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About the Doctoral Degree in ELPS with an Educational Technology Focus

Educational Technology Doctoral Focus photo
The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) with a focus in Educational Technology advances research, theory and practice in the design, development and application of information technology in education. The rapid changes in communication styles and information delivery systems are impacting all aspects of education. The ability to adapt to and capitalize on these changes for education requires an understanding of the evolving information technologies as well as the learning, social, and organizational factors that influence their design and use. Program graduates typically assume leadership positions as faculty in higher education, researchers or directors of educational technology in schools and in corporate and governmental settings.

The program draws on the diverse capabilities of a major research university with an interdisciplinary approach to prepare leaders for a variety of careers in Educational Technology. Many graduate program candidates have previously developed technical skills in computers, communications or media technologies. Thus, production courses program focus on improving instructional design and evaluation skills. Other coursework cover topics such as learning theory, theories of educational communication, curriculum and instructional design, media/computer delivery systems and distance education. Doctoral candidates also select a 12 hour minor from outside the School of Education for advancing theoretical perspectives and research agenda. Previous minors have included Communication studies, Design, Electrical Engineering Computer Science, Journalism, Linguistics, Philosophy and Psychology.

Students in the Doctoral Program complete dissertations that make a unique contribution to research theory and practice in Educational Technology. Recent research topics have addressed questions concerning: user interface design, advice in instructional software, the use of on-line references in language learning, integrating technology in curricula, factors influencing the use of computer networks in schools and eLearning in higher education. See a selected list of doctoral dissertaions at Doctoral Research under the Ed Tech Research tab.

The School of Education's location on the main campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence offers convenient access to resources of a major research university including comprehensive library and academic computer systems. Students in our programs also make extensive use of Instructional Technology and Resources Lab which includes computer labs, curriculum resources, high speed Internet access, video editing and recording capabilities, media support for video and audio digitization, CD-ROM and interactive multimedia development.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.