School of Professional Studies: Learning and Leadership

Return to: College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies

Dr. David W. Rausch, Program Director
Dr. Elizabeth K. Crawford, Program Advisor
Ms. Becca McCashin, Program Coordinator
(423) 425-5445 or by email at utclead@utc.edu

The multidisciplinary Learning and Leadership Doctoral Program equips participants with an understanding of the relationship that learning plays in the leadership process. The program philosophy supports the development of reflective practitioners in a variety of organizations and focuses on the interwoven nature of learning and leadership. The curriculum emphasizes the proficiency that individuals will need as they pursue the challenges of organizational change. Major themes include, “How do we measure performance?”, “How do people adapt to change?”, and “What role does learning play in organizational improvement?”

The Learning and Leadership Program begins with a cohort of participants and faculty team engaging in a required foundational course during the Summer semester. This foundational course is followed by a sequence of required core courses offered via hybrid delivery (face-to-face and Virtual Classroom). Upon completion of the core, individuals have the opportunity to focus their studies in a particular subject matter area through elective course work. Other major elements include the development of the Comprehensive Assessment and the final required course, LEAD 7700r,  Pre-Dissertation Seminar.  The Comprehensive Assessment is the culminating assessment event that must be successfully completed prior to advancement to candidacy and to beginning work on the Dissertation.  Participants will demonstrate competency in the program domains through written and oral presentation. The competency domains are Learning, Leadership, Research, Measurement, Organizational Effectiveness, Technology and Innovation, Communication, and Decision Making.

The EdD Program calls for a minimum of 66 credit hours in four areas:

1. Core Program of Study (cohort experience): 27 credit hours
2. Electives: 24 credit hours
3. Pre-Dissertation Seminar: 3 credit hours
4. Dissertation Research: Minimum of 12 credit hours

The PhD Program calls for a minimum of 75 credit hours in four areas:

1. Core Program of Study (cohort experience): 39 credit hours
2. Electives: 18 credit hours
3. Pre-Dissertation Seminar: 3 credit hours
4. Dissertation Research: Minimum of 15 credit hours

Admission Requirements

Individuals admitted to the program must have a master’s degree and a minimum of two years of professional leadership experience in an organizational setting- preferably in a leadership role.

Applicants for admission to the program will be required to meet two levels of admission: admission to the Graduate School and admission to the doctoral program. An applicant for admission to the program must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on all graduate coursework.

Admission requirements are sufficiently rigorous to ensure that participants in the program are academically talented and professionally dedicated. The admission and review criteria are designed to help ensure that, once admitted, each applicant is likely to succeed in the degree program. The faculty seek a diverse group of participants who share a record of accomplishment and demonstrate potential for further success.

The following factors are considered by the admission committee when recommending approval or denial of an applicant:

1. Academic performance at the graduate level
2. GRE scores
3. Statement of Purpose Essay
4. Recommendation forms
5. Leadership experience
6. Interview

Admission to Graduate School

Admission to the Graduate School requires the following conditions:

1. Receipt of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent.
2. Grade point average of 3.0 on all graduate coursework.

Graduate School Application Process

1. A completed, signed application form submitted to the UTC Graduate School Office. Forms are available on the Web site www.utc.edu/graduate-school/index.php.
2. Payment of a $35 Domestic; $40 International nonrefundable application fee.
3. An official transcript from each college or university previously attended. These transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions to the Graduate School Office. International applicants must supply authorized school or university records with certified translations if the records are in a language other than English. Translations must include descriptive titles of courses studied and grades gained in final examinations.
4. Submission of official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. The General Test includes the following sub-tests: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing. The GRE must have been taken within the previous five years prior to application for scores to be accepted. A minimum GRE score is not required; however, the following scores are considered desirable for entrance into the program:

• Verbal                152
• Quantitative        144
• Analytical Writing 4.0

Applicants whose native language is not English will also need to provide certification of English proficiency. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) must be submitted. A TOEFL score of 550 (213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the Internet-based test) or above, or an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher, is required unless the applicant meets the conditions outlined in “Graduate Admission Tests” under “Admission Requirements” to apply for an exemption to the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.

Upon completion and submission of the above requirements and after admission to the Graduate School, the Graduate School Office will forward all items contained in the admissions file to the Program Director to begin the admission to the Doctoral Program process.

Admission to the Doctoral Program

Decisions for acceptance will be made by an admissions committee based upon the overall potential for the applicant’s success in the program. The applicant will be asked to submit a Statement of Purpose and to attend a personal interview with the admissions committee.

Doctoral Program - Application Process

1. A completed program application form submitted to the UTC Graduate School Office. Forms are available from the Web site, which can be found at www.utc.edu/graduate-school/index.php.
2. Statement of Purpose Essay
3. Current Resume/CV
4. Three (3) recommendation forms

Statement of Purpose

Submit the Statement of Purpose Essay focusing on the applicant’s motivation and aspirations upon entering the program.  Applicants may refer to the application instructions for additional guidelines.

Admissions Interview

A select group of applicants will be invited to interview with an admissions committee during which the committee members will evaluate the ability to think and speak extemporaneously and the overall compatibility with the program’s goals and requirements. Upon completion of the admissions interview, the admissions committee will recommend to the Program Director of the doctoral program the approval or denial of the candidate. The Program Director will forward the committee’s recommendations to the Graduate School. Candidates will be notified of their admission status by letter from the UTC Graduate School.

Program of Study (EdD or PhD)

The participant will be admitted to the EdD or PhD program upon successful completion of the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of 12 credit hours.
2. Successful achievement of a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above in the doctoral program with no more than two grades below a “B” grade.

