Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (Joint Program)

Fields of Specialization

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Social/Cultural/Political Contexts of Education

Cognition and Learning

Dean

James L. Heap

Faculty of Education

Associate Dean

Rodger J. Beatty

Faculty of Education

Graduate Faculty

Professors Emeriti

Ralph Connelly, Alan R. Wheeler, Sybil E. Wilson

Professors

Sharon M. Abbey (Pre-Service), R. Terrance Boak (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, Vice-President, Academic and Provost), Susan M. Drake (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Anne Elliott (Pre-Service), James L. Heap (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Michael Kompf (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Michael Manley-Casimir (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Ruth McQuirter Scott (Pre-Service), Coral Mitchell (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), John M. Novak (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), G. Patrick O'Neill (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Michael Owen (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, Associate Vice-President, Research), Lissa Paul (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Merle Richards (Pre-Service), Vera Woloshyn (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies)

Associate Professors

Rodger J. Beatty (Pre-Service, Associate Dean), Sheila M. Bennett (Pre-Service), Sandra Bosacki (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Tony Di Petta (Pre-Service), Donald H. Dworet (Centre for Continuing Studies), David Hutchison (Pre-Service), Renee Kuchapski (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Michelle McGinn (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Debra McLauchlan (Pre-Service), Jonathan Neufeld (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Adele K. Thomas (Pre-Service), Susan Tilley (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Rosemary E. Young (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies)

Assistant Professors

Denise Armstrong (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Lorenzo Cherubini (Pre-Service), Darlene Ciuffetelli-Parker (Pre-Service), Ann-Marie DiBiase (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Joe Engemann (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Xavier Fazio (Pre-Service), Tiffany Gallagher (Pre-Service), Kamini Jaipal-Jamani (Pre-Service), Doug Karrow (Pre-Service), Jeanne Kentel (Pre-Service), Julian Kitchen (Pre-Service), Xiaobin Li (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Chunlei Lu (Pre-Service), Joyce Mgombelo (Pre-Service), Dolana Mogadime (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Michael O'Sullivan (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Denise Paquette-Frenette (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Alice Schutz (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Susan Sydor (Pre-Service), Mary-Louise Vanderlee (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies), Louis Volante (Pre-Service)

Chair/Graduate Program Director

Coral Mitchell (Graduate and Undergraduate Studies)

Coral Mitchell@brocku.ca

Administrative Coordinator

Lynn Duhaime

905-688-5550, extension 3340

WH127

Lynn Duhaime@brocku.ca

Administrative Assistant

Ethna Bernat

905-688-5550, extension 3082

WH 127

Ethna.Bernat@brocku.ca

Graduate Assistant

Janet Pollock

905-688-5550, extension 3082

WH 127

Janet.Pollock@brocku.ca

http://www.ed.brocku.ca/graduate

Program Description

The PhD in Educational Studies is offered jointly by Brock University, Lakehead University, and the University of Windsor. The program will prepare graduates to contribute to the development of knowledge and expertise in teaching/learning across all levels of the education continuum, promote scholarly enquiry and participate in the development of methodological advances in the study of education.

Admission Requirements

The minimum academic requirement for admission to the PhD is successful completion of a Master of Education or a Master's degree in a cognate discipline, normally with an A standing. Applicants must provide evidence of research competence normally demonstrated by a master's thesis.

English is the primary language of communication and instruction in the program. Applicants who have not completed a degree at a university where the primary language of instruction is English must pass the Internet Based Test (IBT) version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a minimum total score of 100, including a minimum score of 27 in the Written component and a minimum score of 27 in the Reading component or an equivalent demonstration of English Language proficiency on one of the other tests acceptable to Brock Graduate Studies, see: http://www.brocku.ca/gradstudies/admissions/#8.

Candidates who are working on the degree at a distance from the home university must purchase the software and access to the internet which will enable them to participate fully in the required courses.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Students may receive advance credit for a maximum of one-half course specialization elective at the graduate level provided that this course has not been credited to a degree or certificate already awarded, is relevant to the proposed area of study and has been taken within three years of admission. Requests for advanced credit must be declared prior to admission. No substitution may be made for Core Seminars I and II or the joint specialization elective via distance.

