This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip Navigation skip menu and banner
University of Wyoming

College PhD, EdD degrees enhanced to better reflect purposes

   Recent changes to the College of Education’s doctoral programs have clarified the respective roles of each degree in preparing professionals for their chosen career paths.

   Students admitted under the new college-wide doctor of philosophy (PhD) program completed their first semester in the fall. A revised doctor of education (EdD) program will soon be ready to accept its first group of students.

   College-wide doctoral degrees have been awarded at the college level since the early 1990s, according to Michael Day, associate dean and director of graduate studies. (Graduates receive a “doctor of philosophy in education” or a “doctor of education” with specializations in specific academic areas.) However, boundaries between the two degree options blurred over the years, challenging faculty and students alike when the time came to find the right fit for the latter’s scholarly and career goals.

   When a faculty study group examined the college’s graduate programs in summer 2002, its recommendations began a multi-year exploration that led to the recent changes and clarification of purposes.

   “The summer study group had a number of observations regarding outcomes, goals and objectives,” Day says. “We needed to clearly differentiate between the EDD and PhD to move forward.”

    Adjustments to the PhD program were based on the assumption that recipients would be preparing to assume tenure track positions at a university and that their professional responsibilities would focus heavily on teaching and research. To better prepare doctoral students for that career path, two primary changes were made to the college’s program:

  • Scholarly interests of new PhD students would be matched with faculty expertise and research agendas, facilitating mentorship opportunities and engaging students in high-impact academic experiences throughout their programs.
  • Students in the PhD program would be required to meet a four-semester residency component, to provide opportunities for immersion in the college community and focus on their scholarly efforts.

   The college instituted a new selection process last spring, when the first group of applications for the revised program were received. Under the new process, a faculty committee screens applicants and examines for two criteria: evidence that the applicant can succeed in a doctoral program and potential fit to faculty research expertise.

    “The assumption for that degree is that the applicant would align themselves with the research interests of someone in the college,” Day explains.

    Applications that pass the committee screening are then referred to the appropriate department to determine if a good match to a faculty mentor can be made within the academic unit. Successful applications are then recommended for admission to the UW Graduate School.

    Doctoral programs in counselor education are excluded under the revised program: degrees are awarded with that departmental designation to meet credentialing requirements of its accrediting and professional organizations.  

    Focus of the college’s EdD degree was sharpened to better represent another need: preparing working professionals for leadership in their chosen career fields. Decisions about admissions are made at the departmental level, with each unit having greater latitude to tailor the program and the selection process to the varied professional requirements.

   A key difference between the PhD and the EdD is the latter’s lack of a residency requirement. It does, however include a new “professional immersion experience” component – e.g., a practicum, internship, or special problems course – and the expectation that the student participate in some campus-based experiences during his/her program. Another key difference is the problem-based, applied nature of the EdD dissertation. Graduate students pursuing an EdD will focus on research questions and projects that address issues encountered in their respective disciplines.

   For more information on the doctoral programs and the areas of specialization available, visit the College of Education website – ed.uwyo.edu – or call the college’s Office of Graduate Education at (307)766-3145.