Program Overview

Webster University is well known for its mission to ensure excellent academic experiences that transform students for global citizenship. The Ed.D. in Transformative Learning in the Global Community is grounded on the belief that education allows for internalized changes in one’s perspective, thus opening the door for transformation in a larger context. The Ed.D. provides unique opportunities for Webster University to be an innovative leader in the global educational arena.

Webster University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is an interdisciplinary, research-oriented program, which invites a broad range of professionals to enter into transformative learning experiences to expand their knowledge and beliefs about the effects of the causal relationships between politics, ethics, social justice, and education. This program develops scholars and leaders with globally and socially conscious perspectives through the study of the philosophies, history, and theory of education systems (global, social, and psychological); and practical and ethical applications in service-learning opportunities. This program is designed for working adults. Most students can expect to finish the program in three to seven years. 

Program Goals

The Ed.D. student will:

1.  Investigate and critically analyze the issues, theory, practice, and policies in education systems (global, community, organizational, individual) and global environments as related to ethics, policy, politics, and social justice.

2.  Apply research to develop knowledge and capacity for studying and supporting transformative learning for individuals, organizations, and communities. This vigorous study should contribute new information to the knowledge base of others in the field.

3.  Reflect on the roles educators take as leaders of change through collaboration with colleagues, students, and families.

4.  Demonstrate the ability to facilitate and model collaborative inquiry and dialogue for constructivist and transformative learning.

General Policies

Students are governed by the Graduate Catalog under the year in which they enter the program. Graduate Catalogs are available online: Graduate Studies Catalog

Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal Policy

Doctoral students are expected to maintain a minimum B letter grade average to remain in good academic standing. The doctoral student has a responsibility to demonstrate the ability to complete graduate-level coursework, including a demonstrated expertise to write clearly and succinctly. If the student receives letter grades of C, ZF, WF, or NC, then the conditions outlined in the university’s Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal Policy in the Graduate Catalog will prevail. 

Continuous Enrollment

Students who enter the program must complete all degree requirements within seven years after completion of their initial course. Students who apply but do not enroll within one year must submit a new application to both the university and the program. 

A student may apply to the Dean of the School of Education for a leave of absence for one year. If the absence is approved, the seven-year program limit will be suspended for that year and will resume at the end of the leave of absence, whether or not the student enrolls in courses. Extensions are based on academic considerations and are limited. The student may be required to repeat preliminary examinations or take additional coursework, or both. Students who are granted leave of absence will need permission from the Director of Ed.D. to resume coursework or Dissertation work. 

Students are required to be continuously enrolled in the program. If a student does not register for any credit in a particular term or semester, they need approval from the Ed.D. Director in writing. Only special circumstances with a strong rationale will be approved. Students who do not register for any credit in a term or semester will be prohibited from continuing in the program if an official approval from the Ed.D. Director is not in place.

Degree Conferral

Once a student passes the final Dissertation defense, they will be formally recommended to receive their doctoral degree. The student must complete all degree requirements and submit a Petition to Graduate by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. See: Petition to Graduate in the Appendix.

Grading Criteria

The Ed.D. uses two grading scales: 

1.      Letter grades for the six core courses (EDOC 7500, EDOC 7505, EDOC 7120, EDOC 7130, EDOC 7140, EDOC 7150) and Professional Seminars (EDOC 7510, EDOC 7520, EDOC 7530, EDOC 7540). Letter grades are based on the grading criteria in the Graduate Catalog. 

2.      The Dissertation Chair should use CR or NC (Credit or No Credit) in grading EDOC 8000 and 8010 dissertation hours, starting from Fall 1, 2024, per Office of Academic Affairs' updated policy.

Advancement Criteria

Doctoral students at Webster University will work through four distinct steps of doctoral study leading to degree conferral: 

Step 1: Admission to the Program

Prospective students must complete and submit the Application for Admission online through Graduate Admissions. The applicant is expected to have identified and have expert knowledge in their areas of interest. The admission packet will be reviewed, and if considered appropriate, an interview will be scheduled with the Doctoral Admissions Committee. The Committee may require the applicant to provide additional materials to speak to the readiness of the applicant for the Ed.D. program. For more information regarding the application process, see “Admission to the Program” on page 5. 

Step 2: Coursework

The student will complete the program’s required coursework, as listed in the program schedule. Coursework takes approximately two years to complete. For more information regarding the required coursework, see “Required Coursework and Program Schedule” on page 6. 

Step 3: Comprehensive Exam 

The student will take the Written Comprehensive Examination after the first year of coursework has been completed. Upon successful completion of the examination, the student may continue to work on their literature review to facilitate the development of their research questions, but the Ed. D. student cannot engage in research until they have completed and obtained the approval of the IRB. For more information regarding the comprehensive exam, see “Comprehensive Exam” on page 6. 

