Doctoral Program Course Requirements
Students in the program will develop understandings of the philosophical and theoretical foundations of inquiry and the implications these have for the methodological choices we make as well as in depth understandings of inquiry methodologies and methods and how these relate to the substantive theories (e.g. psychological, sociological theories) used in educational research. Students will have the opportunity to develop these understandings in their particular area of interest through coursework, but also through their participation in research groups and projects. And although students will focus on a particular track of student (specifically qualitative, quantitative or integrated) cross-track experiences will be required. Program of studies are developed for individual students to ensure a logical and balanced sequence of coursework and experiences.
A minimum of 90 credit hours are required for the Ph.D. degree. No more than 30 semester hours of graduate credit can be trasferred from another university. To meet the residency requirements, a student must spend two consecutive semesters in a single academic year (exclusive of the summer session) on the Bloomington or Indianapolis campus. 9 credit hours of courses (excluding credit hours awarded for the dissertation) must be taken in each of these semesters. A guideline for the course work to be taken is as follows:
Program of Studies
- Inquiry Core (9 credit hours minimum)
- The following three courses are required:
- Y521 - Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry
- Y510/Y515 - Foundations of Educational Inquiry
- Y600 - Methodological Implications of Social & Psychological Theories
All inquiry methodology students are required to take 9 hours of foundational courses to provide them with the philosophical and theoretical base necessary to understand the implications and assumptions of their methodological choices. These courses are: Foundations of Educational Inquiry, Social & Psychological Theories and the methodological implication, and Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry. At some point in their program students need to develop understandings of the reasons why they engage in particular study and practice of inquiry, their purposes and the assumptions that they make in the process. Without strong philosophical and theoretical foundations it would be impossible for students to articulate coherent and credible rationales for what they do or to question the new orientations they may want to consider.
- Foundations of Education (9 credit hours minimum)
Doctoral students are required to take courses outside their major and minor areas within the School of Education. These courses may be taken in areas such as the history of education, philosophy of education, sociology, and anthropology of education, curriculum studies etc. No more than 6 hours should be taken in the same area.
- Major (30 credit hours minimum)
Inquiry methodology students can opt for a qualitative, a quantitative or an integrated track combining both qualitative and quantitative courses. For the qualitative and quantitative tracks the students must select a reasonable sequence of courses (30 hours minimum) from among the list below or their equivalent in other IUB schools or departments. At least 18 hours have to be selected from the track of emphasis and at least 2 courses must be taken in the opposite track. For an integrated track students must select at least 12 credit hours in the qualitative track and 12 credit hours in the quantitative track.
- Qualitative Courses
- Y611 - Qualitative Inquiry in Education
- Y612 - Y613 Critical Qualitative Inquiry I and II
- Y630 - Narrative Inquiry
- Y631 - Discourse Theory and Analysis
- Y671 - Knowledge, Reflection & Critique in Methodological Theory
- Y672 - Communicative Action Theory
- Quantitative Courses
- Y500 - Computer Laboratory for Educational Statistics
- Y502 - Intermediate Inferential Statistics
(must be taken concurrently with Y500)
- Y527 - Educational Assessment and Psychological Measurement
- Y603 - Statistical Design of Educational Research
(must be taken concurrently with Y500)
- Y604 - Applied Multivariate Statistics
(must be taken concurrently with Y500)
- Y617 - Psychometric Theory
- Y627 - Advanced Measurement
- Y637 - Categorical Data Analysis
- Y639 - Mutilevel Models
- Y645 - Covariance Structure Analysis
- Y655 - Longitudinal Data Analysis
- Courses Common to Both Tracks
- Y510 - Action Research I
- Y525 - Survey Research Methodology
- Y535 - Evaluation Models & Techniques
- Y635 - Methodology of Educational Evaluation
- Y650 - Topics in Inquiry Methodology: Variable Title
- Y660 - Affinity Research Group
- Y590 - Independent Study in Inquiry Methodology
- Y690 - Independent Study in Inquiry Methodology
- Y750 - Topical Seminar in Inquiry Methodology: Variable Title
- Y795 - Dissertation Proposal Preparation
- Y799 - Dissertation Thesis in Inquiry Methodology
- Minor (12 - 18 credit hours minimum)
Students will select a minor field of study to complement their study of inquiry methodology. Because inquiry methodology interfaces with substantive areas of study it is important for students in inquiry methodology to develop understandings in at least one such area so that they grasp the complexity of methodology in use. The minor serves to develop students’ substantive area of interest. Typical minors include Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Educational Policy, Comparative Education, Philosophy of Education, Learning & Development Science, Philosophy, History, and Political Science. Specific course (and in some fields, qualifying examination) requirements are under the direction of the minor department.
- Electives (6 - 15 credit hours)
Educational research is multidisciplinary in nature and students have a broad range of research interests and career plans which requires flexibility for their programs of studies. The program, therefore, enables students to tailor their electives in consultation with their Advisory Committees. Electives may be taken in fields inside or outside the School of Education. Students may take electives in any area of interest to complement their program of study. Affinity Research Group (maximum 9 hours) should be included as an elective if taken on a pass/fail basis.
Qualifying Examinations
Doctoral students specializing in Inquiry Methodology must take an examination in Inquiry Methodology. This examination is tailored to the student's program of study. All students with a minor in education must also take a minor qualifying examination. Some departments outside of the School of Education waive the minor qualifying examination, under certain conditions.
Dissertation Research
Students take a dissertation preparation seminar or independent study course to work on developing the dissertation proposal. They then take 12 hours of dissertation credit to complete the thesis. They present ande defend their dissertation research to the appropriate committee.