Doctoral degree in education approved by the Board of Regents

For the first time in its 43−year history‚ Kennesaw State University will begin offering a doctoral degree program. The Board of Regents approved a Doctor of Education in Leadership for Learning at its monthly meeting Wednesday‚ May 17.

Georgia (May 17, 2006) — For the first time in its 43−year history‚ Kennesaw State University will begin offering a doctoral degree program.

The Board of Regents approved a Doctor of Education in Leadership for Learning at its monthly meeting Wednesday‚ May 17. Students will be able to pursue one of five areas of concentration under this degree program: adolescent education and mathematics‚ elementary and early childhood education‚ instructional technology‚ inclusive education or educational leadership and policy. Teachers who want to remain in the classroom but also assume a school leadership role are the target audience for the first four concentrations. The fifth program‚ educational leadership‚ is designed for those who want to become school administrators. The degree program will begin next spring.

"Kennesaw State is moving to another level‚" President Betty L. Siegel said. "This is a significant change."

Though KSU now joins Georgia Southern University‚ the University of West Georgia and Valdosta State University in offering an Ed.D‚ according to Bagwell College of Education Dean Yiping Wan‚ KSU's program is "unique because of its interdisciplinary and international focus."

The international component will include field experience or dissertation research abroad‚ he added.

Although the degree does involve research‚ it is a practical or applied doctorate instead of a theoretical one‚ such as the Ph.D.‚ said Vice President for Academic Affairs Lynn Black.

“Our focus is on professionals already in the field‚ on helping teachers become better leaders and helping principals become more versed in curriculum and collaborative leadership‚” he added. “To address school reform‚ teachers and administrators must work together.”

The first cohort of 25 will begin next spring and there’s already active waiting lists‚ ranging by area of concentration from a low of 50 students to a high of 150 students.

“This is the culmination of years of hard work and represents an extremely significant and exciting next step for Kennesaw State and the Bagwell College of Education‚” Dean of Graduate Studies Teresa Joyce said‚ adding that this degree strengthens KSU's graduate program‚ which already includes 18 programs and more than 2‚000 students.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.