Degree Requirements
MA Degree Requirements
The Master's program in Cultural Foundations, Technology, and Qualitative Inquiry requires a minimum of 45 quarter hours for students completing a thesis or 50 hours for those choosing the non-thesis option. Most programs can be completed in one to two years of full-time study, but part-time study is permitted, as long as residency and time to degree requirements are met. Please note that most of our MA students pursue the non-thesis option.
Coursework requirements include the following:
Core Class: EPL 822 - Cultural Studies in Education
Foundations of Education Requirement: A minimum of six 6 hours of graduate credit must be concerned with cultural, comparative, historical, sociological, and anthropological foundations of education. The six hours should be selected from one of the following courses: 650.02, 717, 802, 812, 871, 905, and 909.
Multicultural Education Requirement: A minimum of 3 hours of graduate credit must relate to multicultural education. The three hours should be selected from one of the following courses 601 (801 prior to AU 2008), 825, 834, 853, or 863.
Research Requirement:
- Non-thesis option:At least one course in research is strongly suggested. The suggested MA level courses is EPL 798 (Qualitative Methods). Consult with your advisor about whether or not a research course would strengthen your program.
- Thesis option: A minimum of 6 graduate hours in courses related to educational research design and data analysis.
Area of Concentration: Work with your advisor to select a set of related courses
Degree Completion Options:
- Non-thesis option: Six (6) hours of independent study (693) to prepare for the exam or project.
- Thesis option: At least twelve (12) hours of independent study (693) related to the thesis.
PhD degree requirements
All Ph.D. programs in Cultural Foundations, Technology, and Qualitative Inquiry comprise a minimum of 120 graduate quarter hours, with at least 75 hours taken beyond the master's level. Students often exceed the minimum required hours as the length of the program ultimately depends on the nature of study, the student's preparation for that study, and the individualized plan created between the student, the faculty advisor, and the advisory committee.
Minimum coursework requirements include the following:
- Two core classes (6 credits): These courses will be offered in alternating years. EPL 906 will be offered in winter 2009 and EPL 906 will be offered in autumn 2009.
- EPL 905 - Social Foundations of Education
- EPL 906 - Cultural Foundations of Education
- Foundations of Education Requirement: A minimum of six (6) hours of graduate credit must be concerned with cultural, comparative, historical, sociological, and anthropological foundations of education. The six hours should be selected from one of the following courses: 650.02, 717, 802, 812, 871, 905, and 909.
- Multicultural Education Requirement: A minimum of three (3) hours of graduate credit must relate to multicultural education. The three hours should be selected from one of the following courses: 601 (801 prior to AU 2008), 825, 834, 853, or 863.
- Research Methods: A minimum of twelve (12) graduate credit hours in research methods beyond the master's degree.
- A research apprenticeship of at least twelve (12) credit hours.
- At least nine (9) credit hours of independent study credit (893.XX) related directly to planning the dissertation to be taken with members of the candidacy examination committee or dissertation committee.