Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education: Instructional Technology

The PhD in Education (Instructional Technology) prepares students for academic research and teaching positions in higher education. Students move beyond the foundations of distance education, instructional design, and technology integration to focus on advanced applications and research. They explore authentic challenges in diverse settings and develop solutions to move research and practice forward. Through these experiences, students learn how to harness advanced research methods to expand professional knowledge and theory and present their findings at national and international conferences and in publications. The PhD program is 81 credit hours. Effective preparation for the Ph.D. stems from collaborative research and inquiry into topics of mutual interest by students and faculty. The program is structured around a cognitive apprenticeship model. Courses are offered in a combination of online and face-to-face formats. Students also complete a 4-semester campus residency focused on faculty/student research, collaborative teaching, and one-on-one mentoring. Students should expect to have a quality program characterized by small faculty-to-student ratios, program faculty teaching most classes, flexible advising sessions, a focus on community, and immersion in advanced research.