Fields of Specialization

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

This field of study encompasses a range of humanities and social science disciplines to explore the moral, social, and cultural purposes of educational organizations, policy and leadership. It draws upon the works of key scholars in organizational, administrative and policy studies to articulate the philosophical, theoretical and methodological frameworks that inform scholarship and practice. These frameworks situate the major issues and debates confronting educational systems within their larger socio-political and socio-cultural contexts.

Social/Cultural/Political Contexts of Education

Education occurs in a dynamic, complex, and contested milieu. The Social/Cultural/Political Contexts of Education field of study critically explores the interplay between culture and education from varied historical, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives with the intent of fostering emancipatory research and democratic practice. Consideration is given but not limited to social constructs of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability/disability, and how they intersect and influence educational experiences.

Cognition and Learning

Cognition and learning draws primarily upon cognitive, developmental, social, and educational psychology as well as science and technology to examine critically the cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and social processes of educators and students as they engage in teaching and learning. Integral components of this field include, but are not limited to, issues concerning best practices, remedial and contemporary instruction, assessment and evaluation, professional development, curriculum development and implementation, metacognition, and learning theories. Applicants to the program must declare a field of study prior to admission to the program.

Degree Requirements

PhD students complete the following course requirements: Core Seminars I and II (2 full-course credits), Joint PhD specialization elective (one half-course credit), specialization elective (one half-course credit) and research proposal colloquium (one half-course credit). Students must also complete a comprehensive portfolio (one and a half course credit) as well as the PhD dissertation (5 full-course credits).

Residency Requirement

Candidates must meet a minimum residency of four terms. Two terms of residency may be fulfilled by completion of the Core Seminars I and II. The other two terms of residency must be consecutive.

For full-time students, the program is a twelve term or four year program.

Course Descriptions

Not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the Timetable for scheduling information:

http://www.brocku.ca/registrar/guides/grad/timetable/terms.php

EDUC 7D80

Comprehensive Portfolio

(Lakehead 6080, Western 780, Windsor 680)

A portfolio of documents and academic artifacts that demonstrate research skills and knowledge of the field of study. Comprehensive Portfolios are defended in a public forum.

EDUC 7F20

Core Seminar I: Research, Theories and Issues

(Lakehead 6020, Windsor 602)

History and philosophical foundations of education are examined. Qualitative methods of research in education including interview, phenomenological, ethnographic, constructivist, and case study approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

EDUC 7F40

Core Seminar II: Research, Theories and Issues

(Lakehead 6040, Windsor 604)

Research, theories, and issues in the fields of study via a specified Quantitative methods of research in education, including experimental, quasi experimental, and correlational studies.

EDUC 7P21

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

(Lakehead 6211, Windsor 621)

Origins and intellectual traditions of theories that influence education. Understanding of sociological paradigms that have influenced educational systems over time, and develop perspectives that enable them to think critically and creatively about contemporary and future issues in educational leadership, policy and organizations.

EDUC 7P31

Social/Cultural/Political Contexts of Education

(Lakehead 6311, Windsor 631)

Critical examination of cultural, historical, and theoretical perspectives in education. Bodies of knowledge related to understanding the complexities of sociocultural influences in education. Power relations at play and how they are negotiated in everyday practice.

EDUC 7P41

Cognition and Learning

(Lakehead 6411, Windsor 641)

An analysis of epistemological theories through a critical examination of foundational and current research and a reflection on historical and philosophical orientations as they relate to contemporary issues in cognition and learning.

EDUC 7P51

Directed Study

(Lakehead 6511, Windsor 651)

Sustained program of study relating to a topic of current theoretical and/or empirical interest leading to the production of a substantial research paper.

EDUC 7P69

Research Proposal Colloquium

(Lakehead 6219, Windsor 669)

Examination of theory and research in relation to intended dissertation topic. Identification of a topic idea for dissertation proposal, defining a research question and theoretical base for intended study. Examine research questions in relation to varied methodologies.

EDUC 7Z90

PhD Dissertation

(Lakehead 6901, Windsor 798)

Preparation of a dissertation investigating a relevant issue in education. Demonstration of knowledge of relevant educational theory and research methods. Public defense of the dissertation.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of EDUC 7D80.