Admission to Candidacy

The participant will be admitted to degree candidacy upon successful completion of the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of all core course credit hours.
2. Successful achievement of a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above in the doctoral program with no more than two grades below a “B” grade.
3. Successful passage of the Comprehensive Assessment.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements for the EdD degree are:

1. Successful completion of 27 credit hours of core doctoral courses,
2. Successful completion of 24 credit hours of electives,
3. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the doctoral program with no more than two courses below a grade of “B”,
4. Successful passage of the Comprehensive Assessment, and Pre-Dissertation course: 3 credit hours
5. Successful defense of the dissertation and approval by the Graduate School.

Graduation requirements for the PhD degree are:

1. Successful completion of 39 credit hours of core doctoral courses,
2. Successful completion of 18 credit hours of electives,
3. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the doctoral program with no more than two courses below a grade of “B”
4. Successful passage of the Comprehensive Assessment and Pre-Dissertation course: 3 credit hours
5. Successful defense of the dissertation and approval by the Graduate School.

Program Time Limit

There is a ten-year limit for completing all degree requirements for the doctorate in Learning and Leadership. All doctoral course work and the successful defense of the dissertation must be completed within ten years. The ten year time frame begins with the earliest course applied to the doctoral program of study, including any applicable transfer credits.

Maintaining Active Enrollment

In the doctoral program, each participant must remain continuously enrolled in course work from the start of the program (cohort experience) through the successful defense of the dissertation and acceptance of the dissertation by the Graduate School. Continuous enrollment in the doctoral program applies to the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Failure to remain continuously enrolled will result in program dismissal.

Each participant is required to successfully complete a foundational course (3 credit hours) during the summer. Following successful completion of the foundational course, each participant is required to enroll in a minimum of six (6) core credit hours as described in the core course sequence. Once the core program of study has been completed, the participant is required to remain continuously enrolled in elective course work (minimum of one course per semester). Following admission to candidacy, the candidate is required to enroll in LEAD7700 Pre-Dissertation Seminar (3 credit hours). Following successful completion of LEAD 7700, Pre-Dissertation Seminar, the candidate is required to continuously enroll in a minimum of two (2) dissertation credits every semester through the successful defense of the dissertation and acceptance of the dissertation by the Graduate School Dean.

Requesting a Leave of Absence

During any stage of the doctoral program, a participant may request a one-time leave of absence. The leave of absence must be approved by the Program Director and the Graduate School Dean. The leave of absence my not exceed one calendar year (maximum of three semesters). In order to return to the program following an approved leave of absence, the participant must apply for readmission to the Graduate School and meet all graduate regulations in effect upon readmission. If a participant fails to enroll once the leave of absence has expired, the participant will be dismissed from the program.

Request to Withdraw

If a participant elects to withdraw completely from the doctoral program, s/he must notify the Program Director in writing of his/her intent to withdraw and drop any currently enrolled courses. The participant is accountable for fulfillment of any outstanding financial or academic responsibilities. Once withdrawn (or dismissed), a participant would need to apply to the doctoral program in order to return. Readmission would require full participation in the program admission process and all regulations in effect at the time.

Elective Courses

Each doctoral participant is required to complete a minimum number of elective credits.  Elective courses may only be taken during the program of study with approval from the participant’s Program Director/Advisor.

Minimum Elective Courses Requirements

1. Credits must be taken for graduate credit (5000-level or above) from a regionally accredited institution
2. Credits must have documented objectives or outcomes that are consistent with the graduate level learning (higher order thinking skills)
3. Credits must be academic in nature (not internship, practicum, continuing education, etc.)
4. Credits must be assigned a letter grade of “B” or higher
5. Credits used for a previous degree cannot be used for elective credit hours
6. Credits must be approved by the Program Director/Advisor and Graduate School Dean as part of the Program of Study.
7. Any transfer credit cannot exceed 15 graduate hours (5 courses) and are limited to elective credit
8. Any transfer credit requests for previous coursework should be submitted to the Program Director/Advisor by the end of the first semester along with the course syllabus (i) from the semester the course was taken.  Previous transfer credits must have been taken within five years of entrance to the program
9. Any additional transfer credit must be approved in advance and requests must be accompanied by a course syllabus (the most recent version available, no more than a year old) and an official transcript must be submitted upon completion and approved courses.

The following types of courses will not be accepted as elective credit toward the doctoral program:

• Courses designed as bridging or leveling work for Master’s programs (Foundations of Accounting, Concepts in Economics, etc.)
• Courses that are very similar in scope to core coursework (Principles of Instructional Design, Learning and Education, etc.)
• Courses offered at the undergraduate level (4000) with a graduate (5000) option

Dissertation

Each participant will complete and defend a dissertation. The dissertation represents the culminating project for the degree. In the completion of the dissertation, the candidate will show evidence of competence in conceptualizing, carrying out, and reporting research. Doctoral candidates in the Learning and Leadership program are required to be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 2.0 graduate credits (maximum of 6 graduate credits) every semester (fall, spring, and summer) until the dissertation has been successfully defended and approved by the Graduate School. Failure to meet continuous enrollment standards may result in program dismissal.

Dissertation Committee Formation

The dissertation committee is comprised of four members: the dissertation Chair, the methodologist, plus two additional members. The chair and at least one member must be members of the Learning and Leadership faculty and possess full graduate faculty status. All members of the committee must hold graduate faculty status at UTC. It is the responsibility of the Chair to guide the learner in the selection of the committee. Members of the committee should include faculty whom the committee chair and learner believe can make substantive contributions to the learner’s dissertation. The Chair is urged to invite a committee member from an academic unit outside the Learning and Leadership program. Relevance and expertise regarding the dissertation topic and methodology is the rationale for selection of all members. The Program Director and the Dean of the Graduate School shall approve the membership of the dissertation committee.

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