Graduate Programs

In addition to the 90 credit hour Ph.D. in Learning Design & Technology program, 15 credit hours of prerequisites are required for completion of this degree. Furthermore, 30 credit hours from a M.S. degree may be used to fulfill the 90 credit hour Ph.D. program.

Prerequisites: (15 hours)

• Introduction to learning design and technology (e.g., EDCI 51300 or equivalent)
• Introduction to E-Learning (e.g., EDCI 56900 or equivalent)
• Learning systems design (e.g., EDCI 57200 or equivalent)
• Learning Theories and Instructional Design (e.g., EDCI 53100 or equivalent)
• Introduction to educational research (e.g., EDPS 53300 or equivalent)
• Graduate competencies (if any) in addition to those addressed above

It is expected that students will enter the Ph.D. program having satisfied these basic requirements in advance. If they have not, students will complete these courses at the beginning of the program in addition to other requirements. No more than two of these courses (6 credits) may be applied toward the 60 credits required for the Ph.D. program. Incoming Ph.D. students who have not previously satisfied graduate competencies at Purdue will also be expected to produce a portfolio to meet the graduate competencies requirements.

Core Ph.D. Learning Design and Technology Requirements: (15 hours)

• EDCI 66000, Educational Technology Seminar (3 or more hours)
• EDCI 67200, Advanced Practices in Learning Systems Design
• EDCI 67400, Advanced Instructional Design Theory
• EDCI 67300, Issues and Methods in Educational Technology Research
• EDCI 69500, Internship in Educational Technology

Ph.D. students will complete all core courses (if not taken previously) in roughly the order shown. This will provide a cohesive set of sequenced experiences for students.

Electives in Learning Design and Technology: (12-15 hours)

• Educational Foundations
  • EDPS 53000, Advanced Educational Psychology
  • EDCI 58500, Multicultural Education
  • EDPS 53100, Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation
• Design
  • EDCI 57700, Strategic Assessment and Evaluation
  • EDCI 67500, Instructional Strategies
  • EDCI 62700, Current Topics Seminar
• Development
  • EDCI 56600, Educational Applications of Hypermedia
  • EDCI 58800, Motivation and Instructional Design
  • EDCI 57500, Foundations of Distance Learning
  • EDCI 66300, Interactive Video and Multimedia
  • EDCI 66400, Courseware Design for Computer-Based Instruction
• Performance Improvement
  • EDCI 52800, Human Performance Technology

Outside Electives: (6 hours)

Students will take at least two cohesive courses in an outside related area such as Adult Education, Educational Psychology, Management, Psychology, Educational Administration, Supervision, Technology, Technical Writing, Computer Science, or another field of interest.

Educational Research: (12 hours)

In addition to completing an introductory research course (e.g., EDPS 53300) as part of prerequisite requirements, students will complete the required Ph.D. research sequence.

• Introductory Statistics (e.g., STAT 50100)
• Qualitative Research (e.g., EDCI 61500)
• Advanced Research (e.g., STAT 50200 or EDCI 61600)
• Research Seminar (e.g., EDPS 63000)

Dissertation Research: (12 – 15 hours)

A typical program will have a minimum of 12-15 hours of dissertation research (EDCI 69900).

Timeline for Major PhD. Reviews and Evaluations

Downloadable Program Guide

Following is a timetable that should be used as a guide to accomplishing needed tasks for the Ph.D. Degree in Learning Design and Technology. It includes dates for major reviews and evaluations by the faculty, the qualifying exam, preliminary exam, proposal, and dissertation.

Planning Course Work
Initially, meet with your temporary faculty advisor to begin planning the course work that you will pursue for your degree. You will meet with your advisor/committee chair prior to the beginning of each semester to plan course work.

Portfolio Review (if necessary)
If you did not satisfy the graduate competencies prior to entering Ph.D. study, you must develop a portfolio to demonstrate these competencies. Your portfolio will be reviewed by your advisor/committee chair when it is completed.

Annual Review
A yearly progress review will be conducted by the faculty in May. Student Progress Reports should be submitted by the end of spring semester.

Graduate Committee and Plan of Study
Formulate your graduate committee and create a Plan of Study to be filed with the Graduate School when about a third of the course work has been completed. The Plan of Study is first approved by your graduate committee and then by the Graduate School.

Preliminary Exam
The purpose of the preliminary examination, integrating both written and oral components, is to assess your readiness to proceed with the independent research and writing that will lead to the completion of a satisfactory doctoral dissertation. It is normally taken near the end of course work for the degree. Specifics of the exam and its scheduling are determined in consultation with your graduate committee. At least two semesters must elapse between the preliminary exam and graduation.

Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is a formal proposal for dissertation work that is presented in writing and then orally to your graduate committee for suggestions and approval. The oral proposal meeting can occur no sooner than two weeks following the preliminary exam meeting.

Dissertation Defense/Final Exam
The dissertation defense is a formal meeting in which you present and defend your dissertation before your committee. It is scheduled in consultation with your committee when you have completed your dissertation and are prepared to finish the degree. A minimum of three weeks advance notice is required to schedule the defense date.