About the Doctoral Student Website

Please note this website does not supersede any college or University policy and/or regulation; however, certain program requirements are necessarily different. Students are reminded to follow the academic requirements of the program, department, and the university, to abide by the conduct requirements outlined in the Code of Student Conduct and become familiar with the information in the University Student Handbook.

Freqeuntly Asked Questions

Q: What is the expected timetable to complete a doctoral program?

A: Typically, it takes a full time student two (2) years to complete all of course-work in order to become eligible to take comprehensive exams. You have five years after admission into the PhD Program to complete all coursework, pass the comprehensive exams and register for all dissertation hours.

After you pass comprehensive exams, you are admitted to doctoral candidacy. You must complete all other requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Education within four calendar years after passing the comprehensive examination and being admitted to candidacy.

Typically, well prepared students complete their doctoral work in 3.5 to 5 years.

Q: What is the difference between a Bachelors plus 90 and a Masters plus 60 program format?

A: Most students may consider either format. In both formats, the total number of hours is a minimum, not a maximum figure; that is, the coursework is designed to prepare students to reach their goals rather than simply taking a fully pre-determined set of classes. The Bachelors plus 90 format uses the bachelors degree as an educational base and counts previously taken graduate courses towards the 90 hour minimum as they are appropriate for the student's doctoral program. The Masters plus 60 format uses the masters degree as an educational base and builds a program to meet the 60 hour minimum. In this format, the Masters program effectively replaces the elective component of the doctoral program.

Q: What is the difference between a Ph.D. and an Ed.D.?

A: Typically, the Ph.D. has a research focus on the discovery of new knowledge whereas the Ed.D. has a research focus on the application of new knowledge. Typically, a Ph.D. is pursued by those seeking a career in higher education whereas an Ed.D is more appropriate for those seeking administrative or curricular positions.

Q: What should I expect from my program advisor?

A: A good advisor will serve as a mentor as well as a source of technical assistance. They should help you to set and achieve long-term and short-term professional and career goals. A mentor should provide, or help you to find:

• the resources you need (financial, equipment, and psychological support);
• introduce you and promote your work to important people in your field;
• encourage your own interests, rather than promoting his or her own;
• be available to give you advice on the direction of your thesis and your career.

Q: How much contact should I have with my program advisor?

A: The type of relationship that each student needs with an advisor will be different depending upon you, your advisor, and your situation. Some students have daily contact with their advisor through working on common projects. Other students have a more independent relationship. There is no one 'right' formula, but you need to communicate so that your advisor can support you in ways that match your needs.

Q: What if my program advisor doesn’t work out?

A: You may find that your advisor doesn't always give you all of the mentoring that you need. Multiple mentors are common and useful; they may include other faculty members in your department or elsewhere, senior graduate students, or other colleagues.

You may want to seriously consider changing advisors if your advisor is inaccessible or disinterested, gives you only negative feedback, doesn't have the technical background to advise you, or harasses you.

The most important thing is to ask for (i.e., demand politely) what you need.

Q: What is the difference between an internship and a practicum?

A: The terms internship and practicum have are often used interchangeably. These terms many mean different things in different programs. Students are urged to discuss the details of this component with their major advisor.

Q: What is doctoral candidacy?

A: Candidacy describes the official status of the student after passing the comprehensive exams AND being declared a candidate by the the School of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies (SIGS).

Q: What is the process of candidacy?

A: After passing your comprehensive exams, your department will send a letter nominating you for doctoral candidacy to SIGS. When SIGS endorses your candidacy, CEHD and your department will receive official confirmation. You will also receive a copy of the letter by mail. At this point, you will need to "register" for candidacy. See SIGS Handbook: http://louisville.edu/graduatecatalog/academic-policies-and-requirements.

Q: How do I form a Dissertation Committee?

A: This step requires your initiative.

1. Determine whom you would like to be your Dissertation Chair.
2. 2. You are responsible for selecting and asking each of the five persons whom you desire to be part of your Dissertation Committee. This should be done in collaboration with your Dissertation Chair. Members of the Dissertation Committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty.
3. Secure a Dissertation Committee Form from your department.
4. Once a person has agreed to be a member of your committee, you must have them sign the Dissertation Committee Form.
5. When all five committee members have signed, the Dissertation Committee must be approved by these persons (in this order):
   a. Department Chair
   b. Associate Dean for Research
   c. Dean of SIGS
   
6. After the Dissertation Form is approved by the SIGS Dean, a copy of the approval will be sent to CEHD, and you will receive a copy by mail.

Q: What is the role of the Dissertation Chair?

A: The Chairperson can be a conduit between all parties involved in the dissertation process: student, committee members, SIGS. The Chairperson will:

1. Confer with you to set an approximate time schedule, including meetings of the committee, for the accomplishment of the dissertation.
2. Supervise your work, set deadlines, and guide your progress.
3. Assume the role of "principal investigator" when your research involves human or animal subjects, ensure that university policies in this area are carefully observed, and guide you through the Human Subjects approval process.
4. Inform you of university regulations regarding the dissertation process.
5. In consultation with the other members of the committee, the chair shall determine the final grade on the dissertation and see that it is properly reported to the Graduate School.

Q: What can I expect from my Dissertation Committee?

A: The responsibility of the committee as a whole is to examine your work and to meet and make a final determination of the acceptability of the dissertation. The Dissertation Committee will:

1. Initially, meet with you and determine the feasibility of the topic and the dissertation plan or proposal.
2. Sign off on your proposal. The signing of this document signifies that you have permission to proceed with the study as outlined in the plan.
3. Determine whether your research is subject to the university policy on research on human or animal subjects and advise you accordingly.
4. Review and approve the methodology and any instrument or questionnaire used in data collection, the adequacy of the bibliography, and other similar issues.
5. Responsible for reviewing dissertation drafts, and providing feedback in a timely manner. Depending on circumstances, there should be no more than a four-week turnaround review time for each of the committee members to review the manuscript for a thesis or dissertation.
6. Arrange for any oral defense of the dissertation in accordance with written department policies.

Q: How do I maintain candidacy?

A: After the completion of coursework and comprehensive exams, you are admitted to candidacy. At this point you register for as many dissertation hours as needed to maintain their status (full- or part-time). Once all dissertation research hours are used (12 hours), you may register for doctoral candidacy to maintain your status.