(Stephenville)—Tarleton State University awarded its first doctoral degrees in its 109-year history during commencement ceremonies May 4. Four students received doctor of education degrees.
The graduates were among the first 15 students accepted into the university’s doctor of education program in fall 2003.
“It’s a significant step for Tarleton’s academic programs,” said Mark Littleton, the doctoral program’s director. “This milestone also represents a change in the focus of our educational leadership program. In the past, it has been focused primarily on teaching and service, but we have now moved toward a program that includes a significant research element.”
Littleton anticipates this step for the university being helpful to other programs on campus.
“The first time you go through the process of offering a doctoral program, you really have to find your way,” Littleton said. “Hopefully, it should now be a little easier in terms of developing future programs.”
Littleton said the doctor of education program has grown from the 15 original students, to 60. Twelve to 18 students will be added to the program this summer.
Members of the inaugural class of candidates were selected based on strong leadership background or potential, excellent academic background or potential and a commitment to the time and effort required to complete the program. Less than half of those who applied for the doctoral program were accepted. “We wanted a group of individuals who were committed to finishing what they start,” Littleton said.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved Tarleton’s doctor of education in April 2003. The university is one of 14 public institutions of higher education in Texas to offer the Ed.D. in educational leadership.
The curriculum consists of 60 semester hours in educational leadership, research tools, a specialization area and electives. It is based on a core of leadership courses designed to stimulate thinking and critical evaluation of issues pertinent to educational leadership in the pre-K through 16 environment.
The program culminates with the dissertation, a structured research project conducted by the doctoral candidate with guidance from a committee of professors.
The four-year curriculum allows electives to be taken at the Stephenville, Killeen or Fort Worth campuses; the doctoral-only courses will be offered in Stephenville, Waco and Fort Worth. 