Advanced Educational Studies (Ph.D.) - Curriculum & Instruction
Important: This diploma plan is effective for those starting in the fall 2025 through summer 2026. This diploma plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment.
This is a non-licensure degree. Completion of this degree will not lead to the eligibility of a state educator license in Virginia or a license or certificate in any other state for endorsements in teaching, special education, content specialist, or school building-level administration.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Education Elective Courses | ||
| Education Elective 1,2,3 | 12 | |
| Education Elective 1,2,4 | 6 | |
| Research Courses | ||
| EDDR 860 | Literature Review for Research | 3 |
| EDUC 812 | Advanced Educational Statistics | 3 |
| EDUC 815 | Quantitative Methods of Research | 3 |
| EDUC 817 | Qualitative Methods of Research | 3 |
| Dissertation Courses | ||
| EDDR 915 | Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning | 3 |
| or EDDR 917 | Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning | |
| EDDR 980 | Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus 5 | 3 |
| or EDDR 981 | Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus | |
| EDDR 987 | Dissertation I 6 | 5 |
| EDDR 988 | Dissertation II 6 | 5 |
| EDDR 989 | Dissertation III 6 | 5 |
| EDDR 990 | Dissertation IV 6 | 0 |
| Total Hours | 51 | |
- 1
Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution,including credit from an Ed.D. or Ph.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied tothe degree. Only 12 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, allother courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900).
- 2
Recommended courses: EDUC 730, EDUC 772, EDUC 773, EDUC 774, EDUC 778.
- 3
Choose 12 credits from EDUC 500-899 not already required by the degree.
- 4
Choose 6 credits from EDUC 700-999 not already required by the degree.
- 5
EDDR 980/EDDR 981must be the final course taken before enrolling in Dissertation &Research courses. All other courses must be completed before.
- 6
Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum & Instruction Cognate | ||
| Choose 9 credit hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Issues and Trends in Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Curriculum Theory | ||
| Investigations in Curriculum Change | ||
| Research in Curriculum Design and Development | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Additional Major Requirements
- Successful defense of dissertation
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 60 hours
- A minimum of 21 hours must be completed through Liberty University, not to include from a prior degree earned through Liberty
- A maximum of 39 hours of transfer credit, including credit from a degree on the same academic level previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree
- 3.0 GPA
- No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
- Degree must be completed within 5 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| Education Elective 1,2,3 | 3 | |
| Education Elective 1,2,3 | 3 | |
| Education Elective 1,2,3 | 3 | |
| Education Elective 1,2,3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDDR 860 | Literature Review for Research | 3 |
| Education Elective 1,2,4 | 3 | |
| Education Elective 1,2,4 | 3 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction Course 5 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| EDUC 812 | Advanced Educational Statistics | 3 |
| EDUC 815 | Quantitative Methods of Research | 3 |
| Curriculum and Instruction Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| EDUC 817 | Qualitative Methods of Research | 3 |
| EDDR 915 or EDDR 917 | Quantitative Dissertation Topic and Planning or Qualitative Dissertation Topic and Planning | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fifth Semester | ||
| EDDR 980 or EDDR 981 | Quantitative Dissertation Prospectus 6 or Qualitative Dissertation Prospectus | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| EDDR 987 | Dissertation I 7 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Seventh Semester | ||
| EDDR 988 | Dissertation II 7 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| EDDR 989 | Dissertation III 7 | 5 |
| EDDR 990 | Dissertation IV 7 | 0 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Equivalent courses from a conferred Ed.D. or Ph.D. from a regionally accredited institution, including credit from an Ed.D. or Ph.D. previously earned through Liberty, may be applied to the degree. Only 12 credit hours of Graduate Level (500-600) courses may be transferred, all other courses must be Doctoral Level (700-900).
- 2
Recommended courses: EDUC 730, EDUC 772, EDUC 773, EDUC 774, EDUC 778.
- 3
Choose 12 credits from EDUC 500-899 not already required by the degree.
- 4
Choose 6 credits from EDUC 700-999 not already required by the degree.
- 5
Choose 3 credits from EDUC 735, EDUC 771, EDUC 871, or EDUC 872.
- 6
EDDR 980/EDDR 981 must be the final course taken before enrolling in Dissertation & Research courses. All other courses must be completed before EDDR 980/EDDR 981.
- 7
Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.
All applicable prerequisites must be met