The EIME PhD program is designed to provide students with a balance between depth and breadth and between theory and practice in educational research. The EIME program consists of six interrelated components that provide a common core as well as choice and flexibility to accommodate the needs and interests of individual students.
1. A set of required core courses
The program is designed to help PhD students
- better understand the nature, limits, and sources of human inquiry and knowledge, and
- become proficient in planning, conducting, and interpreting the findings of educational research and inquiry methods.
2. A content-area focus
Each EIME doctoral student must develop a content-area focus in one of four cross-disciplinary specialty areas taught in the David O. McKay School of Education.
3. Additional elective courses
EIME students choose courses which will allow them to gain
- a deeper understanding of the foundations of education, and
- expertise in selecting and using appropriate inquiry methods and analytical tools.
4. A community of inquiry
EIME candidates participate as members of a learning community established to foster the dispositions they need to become contributing professionals as educational researchers, program evaluators, policy analysts, assessment specialists, and/or professors.
5. Mentored internships and apprenticeship opportunities
Students gain practical experience in applying the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they are developing in the program.
6. A capstone experience
Students complete a dissertation that involves practical experience in designing, conducting, and reporting the results of an inquiry study.