Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Professional Leadership - Health Science Education, EdD


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College of Education  > Department of Curriculum and Instruction  > Professional Leadership - Health Science Education, EdD

The Executive Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.) in Professional Leadership with an Emphasis in Health Science Education prepares students for professional and administrative leadership positions in a variety of academic healthcare settings. The program provides intensive research and applied skills for students grappling with real-world educational needs and services in medicine, dentistry, nursing and other health-related areas. The design of the program emphasizes exploration, problem-solving and student collaboration in a variety of courses and research activities. A practical internship or Laboratory of Practice provides students with an avenue to apply the specifics of these problems to their course of study and research projects.

The multi-vocational model is a unique feature of the program that promotes inter-professional education and enhances networking between future healthcare professional leaders. The cohort design also ensures mutual encouragement and support with a low number of students able to complete the program. Physicians, dentists and nurse educators who work in the Texas Medical Center make up a majority of students in this program, however it may also be beneficial for researchers, program coordinators, residents, fellows and others interested in educational and/or leadership positions in academic healthcare settings.

We expect most of our graduates to seek positions in academic healthcare institutions or other locations where they will have leadership roles and responsibilities in several of the following areas:

  • instructional design and curriculum development
  • teaching
  • program evaluation
  • research design, data collection and analysis
  • grant writing and assessment
  • use of emerging technologies for teaching and learning

For more information, please visit the Executive Doctorate in Professional Leadership program page.

Admission Requirements


Applicants must possess a master’s degree or higher, and are currently working, have worked, or are interested in working at a healthcare institution, or in private practice. All applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.6 for undergraduate coursework (A = 4.00) and a master’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 for master’s level coursework.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

All applicants who have not already earned a terminal degree (such as an MD, DDS, PhD, etc.) are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), but there are no minimum scores required for admission. Applicants are expected to score at least at the 35th percentile of each section of the exam, however, GRE scores are just one measure we use to assess suitability for the program.

Admissions Decisions

Each applicant is treated on an individual basis and selected applicants will participate in one or more telephone or Skype interviews with the faculty admissions committee. Final admissions decisions are made by the faculty admissions committee that determines which applicants will be the best fit for this program.

Applying for Admission

  1. Applications must be submitted online through the UH Graduate School menu, at http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/how-to-apply
  2. Scanned copies of official transcripts can be uploaded as PDF files and may be used by programs to make admission decisions. Please follow the instructions online to properly scan and upload your transcript. If admitted, however, you will not be able to enroll without the official transcript(s) showing undergraduate degree conferral on file.
     
    Regular Mail: Express Mail: Electronic or “Speede” Transcript:
    University of Houston
    Graduate Admissions
    P.O. Box 3947
    Houston, TX 77253-3947
    University of Houston
    Graduate Admissions
    4302 University Dr., Rm 102
    Houston, TX 77204-2012
    Within the U.S., the fastest way to send your transcript is electronically. Please inquire at your previous institution about this option. Electronic transcripts can be delivered via email to gradschool@uh.edu

 

  1. Applicants should request that official results of the Graduate Record Examination test scores be sent to the University of Houston Main Campus.
  2. An admission fee of $80 for a domestic application and $75 fee for an international application must be submitted.
  3. All applicants must also submit the following documents:

Degree Requirements


Students in the program will complete a total of 17 courses over approximately 3 years, culminating in writing and defending a doctoral research thesis. Two courses are offered in the fall, spring and summer semesters. Face-to-face classes are held in the Texas Medical Center. These classes are typically held on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Summer classes are usually offered online. Additionally, there are short, intersession classes during the winter break and between the end of the spring and summer semesters.

Required Courses


Year 1


Fall Term

Fall Intersession

December - January

Spring Term

Spring Intersession

May

Summer Term

Odd-numbered years

Year 2


Fall Intersession

December - January

Spring Term

Year 3


Fall and Spring Terms

Or Fall only

Other Program Requirements


In addition to the courses, students must also complete doctoral comprehensive exam portfolio, a doctoral candidacy paper and a five-chapter doctoral thesis.

  • The candidacy paper consists of the first two chapters of the doctoral thesis which are reviewed by a student’s advisor and other members of a faculty thesis committee before being orally defended before the committee.
  • The Comprehensive Exam Portfolio consists of a series of artifacts that showcase curriculum, research, teaching, and other relevant professional competencies that students have attained from coursework and various academic experiences during their doctoral studies. These are the six required components of the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Portfolio:
    1. Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Submission Form
    2. Goal Statement and Curriculum Vita
    3. Foundations of the Program
    4. Scholarship
    5. Teaching
    6. Professional Development
  • The doctoral thesis proposal consists of the first three chapters of the doctoral thesis which are reviewed by a student’s advisor and other members of a faculty thesis committee before being orally defended before the committee.
  • The final doctoral thesis consists of the all five chapters of the doctoral thesis which are reviewed by a student’s advisor and other members of a faculty thesis committee before being orally defended before the committee. Oral defenses of the candidacy paper, thesis proposal and final thesis take approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours each and are held in the Texas Medical Center or on the University of Houston campus.

Academic Policies


Upon admission to the Executive Doctoral Program in Professional Leadership with an Emphasis in Health Science Education, students will receive a copy of the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook provides an overview of program requirements, policy, rules, and regulations and is designed to facilitate students’ progress toward the attainment of their degree. The purpose of the handbook is to supplement and clarify - not supersede - policies and procedures provided at the College of Education and the University of Houston level.

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