 semester units from prior graduate work completed outside of CGU, with advisor approval. 

Program Outline.  During the student’s first three semesters or by completion of 20 units of coursework, the student must develop a program outline.  In consultation with the student’s advisor or the chair of the student’s program committee, the outline should include all of the following elements.

• Coursework to be taken at CGU
• Specification of three research tools (beginning with students admitted Fall 2019 or later)
• Topic for first qualifying examination with at least one proposed faculty supervisor

Upon receipt of advisor approval, the outline is filed with the program office.  Changes to the program outline must be made in consultation with the advisor or program committee chair.

Transdisciplinary Course. See the Academic Policies - Doctoral Degree Regulations  section of the Bulletin for details.

Research Tools.  Three research tools (two for students admitted prior to Fall 2019) are required to ensure proficiency in the research methodologies most likely to be used in the student’s dissertation.  Tools must be completed with a grade of B+ or better.  Accomplishment of each milestone is recorded on the student’s transcript.

Written Qualifying Examinations.  The purpose of this requirement is to demonstrate the student’s proficiency in the area selected and documented in the student’s program outline.  Evidence may be submitted in a variety of ways, including examinations, published articles, research studies, copies of public lectures planned in cooperation with the program committee, and the like.

• The first written examination may be undertaken after completion of 20 CGU units and with faculty supervisor approval of the proposed qualifying exam.
• The second qualifying examination is a mock dissertation proposal completed in EDUC 580B.  Successful completion of the first qualifying examination and of EDUC 580B is required.  With approval from their advisor and the dean, students admitted prior to Fall 2020 may petition to waive EDUC 580B and, instead, to complete three qualifying examinations. This option does not reduce the number of units required for the degree.
• For students admitted beginning Fall 2020 or later: Three qualifying examinations are required. Two examinations must be completed prior to enrolling in EDUC 580B; the third qualifying examination is a mock dissertation proposal completed in EDUC 580B.

Qualifying examinations and related evaluation evidence approved by the faculty must be filed in the program office.

Oral Qualifying Examination.  The oral qualifying examination is administered by the student’s program committee provided the following requirements are met.

• Written qualifying examinations have been passed and recorded as milestones on the student’s transcript
• All required coursework has been completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
• The required research tools have been completed (two for students admitted prior to Fall 2019; three for students admitted Fall 2019 or later) and recorded as milestones on the student’s transcript

Dissertation Process.  University policies and procedures regarding dissertations, detailed in the Academic Policies - Doctoral Degree Regulations  section of the Bulletin, apply.  The program’s Student Handbook includes additional guidelines to ensure adequate reviews of the dissertation draft and provisions for constructive feedback during the process.  Missing the program’s submission deadlines may delay the scheduling of the student’s dissertation defense and eligibility for conferral of the degree in a particular semester.  Refer to the registrar’s website for guidelines.

Advising

Doctoral students in Education are provided with a number of advising resources to facilitate progress toward the degree.

Faculty Advisor.  Upon admission, students are assigned a faculty advisor based upon interests expressed in the individual’s application for admission. Advisors assist students in selecting courses and planning a program of study. As student interests change and develop during coursework, a different faculty member may be identified as the advisor.  In such an event, the program office should be notified with a Change of Advisor form.

Advisors supervise one qualifying exam, serve as chair of the student’s program committee, and may serve as chair of the student’s dissertation committee.

Program Committee.  Program committees consist of the supervisors of the student’s first and second qualifying exams, as well as a third faculty member of the student’s choosing who agrees to serve on the dissertation committee.  The chair must be a member of the Education faculty and is typically the student’s advisor.  One member of the committee may be drawn from the wider CGU graduate faculty, including professors from other CGU fields and core faculty from the other Claremont Colleges.

Dissertation Committee.  Policies and procedures are detailed in the Academic Policies - Doctoral Degree Regulations  section of the Bulletin.

Institutional Review Board. The University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) works closely with students and dissertation committee chairs throughout the development of the dissertation proposal.  The responsibility of the IRB is to ensure that correct procedures for review of research methodology are followed. The IRB seeks to protect the rights and welfare of individuals recruited for, or participating in, research conducted by faculty or students under the auspices of CGU. Regardless of funding support, all research with human subjects must be reviewed by the IRB for the protection of human subjects in compliance with federal guidelines.

Joint Doctoral Program

CGU offers students the opportunity to earn the doctorate in Education through a joint program with San Diego State University (SDSU).  For information, refer to the program section for the joint doctoral program with SDSU .