Step 4: Dissertation Project

The student will write and defend a Dissertation based on their content expertise. The Dissertation will be a publishable manuscript that displays the student’s mastery of research in their subject area. The student will select a faculty member as their Dissertation Chair. The chair will guide the student to produce a doctoral-level Dissertation. 

The above four steps are described in detail below. 

Admission to the Program

Prospective students must apply and meet the admission criteria to be considered for the program. Admission criteria for the program is listed in the Graduate Catalog. Prospective students must complete and submit the Application for Admission online through Graduate Admissions. The deadline to submit all admission materials is May 15th. After admission to the Ed.D. program, students will begin coursework in the Summer term. Inquiries may be addressed by email to Dr. Lee at yleejohnson31@webster.edu

After all materials have been submitted, the full admission packet will be reviewed. The applicant must be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of educational research methods and design. The Ed.D. Admissions Committee may require the applicant to provide additional materials to speak to the applicant’s readiness to begin the Ed.D. program. 

Should the Committee find weaknesses in certain academic areas, the applicant will be required to take additional coursework that will not count toward the degree requirements. If an applicant needs to expand their research base, they may take those courses concurrently with the Doctor of Education curriculum. 

Required admission packet:

•  All undergraduate and graduate transcripts with evidence of a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree

•  Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate coursework

•  Current (within the last five years) General GRE test scores including Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing

•  Three (3) letters of recommendation

•  Application fee of $125 (waived for Alumni, current Webster University faculty, staff, and students)

The admission packet will be reviewed, and if considered appropriate, an interview will be scheduled with the Doctoral Admissions Committee. The Committee may require the applicant to provide other materials to speak to the readiness of the applicant for the Ed.D. program. Should the Committee find weaknesses in certain academic areas, the applicant will be required to take additional coursework that will not count toward the degree requirements. After admission to the Ed.D. program, students will begin coursework in the Summer term.

The applicant must complete an interview with Ed.D. Program Admissions Committee during which the applicant presents their research interest.

Required Coursework

Year 1

·         EDOC 7500 First Service-Learning Internship

·         EDOC 7120 Global Histories and Politics in Education

·         EDOC 7130 Communications Technologies in Educational Systems

·         EDOC 7140 Educational Equity and Ethics: Theory and Policies

·         EDOC 7150 Social Justice & Transformative Learning

·         Comprehensive Examination End of First Year

Year 2

·         EDOC 7510 Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar I

·         EDOC 7520 Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar II

·         EDOC 7530 Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar III

·         EDOC 7540 Interdisciplinary Professional Seminar IV

Note: The sequence of the Seminars is subject to change as needed.

Prospectus Defense: The student will present and defend their Prospectus at the end of the second Spring semester.

·         EDOC 7505 Second Service-Learning Internship

Year 3

Dissertation Research (10 hours, minimum)

·         EDOC 8000 Dissertation Research (Dissertation credits may be taken in increments of 1-5 credits, as appropriate)

Students must make satisfactory progress through their programs. Any breaks in enrollment should be addressed as described in the Continuous Enrollment policy on page 4.

Comprehensive Exam 

Students will take a written comprehensive exam after completing the first year of coursework. The Written Comprehensive Examination is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic achievements. The exam topics will be grounded in transformative learning and the knowledge that the student gained in the first year of coursework. The exam will take place in the Summer term. All students in the same cohort will complete the exam during the same period in the Summer. The exam period is determined through a consensus on the availability of the majority of the cohort. The exam consists of three questions. Students will choose and respond to one question only. An outline, which is a list of exam topics, will be provided approximately one month before the exam date so that students can collect articles and find resources to prepare for the exam. The student will write a response to the question (minimum of 30 pages, with double line spacing, excluding references) using proper citations (APA Sixth Ed.) and submit their response within ten (10) days after the pool of questions have been presented to them (The duration may change every year for different cohorts). The exam is a take-home exam. Grading will be done by doctoral faculty through a double-blinded process. Students who fail the exam will have an option to revise and resubmit their response based on the reviewers' feedback, or retake the exam by selecting a different question (from the original pool of the three questions). This second attempt must be completed within ten (10) days. Students who fail the second attempt will be dismissed from the program.  

