Postsecondary Student Success in Learning, Literacy, and Mathematics (Ed.D./Ph.D.)

Ed.D/Ph.D Postsecondary Student Success (Doctoral)

The program effects change in the areas of developmental literacy, developmental mathematics and leaning support.
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Program Overview

As the first doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.) and one of three doctorates of education (Ed.D.) programs in postsecondary student success in learning, literacy, and mathematics in the country, the program fills a crucial need for innovative research in a field that serves students underprepared for postsecondary education by valuing social, cultural and critical perspectives.

Course Work

The Ph.D. and the Ed.D. program requires 66 total credit hours consisting of:

  • core courses grounded in developmental education theory and research
  • research methodology courses
  • specialization courses in the student's preferred concentration: developmental literacy, developmental mathematics or learning support
  • dissertation courses

Students enter in cohorts each fall term. Full-time students typically take 9-10 hours each semester, and part-time students (with the exception of a one-year residency requirement) take 6-7 hours until they advance to candidacy.

DegreeConcentrationCourse WorkDissertationTotal Hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Developmental Literacy (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Developmental Literacy (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Developmental Mathematics (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Developmental Mathematics (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Learning Support (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Learning Support (for applicants with a bachelor's degree only)
Course Work
84 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 - 96 hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Developmental Literacy
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Developmental Literacy
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Developmental Mathematics
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Developmental Mathematics
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours
Degree
Ed.D.
Concentration
Learning Support
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours
Degree
Ph.D.
Concentration
Learning Support
Course Work
54 hours
Dissertation
12 hours
Total Hours
66 hours

What Our Alumni Say

“The program provides the portal into the field of postsecondary student success. It provided me the knowledge and tools to make a difference for students who are underprepared. The transition from theory and research to practice was seamless. I live out my course work every day! ˮ

— Mary Helen Martinez, Ed.D. ᾿20

Program Details

Doctoral students are frequently recognized for their research and scholarship. They win awards, fellowships and scholarships and present papers at regional and national conferences.

Program Mission

The doctoral program in postsecondary student success in learning, literacy, and mathematics prepares future scholars, researchers, leaders, administrators, instructors and practitioners in the field of developmental education.

Both rigorous and supportive, the program aims to advance theory, research and practice in multiple areas of developmental education - including developmental literacy, developmental mathematics and learning support - by actively engaging students in teaching, scholarship and professional service. In this multidisciplinary program, the faculty, staff and students work collaboratively across various academic disciplines, diverse communities and geographic boundaries.

Career Options

The doctoral program prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers. The Ph.D. is designed for students planning careers as researchers, faculty and scholars who will build a strong research and theoretical base for developmental education. The Ed.D. is designed for students planning careers as highly qualified program leaders, policymakers, researchers and practitioners who will advance developmental education in a variety of contexts.

Program Faculty

Faculty research interests include:

  • theoretical and applied issues of student motivation, emotion, learning strategies and self-regulation
  • strategic college reading and the role of technology in supporting strategic reading
  • postsecondary student success courses
  • demographic changes in higher education and effective instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse learners
  • college transitional readers' deliberate and
    non-deliberate responses to texts and conceptualizations of literacy
  • the impact of professional development on instruction in the adult student transition to postsecondary literacy
  • educational equity for youth and the intersections of formal and informal cultures in education

Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
 

Doctoral Program Director
Dr. Taylor Acee
ta19@txstate.edu
512.245.7903
Academic Services Building North (ASBN), Room 401C

Advisor Support
Dena Guerrero
d_g322@txstate.edu
512.245.6839
Academic Services Building North (ASBN), Room 401

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Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall - Priority
U.S. Citizen
January 15
International
January 15
Deadlines
Fall - Standard
U.S. Citizen
March 31
International
March 31

This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.

Funding Information
Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a firm basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $55 Nonrefundable application fee, OR
    • $90 Nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • master's degree from a regionally accredited university or demonstrated success in graduate-level studies or professional experience in a field relevant to developmental education* (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact Graduate Admissions if you are unsure.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all completed graduate course work

    *The developmental education doctorate (both Ph.D. and Ed.D. tracks) requires 96 semester credit hours for students admitted with a bachelor's degree. Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree will follow the same program of study as students admitted with a master’s degree (66 semester credit hours) but with an additional 30 semester credit hours of open electives.

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • resume/CV
    • statement of purpose (approximately 500-1000 words) demonstrating your research interest and goals as a developmental education professional and your potential to contribute to the advancement of scholarly work in the field of developmental education. A discussion of your relevant teaching, research, and/or policy experience should be included as well as clear evidence of your commitment to research and scholarship.
    • three letters of recommendation addressing your professional and academic background
    • interviews with the admissions committee will be arranged (following the initial screening using the admissions criteria) for qualified applicants

    Review important information about documents.

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