In an effort to give students a doctoral degree that will better prepare them for jobs in educational administration, officials in the College of Education have teamed up with officials in Wichita Falls ISD and the University of North Texas to create a new doctoral program.
“When the students finish this program they leave with an Ed.D. (doctor of education), additional knowledge that they wouldn’t have had without the program, and open doors for job opportunities,” Jane Owen, associate professor in educational leadership and technology said. “In finishing with their Ed.D., students will be certified for administrative positions or to teach at the university level.”
With this program, students will attend courses at both MSU and UNT, with some classes offered in a blended format in the 60-course-hour program. According to a press release, the program will provide six courses per calendar year with most of the courses offered on the MSU campus. There will be 48 hours of course work split between MSU and UNT, and 12 hours of dissertation offered with the Wichita Falls ISD to be completed to exit the program.
“Our strongest support for the program comes from principals in our region, particularly the Wichita Falls ISD,” Matthew Capps, dean of the West College of Education at MSU, said in a press release. “This is the fourth such opportunity we have had to work with the University of North Texas to ease the burden of travel for educators interested in pursuing doctoral study.”
Half of the course hours will be through UNT and the other half will be through MSU. Students enrolled in the program will have access to MSU and UNT library and media services, augmented by Internet access to UNT’s collection and interlibrary loan services.
“These course hours can be blended online or face-to-face courses,” Owen, said.
Owen said there are nine students active in this program although they initially planned for 12-14 with eight from Wichita Falls ISD and one from Bowie.
To apply for this program, students be admitted to both Midwestern and UNT and must have a master’s degree.
“We are accepting more applicants in January, and we hope to expand this program in two years,” Owen said.