Doctor of Education

The program builds towards the development of a 75,000 - 80,000 word Portfolio which: 

• demonstrates the candidate's capacity to function as a researcher in work site(s)
• reflects their progressive understandings of the role(s) of inquiry in professional practice and professional knowledge generation.

In order to complete requirements for the program, candidates complete Coursework and present a Portfolio for examination which consists of 3 supervised small-scale Research Study Reports, and a Thesis (Meta Analysis) which incorporates a major analysis of the projects.

Coursework
The Coursework is made up of four 9 unit courses which build upon a candidate's existing knowledge base. Through critical and systematic study of the practices of inquiry and current educational policy contexts, these four courses develop understandings of the design and implementation of research in and/or for the workplace, and lay the groundwork for subsequent research. Assessment will include a number of papers and tasks which although they may inform the research studies and the thesis development are not included as separate items in the Portfolio. The Coursework is undertaken first.

Research under supervision
Before commencing Coursework, the candidate is assigned appropriate supervisors from the University's Research Register. The supervisors establish the overarching research problematic and project focus (issues related to professional knowledge and practice) that will be investigated through three interrelated Research Studies.  The reports on these studies (2 x 10,000 words and 1 x 35,000 words) will demonstrate candidate's capacity to:

• formulate researchable questions
• develop a proposal for the research project which uses appropriate and innovative methodologies/methods and meets the standards for research in the University of South Australia
• critically analyse data
• report upon that data, and
• use the research to generate new knowledge about professional practices.

The Thesis (Meta Analysis) of approximately 20,000 - 25,000 words develops an overview and meta-analysis of the candidate's research agenda and presents a summative argument showing how this particular body of research contributes, critically, to the knowledge base of the field of education, and to professional practice within it. It may also incorporate ongoing analysis of each project, during and after its completion, and the ways in which they relate to each other.

The Portfolio (75,000-80,000 words) must include: an introduction, the three research reports and the thesis. Students have the option of appending supporting materials such as published papers and outcome products such as policy documents, curriculum materials, webpages etc.

Each item of the folio should be separately bound for examination. Soft binding is acceptable but spiral binding is not. The items should be presented in a suitably sturdy and professional looking folder, wallet or box.

More detailed advice on folio production is provided in the document Producing a portfolio for Doctor of Education examination: Advice to supervisors and students (2004).

The Portfolio is examined externally by two examiners approved by the University.

Part-time students are expected to complete this program in the following pattern:
Years 1 & 2: Coursework: 4 x 9 unit courses
Years 3 & 4: Projects: 3 x research projects
Years 5 & 6: Thesis and Completion of Portfolio.