Loyola University Chicago

Degree Requirements

Total Hours: 72
Practicum: Required
Comprehensive: Take Home Examination
Dissertation: Required

Length of the Program
Students typically take up to one or two courses each term. Completion time for the dissertation depends on the topic selected and the diligence of the student.

Technology Expectation
All students are provided Internet access to link electronically to classmates, faculty and student services. In order to use these technological resources, all students must have the computer skills necessary to support academic work (i.e., word processing, PowerPoint) and to access e-mail and the Internet.

Continuous Enrollments
Doctoral students in higher education are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must do one of the following:

• Enroll in one of the following:
  • At least one course
  • ELPS 610 - Doctoral Studies (maximum enrollment two semesters)
  • ELPS 600 - Dissertation Supervision
• A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education's Associate Dean of Student Academic Services.

Curriculum Plan: The Ed.D. degree program requires a minimum of 72 graduate semester hours, comprehensive written examinations in the major area and in the four collateral areas, an internship experience, and a dissertation and oral defense.

Up to 36 semester hours of previously completed graduate work may be recommended for transfer by the student's advisor for transfer to meet doctoral degree requirements.

Core Courses (24 semester hours selected)

• ELPS 425 Student Affairs Profession in Higher Education
• ELPS 427 American Higher Education*
• ELPS 428 Junior and Community College
• ELPS 429 Administrative Leadership in Higher Education
• ELPS 430 Curriculum in Higher Education*
• ELPS 431 Evaluation in Higher Education
• ELPS 433 Student Development in Higher Education
• ELPS 434 American College Student
• ELPS 435 Enrollment Management in Higher Education
• ELPS 453 Legal Aspects of Higher Education
• ELPS 454 Budgeting and Finance in Higher Education
• ELPS 459 Organization and Governance in Higher Education*
• ELPS 527 Internship in Higher Education (two semesters)*
• ELPS 529 Seminar: Current Issues in Higher Education
• ELPS 529 Seminar: College Teaching
• ELPS 600 Dissertation Supervision (non-credit)*

* These courses are required.

Research Courses (9 semester hours)

• RMTD 420 Educational Research I: Building a Body of Evidence Using Qualitative Methods
• RMTD 421 Educational Research II: Building a Body of Evidence Using Quantitative Methods

Students choose one additional research course focused on the research methodology used in dissertation research.

Collaterals (24 semester hours)
Four collaterals of six hours each from graduate course work in education.

Cognate (12 semester hours)
Twelve hours of credit in a discipline outside the field of education are required.

Electives (3 semester hours)
Previously completed graduate course work may be considered for transfer.

Comprehensive
Comprehensive take home exam is required.
Comprehensive examination application and instructions with due dates.

Dissertation

• Dissertation in the field of higher education
• Oral defense of the dissertation

Degree Conferral
While the commencement ceremony is every May, degrees can be conferred May, August, and December. Students must apply for graduation/degree conferral. Students should apply for graduation in the semester they anticipate completing all degree requirements. Failure to meet application deadlines may result in a delay of the conferral of the degree to the following semester. Applications for Degree Conferral are due:

• August 1 for December conferral
• December 1 for May or August conferral