Program information - 2009

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Doctor of Education

2008 | 2009 | 2010

Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences | School of Education

Program Code: MPEU Program Level: Postgraduate — Professional Doctorate Home Campus: Magill Program Length (in EFTSL): 4

Program director/s

• Professor Marie Brennan (MPEU)
• Dr Lew Zipin (MPEU)

Canadian students, see program information under program code MPEO.

Applications can be made online at Research Degree Apply Online.
Please see further information at Professional Doctorates.

Aim

To provide a structured research program which supports practitioners in the field of education to undertake and commission research in their worksite in order to produce new and useful professional knowledge and practice(s), and to  critically utilise the knowledge production and practice(s) of others.

Entry requirements

An applicant for admission to candidature for the Doctor of Education degree must satisfy the Research Degrees Committee of their competence to undertake a higher degree by research by:

1. holding, or being eligible to hold, from an approved higher education institution, an award which is assessed by this University as being equivalent to:
     - an honours degree or a bachelor degree with honours of at least class 2A standard; or
     - an appropriate masters degree;
   or
2. holding such other qualifications as are acceptable to the Research Degrees Committee - in such cases the applicant must satisfy the Committee of fitness to undertake advanced work on the basis of the standard of achievement in, and the relevance of, previous higher education studies, and professional experience or published research work 
   and
3. the completion of at least five years practice in the education profession.

English language entry requirements for International students:

All international students are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression. Generally, for entry to a research program at UniSA, international students from non-English speaking backgrounds must have obtained one of the following standards:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic ) overall score 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in each subscore test (reading, writing, listening and speaking), obtained within the last two years prior to the date of the application; or corresponding results from an equivalent test such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the appropriate Academic English language level delivered by the Centre for English Language at the University of South Australia (CELUSA); or

Successful completion of a tertiary qualification at Bachelor level or above completed in Australia within the last two years; or

Successful completion of at least two years of tertiary study at Bachelor level or above conducted in English within the last five years in a country in which English is an official language; or

Having taught in the English language for at least two years at an overseas academic institution prior to the date of application. Such applications must be supported by the proposed supervisor and Dean of Research (or equivalent); or

Having written in English and been published in scholarly books or internationally recognised journals - normally at least two articles in the last five years prior to the date of application. Such applications must be accompanied by an authorship statement or evidence of the contribution of the applicant and supported by the proposed supervisor and Dean of Research (or equivalent).

Where previous study or professional experience was conducted in English, the applicant must provide certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the medium of instruction/employment was in English.

Content/structure

The program builds towards the development of a 75,000 - 80,000 word Portfolio which:

• demonstrates the candidate's capacity to function as a researcher in work site(s)
• reflects their progressive understandings of the role(s) of inquiry in professional practice and professional knowledge generation.

In order to complete requirements for the program, candidates complete Coursework and present a Portfolio for examination which consists of 3 supervised small-scale Research Project Reports, and a Thesis (Meta Analysis) which incorporates a major analysis of the projects.

Coursework
The Coursework is made up of four 9 unit courses which build upon a candidate's existing knowledge base. Through critical and systematic study of the practices of inquiry and current educational policy contexts, these four courses develop understandings of the design and implementation of research in and/or for the workplace, and lay the groundwork for subsequent research. Assessment will include a number of papers and tasks which although they may inform the research projects and the thesis development are not included as separate items in the Portfolio. The Coursework is undertaken first.

Research under supervision
During the final piece of the Coursework, the candidate is assigned appropriate supervisors from the University's Research Register. Under supervision, the candidate completes 3 Research Projects, on issues related to professional knowledge and practice. The reports on these projects (2 x 10,000 words and 1 x 35,000 words) will demonstrate candidate's capacity to :

• formulate researchable questions
• develop proposals for a research project which use sound and appropriate methodology and meets the standards for research in the University of South Australia
• critically analyse data
• report upon that data, and
• use the research to generate new knowledge about professional practices.

The Thesis (Meta Analysis) of approximately 20,000 - 25,000 words develops an overview and meta-analysis of the candidate's research agenda and presents a summative argument showing how this particular body of research contributes, critically, to the knowledge base of the field of education, and to professional practice within it. It may also incorporate ongoing analysis of each project, during and after its completion, and the ways in which they relate to each other.

The Portfolio (75,000-80,000 words) must include: an introduction, the three research reports and the thesis. Students have the option of appending supporting materials such as published papers and outcome products such as policy documents, curriculum materials, webpages etc.

Each item of the folio should be separately bound for examination. Soft binding is acceptable but spiral binding is not. The items should be presented in a suitably sturdy and professional looking folder, wallet or box.

More detailed advice on folio production is provided in the document Producing a portfolio for Doctor of Education examination: Advice to supervisors and students (2004).

The Portfolio is examined externally by two examiners approved by Division Research Management Committee.

Part-time students are expected to complete this program in the following pattern:
Years 1 & 2: Coursework: 4 x 9 unit courses
Years 3 & 4: Projects: 3 x research projects
Years 5 & 6: Thesis and Completion of Portfolio.

Full-time students should seek advice from the Program Director.

Fee information

Fees for Domestic students: RTS
Fees for Research students that have exceeded their RTS entitlement are calculated at the course level. Click on the above link to determine your fee.

Fees for International students: $AU 16,000 per 1.0 EFTSL for students commencing in 2010.
Fees are calculated on a per Unit basis with 1.0 EFTSL = 36 Units.
Fees for International students are determined one year in advance and are subject to variation.

Program requirements

Course name	Area + Cat. No.	Units	EFTSL
Coursework
Reading Educational Policy Research	EDUC 8025	9	0.250
Critical Reflective Writing in Education	EDUC 8026	9	0.250
Research Methodology	EDUC 8027	9	0.250
Developing the Research Program	EDUC 8028	9	0.250
Portfolio Completion (Research Projects and Major Analysis)
Thesis and Portfolio 1	EDUC 8029	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 2	EDUC 8030	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 3	EDUC 8031	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 4	EDUC 8032	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 5	EDUC 8033	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 6	EDUC 8034	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 7	EDUC 8035	9	0.250
Thesis and Portfolio 8	EDUC 8036	9	0.250

Notes

1. If candidates are first enrolled in second half of Year 1, then the order in which they complete the first two courses will be reversed.
   
2. EDUC 8027 Research Methodology builds on knowledge and skills developed in Masters level programs. Exemption of up to 3 units may be granted to candidates who have undertaken a Masters by research or who have extensive research experience.
   
3. It is important that, while the program is presented as courses, the total demand of the program is understood to equate to that of PhD students. The cumulative word count expected for assessment purposes is 75-80,000 words.

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