Educational Administration FAQs

Educational Administration FAQs

Educational Administration FAQs

Listed below are some frequently asked questions we often receive from students and others expressing interest in our Educational Administration (EDAM) Program. Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to us at elps@utk.edu

How long does it take to get an MS or Ed.S. degree in this program?

  • The Master of Science and Specialist in Education degrees in educational administration take approximately two years for the completion of coursework.

Can students take courses in any order that suits them?

  • The master’s, specialist, licensure, and doctoral programs in Educational Administration comprise courses that are sequenced in meaningful ways. With the permission of the student’s advisor, courses may be taken “out of sequence,” but this practice is not encouraged.

Can a student transfer courses that were taken at another university or department and have them count towards the degree requirements? Up to how many credit hours can be transferred into the PhD program?

  • Courses taken at another institution (within the last six years) may be considered for transfer into a master’s or EdS program as determined by the program faculty and the dean of the Graduate School. At the doctoral level, courses are not officially transferred although they may be used to meet degree requirements. When a requirement has been met through coursework from another institution, the student must petition the academic unit for a waiver of the requirement at the doctoral level. For a course to transfer into a master’s or EdS program it must be taken for graduate credit, carry a grade of “B” or better, not have been used for a prior degree, be approved by the program faculty and the dean of the Graduate School on the Admission to Candidacy form. Most of the total hours for any degree must be taken at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Does the Ph.D. program offer online courses that may be applied toward the degree?

  • The program does not offer distance learning or online courses in its current program. It is possible that selected courses taken in distance learning or network formats might be used to satisfy requirements in the area of specialization.

What is a cognate for a Ph.D.?

  • The cognate for the leadership studies in education doctoral degree consists of a minimum of 6 hours of graduate coursework offered outside the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS). These courses may fulfill two purposes: (1) the acquisition of additional skills and knowledge not covered by the prescribed coursework within the field of educational leadership and (2) the acquisition of skills and knowledge needed to complete the dissertation.
  • The educational administration faculty recognizes the value of developing additional skills related to an individual’s future career plans. The cognate courses, selected in consultation with the student’s advisor, are in a discipline related in some logical way to an individual’s field of graduate study. The cognate courses may also be related to the student’s research interest and may serve to better prepare the student to work on the dissertation.

What is the limit on independent studies that can count towards the PhD Program?

  • Well-developed curriculums are the norm in all of the educational administration and educational leadership programs (i.e., MS, EdS, PhD). With the approval of the advisor, a student may enroll in an independent study (ELPS 593 for master’s and specialist students and ELPS 693 for doctoral students). Independent studies are offered to afford our students the opportunity to explore areas that are not currently covered in the prescribed curriculum. While there is no limit on the number of hours that can be taken, independent studies are usually taken sparingly.

Can a student sign up for ELPS 600 credit before taking comps?

  • With the approval of the advisor and the department head, a doctoral student may register for ELPS 600 prior to finishing all required coursework, passing the comprehensive examination, and being elevated to candidacy. This practice is not encouraged but is sometimes necessary for the purpose of maintaining the appropriate number of hours to satisfy student loans.

What are the requirements for the membership of a dissertation committee and how many members need to be from the department?

  • The doctoral dissertation committee is comprised of four members. The chair and one other member must be from the ELPS department. There must also be one member from outside the department (e.g., from EPC, TPTE, or some other department or college in the university). Three members of the committee must hold doctoral directive status.

Is there a limit on the number of dissertation credits a student can accumulate?

  • Students must acquire 24 hours of dissertation credit in order to satisfy the graduation requirements. It is certainly possible that a doctoral student may earn more than the 24 minimum number of hours of ELPS 600. Students are advised to plan how long it will take to complete and defend the dissertation and register for the appropriate number of hours for ELPS 600 each semester during that timeframe.

Is there an alternative residency option for both PhD programs that would allow students to complete residency without having to take two consecutive terms of full-time coursework (9 semester hours)?

  • There is no alternative residency option. However, most students complete the residency in the first year by taking 9 hours in the fall and spring terms respectively, with two courses during the week and one course conducted one Saturday each month during each of these two terms. Many students find it manageable to remain in full-time leadership appointments and satisfactorily complete residency coursework in the first year of the program, though this requires a keen sense of personal discipline and commitment.

How long does a student have to complete a PhD degree?

  • The University of Tennessee allows eight years from the start of the first course to complete the doctoral degree in education with a concentration in leadership studies in education. While few exceptions are granted, a doctoral student’s advisor may petition the Graduate School for an extension of time. In most cases where exceptions are granted, the student is in the final stages of defending the dissertation.

Do I qualify for travel support? If so, how do I apply for it?

  • CEHHS travel support is available to students presenting papers, posters, and abstracts at professional meetings. Travel associated with student organizations, exhibit booths, and program recruitment is not funded through college funds. Travel requests must be submitted to the associate dean’s office at least one week prior to the travel dates. International travel that involves a request for SARIF support funds must be submitted at least one month prior to the travel dates.
  • CEHHS students will receive up to $50 support for research presentations. When several students are participating in the same presentation, the amount of funding per student will be reduced to ensure that college resources to support students are distributed equitably across departments and programs. Students can seek additional support through the Graduate Student Senate Travel Award (set deadlines each semester). All requests must be made prior to the travel dates and comply with all related policies associated with this resource.

What is an IRB? How do you complete this process?

  • The IRB is the Institutional Review Board at the University of Tennessee. It has the responsibility of reviewing all research projects that involve human subjects. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulates all research activities involving human subjects on the UT Knoxville campus. The IRB is a committee appointed to ensure rights, safety, and welfare of human research subjects; ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws/regulations; and conduct ethical reviews of human research activities including initial, continuation, modification, unanticipated problems and alleged noncompliance. Its primary responsibility is to assure UT Knoxville researchers operate within the provisions of the Federalwide Assurance of Compliance filed with the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).