Degree Requirements

Applicants to the Joint Doctoral Program are reviewed first by San Diego State University (SDSU) and then by Claremont Graduate University. Applicants must reside in, or demonstrate that they will relocate to, San Diego or Imperial County. Students are jointly advised by supervisory and dissertation committees consisting of two full-time faculty (selected by the student) from the education programs at each campus. The equivalent of one academic year of work and one research tool are completed at each of the cooperating institutions.  Students are also required to complete a total of three qualifying exams:  one at one institution and two at the other, per the student’s choice, with a different faculty member supervising each qualifying exam.  Joint doctoral students are not permitted to take any independent study units at CGU as part of their academic program and are not eligible for CGU tuition fellowships. They are exempt from CGU’s transdisciplinary course requirement, as well as the Proseminar for Doctoral Study (ED 580). The program of study consists of 24 CGU doctoral units, 24 SDSU doctoral units, and 24 master’s degree units. Program outlines are submitted to CGU when 12-20 units of study have been completed at CGU. The doctoral degree is conferred jointly by CGU and SDSU. For more information, go to edweb.sdsu.edu/doc/doctoral.htm or contact CGU’s School of Educational Studies.