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<\/a>\u201cWe are proud to play a pioneering role in the state of Ohio for making doctoral degrees more accessible to hard-working, full-time professionals who want to take the next step in their careers,\u201d UT President Sharon L. Gaber said. \u201cThis rigorous program of study is designed to prepare the leaders who will guide our education system into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cStudents can complete the program without having to set foot on UT\u2019s campus,\u201d said Dr. Laurie Dinnebeil, Distinguished University Professor and chair of the UT Department of Early Childhood, Higher Education and Special Education in the Judith Herb College of Education. \u201cStudents will have the opportunity to work with nationally known leaders in the field of early childhood special education, research and measurement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earning this doctoral degree would allow educators to advance into district, regional or state leadership positions. For example, they could serve as a state consultant to school districts, the director of a school district’s special education program, or work for agencies and organizations at the national level. They also would be able to teach at colleges and universities.<\/p>\n
The 70-credit hour program is designed to be completed in less than five years by part-time students who register for six credit hours each semester, including summers.<\/p>\n
All course work is available online with the exception of two professional seminars that students can attend virtually using Skype or FaceTime technology if they cannot attend in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to congratulate The University of Toledo for this innovative approach and for changing the dynamics of higher education by offering this degree,\u201d said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey.<\/p>\n
No matter the distance, students enrolled in the program will have access to all University services and resources relevant to the program, such as the UT Virtual Lab, and the library and all of its digital resources and databases. Students also will have access to supplementary support as needed, such as the UT Writing Center and College of Graduate Studies staff and resources.<\/p>\n
Students will present information about their progress using web-based tools, such as discussion boards and webinars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Course instructors, as well as the students\u2019 dissertation adviser and dissertation committee members, are already accustomed to working with students from a distance. UT offers an online master\u2019s degree and an education specialist degree program online, and students complete comprehensive examinations and master\u2019s projects online.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEducational scholars are used to working by themselves in classrooms, schools or other settings that provide educational experiences,\u201d Dinnebeil said.\u00a0 \u201cThat means that the quality of research that online students complete will not differ from the quality of research that traditional face-to-face doctoral students in our college complete.\u201d<\/p>\n