Dissertation

The Dissertation Committee is usually formed during the second academic year upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam. A list of faculty and their areas of research interest is located in the appendix. See: Dissertation Committee Members Form

The Director of Ed.D. will assist the student in determining a possible Dissertation Chair. The Dissertation Chair and Ed.D. Director will assist the student in selecting a Dissertation Committee of doctoral faculty members who will guide their doctoral research and will also serve on both the Prospectus and Dissertation Dommittees. The Committee will include two to three (2-3) doctoral faculty and the Dissertation Chair. The Dissertation Chair and the members must meet the criteria for doctoral faculty. Committee members will work with the student to determine a plan of study and guide the Dissertation. While researching and writing the Dissertation, the student will be responsible for maintaining consistent communication with the Dissertation Chair and each member of the Committee. Developing a schedule of meetings will be helpful. Each Dissertation Committee Member will vote to determine if and when a student completes their Dissertation. 

Dissertation Chair

Dissertation Chairs are preferred to be full-time Webster University faculty. If there is no available full-time faculty who have the content area expertise needed for the Dissertation, an adjunct, a staff member, or outside faculty may serve as Chair. A Chair who is not Webster University faculty or staff needs to be approved by the Ed.D. Director on a case-by-case basis. A Dissertation Chair should not have more than five (5) doctoral advisees at any term. The student’s Dissertation Chair should be selected according to the faculty member’s content expertise. This should include topic interest or subject matter expertise, experience in Dissertation direction, or methodology expertise. The Dissertation Chair is responsible for guiding the student to produce doctoral-level original scholarship in the proposed topic area. The Director of the Ed.D. program must approve the selected Dissertation Chair. A checklist of the Dissertation Chair’s responsibilities is in the appendix. See: Checklist for the Dissertation Chair.

Committee Members  

Dissertation Committee Members can be full-time or adjunct faculty/staff at Webster University. Full-time or adjunct Webster faculty/staff should not be on more than seven (7) Doctoral Committees (including being Chair) at any term. Any Committee Member who is not a Webster University faculty or staff needs to be approved by the Ed.D. Director on a case-by-case basis. The student’s Dissertation Committee Members should be selected according to each faculty member’s content expertise. This should include topic interest or subject matter expertise, experience in Dissertation guidance, or methodology expertise. Individuals who are not Webster University faculty may serve on Committees if vetted by the Director of Ed.D. All members of the student’s Committee share responsibility for ensuring that the student produces high-quality scholarship. A checklist of each Committee Member’s responsibilities is in the appendix. See: Checklist for the Dissertation Committee Members

Ideally, the Dissertation Chair and the Committee will remain consistent throughout the Prospectus and Dissertation Phases. There may be times when a change is necessary. Should this occur, the student must submit a new Dissertation Committee Members Form. See: Dissertation Committee Members Form

Prospectus

Students will write and successfully defend the Prospectus of their Dissertation. The Prospectus is a draft of the first three (3) chapters of their Dissertation: Introduction to the Problem, Literature Review, and Proposed Methodology. In the Prospectus, each chapter is usually about 20 pages in length, not including the references or title page. Students need to submit a complete document including all three chapters in one file, including a table of contents, references, and appendices. 

The university provides a handbook for students on general guidelines for preparing a graduate thesis or Dissertation. The section titled “Thesis and Dissertation General Formatting Guidelines” provides detailed information on the elements, layout, format, and style of a Dissertation; a sample is provided. A Dissertation may be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. 

During the research and writing phase of the Prospectus, a student will remain in close contact with their Committee. Committee Members should be familiar with a student’s work, offering critiques along the way that the student will discuss with their Dissertation Chair. The student should remain open-minded to feedback from the Committee and be able to successfully defend their beliefs both orally and in writing. 

When the Dissertation Chair is satisfied that the student’s Prospectus is ready to be defended, they will schedule a Prospectus defense meeting. The student’s Prospectus Committee will decide if the proposed study is of doctoral level quality and if the student should/can continue in that direction. The student’s Prospectus Defense will take place after completion of second-year courses. A student may be asked to repeat their defense, depending on the consensus of their Dissertation Committee. 

After a student’s successful Prospectus Defense, the Prospectus Signatory Sheet will be completed and submitted. See: Prospectus Signatory Sheet in the appendix. The final draft of IRB application (if human subjects are involved) should be presented to and agreed by the Dissertation Committee at the Prospectus Defense meeting. Agreement of the IRB application does not imply passing the defense. Upon successful Prospectus Defense, the student should officially submit an IRB application with the Dissertation Chair's endorsement.

The student is expected to not make any changes to the research design after the Prospectus Defense and IRB approval. Any necessary changes will need to be agreed by the IRB (via Change in Protocol Form), the Chair, and all Committee Members by email. Data collection should begin after successful Prospectus Defense and IRB approval. (Exception: Pilot studies which will not be included as data for the Dissertation can be conducted before the Prospectus Defense. Pilot studies need to be IRB approved as well.) 

