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Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Doctoral Program in Developmental Education

Developmental Education Program Description

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas State University offers two doctoral degrees in Developmental Education: a Ph.D. and an Ed.D. Each degree track has three concentration options:  Learning Support, Literacy, and Mathematics.  These degree tracks are designed to produce researchers and scholars who will build a strong research and theoretical base for the field of Developmental Education, qualified leaders who will build and shape programs and impact policy related to Developmental Education, and university and community college faculty who will provide high-quality, evidence-based instruction. As the first Ph.D. and one of only three Ed.D. programs in Developmental Education in the country, this program fills an urgent need for advanced research in a rapidly changing field that serves students as they transition to postsecondary education.

Although there are many distinctions, both historical and practical in nature, between a Ph.D. and an Ed.D., in this program, the differences can be summarized as follows:

  • Students in the Ed.D. track take DE 7380, Managing Developmental Education Programs
  • Students in the Ph.D. track take CI 7386, Directed Research
  • Students in the Ph.D. track take two more research methodology courses than students in the Ed.D. track
  • Students in the Ed.D. track take two more concentration courses than students in the Ph.D. track

Note that students in either track can take any of these courses as elective options.