Dissertation

After successful completion of the Prospectus Defense, the student will proceed to the Dissertation phase. The Ed.D. student should seek to complete a Dissertation that contributes to the knowledge base of a specific discipline and transformative learning. The student will research, write, and further develop their Dissertation. The student’s Dissertation preparation will be supervised by their Dissertation Chair. The Dissertation Chair will determine when the student is ready for the final oral defense of their Dissertation.

Responsibilities of the Doctoral Student 

The student is expected to engage in the active preparation of the Dissertation process from the onset of the doctoral program. The student is responsible for choosing a topic, submitting proofread drafts of materials to the Dissertation Chair, preparing adequately for meetings, thoroughly reviewing all Dissertation policies and procedures, and communicating on a regular basis with the Dissertation Chair via email, phone, or other communication modality. The student is responsible for the mechanics and edits of all documents including completing all forms necessary for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the Prospectus, and the Dissertation.

The student is expected to maintain contact with the Dissertation Chair throughout the Dissertation process to ensure that the research and writing adhere to the agreed-upon plan. As the project is the student’s responsibility, they must frequently keep the Dissertation Chair informed of progress. The student should contact the Dissertation Chair in the event of any significant changes in their personal or professional life which may interfere with program completion. The student needs to keep the Committee Members up to date on the development of their Dissertation. Also, students are expected to maintain regular contact with the Director of Ed.D., Dr. Yin Lam Lee-Johnson, via email: yleejohnson31@webster.edu 

Clarification Requests

If at any time a student believes the advice given by their Dissertation Chair is inadequate, the student may submit a written request for clarification to the Director of Ed.D.. A copy of this request should also be submitted to the Office of the Dean of the School of Education. The Director of Ed.D. must respond to this request in writing within two (2) weeks of receipt, and a copy of the response shall be filed in the student’s permanent record. 

The entire Dissertation Committee needs to unanimously vote yes to pass the Prospectus or Dissertation at the defense. If a student fails the defense, the Dissertation Committee will prepare a report including reasons for failure and requirements that must be met to defend again. The Dissertation Chair will file this report with the Director of Ed.D. within seven (7) days from the date of the defense. The student must complete a written permission form for a second defense from their Dissertation Chair and file the form with the Director of Ed.D. If the student is unable to pass the second defense, the student may be dismissed from the Ed.D. program.

Communicating with the Committee

The Dissertation Chair will determine when a document is ready for electronic review by the Committee and will initiate communication amongst Committee Members. The student should avoid consulting the full Committee for feedback without prior approval of the Dissertation Chair. Several meetings with the Committee are required for the preparation of Prospectus Defense and the final Dissertation Defense. The Dissertation Chair will notify the School of Education’s Dean and the Director of Ed.D. of the date/time/location of all Committee, Prospectus, and Defense meetings. Committee participation from a distance may be facilitated through video conference, phone conference, or other electronic media as approved. 

Dissertation Defense

Each student is required to complete an oral defense of their Dissertation, administered by their Doctoral Committee. The time and location of the defense will be announced at least ten (10) days in advance by the Dissertation Chair with the approval of the Office of the Dean and the Ed.D. Program Office. 

Drafts of Dissertation

It is an expected practice to share Dissertation drafts with Committee Members via email. The documents should be saved in Microsoft Word or PDF format and clearly labeled with the researcher’s name and stage in the process (example: Jane Smith Prospectus Chapter 2). Students should adhere to the formatting guidelines provided in the general guidelines for preparing a graduate thesis or Dissertation document, under the section titled “Thesis and Dissertation General Formatting Guidelines” which provides detailed information on the elements, layout, format, and style of a Dissertation; a sample is provided. All drafts of defense documents should be shared with the entire Committee at least fourteen (14) days before any defense date(s).

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Several university faculty members sit on the university’s IRB. The Board reviews and approves all human subjects’ research conducted by Webster University faculty, staff, and students. The IRB process must be completed before any contact with human subjects. For more information about the IRB process, go to https://www.webster.edu/academic-affairs/institutional-review-board.php.  

Publication of Dissertation

As part of the final process of the defense, students must submit their Dissertation for publication. Students will need three (3) completed copies of their final project. See the “ProQuest Instructions for Electronic Submission” section in the “Graduate Thesis & Dissertation General Guidelines” handbook.

For information on Dissertation publishing, please contact:

Heidi Vix

Acquisitions Library/Library Online Resources

Emerson Library

Webster Groves Main Campus (WEBG)

314.968.6951

Appendices

Rubric for Written Comprehensive Exam

Results of Comprehensive Exam

Dissertation Committee Members Form

Faculty and Research Interests

Dissertation Hours Registration

Checklist for the Dissertation Chair

Checklist for the Dissertation Committee Members

Prospectus Signatory Sheet

Dissertation Signatory Sheet

Petition to Graduate

Dissertation Approval Form