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International Education
The specialization in International Education will introduce you to the practices, strategies and techniques that can be adapted to intercultural/multicultural contexts and used by international organizations. You will research the global dimensions of several crucial contemporary issues, including the hopes of global cooperation, and the complexity of educational accountability, authority and professionalism. As a graduate, you will have developed knowledge and skills in cross-national comparative analysis, global educational transfer and borrowing, international development and the relation between culture and education. You will also understand the commonalities, differences and connections between global and comparative education, and the meaning and significance of globalization in education, and will be prepared to seek leadership positions in the field and conduct research.
General Degree Requirements
The PhD Program may be completed in 60 semester credit hours. However, up to an additional 15 credit hours will be allowed as needed to complete the dissertation research. If the program is not completed in 75 credit hours, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Completion Period for Doctoral Degrees
Northcentral University allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less. Normal time to complete varies depending upon course take rate and credits transferred.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The PhD program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country.
PhD Degree Requirements
Admission to the doctorate programs at NCU requires a master's degree from an accredited institution. PhD students are also required to demonstrate competency in specific subject areas prior to enrolling in any of the specialization or elective courses.
Foundational Competencies for PhD Program
- Graduate Level Statistics Competency - PhD students are required to complete a Statistics in Education Research Course, EDU8003, and also EDU8006, Advanced Educational Statistics.
- Competency in Research Writing Skills - PhD students are required to show competency in writing skills for research purposes through their Northcentral University graduate coursework before being assigned to any dissertation courses. Students will be required to take EDU8001, Advanced Scholarly Writing, to improve APA formatting skills and to address advanced writing and research skills as necessary.
- Computer Competency - PhD students are required to use appropriate computer skills that are necessary in writing a dissertation. Students must be able to prepare documents using advanced word processing skills (e.g., creation of tables and figures, headers and footers, page breaks, tables of contents, hanging indents, etc.). In addition, students need to use computer programs for the statistical analysis and presentation of data (e.g., Excel, SPSS). The oral defense normally requires a computer-based presentation by the candidate (e.g., a PowerPoint presentation).
Course Length
All new students enrolling in the PhD in Education program are automatically enrolled in courses that are eight weeks in length. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
Specialization Course 1 | ||
EDU8002, EDU8002-8 | Educational Research Methodology | The purpose of this course is to enable students to gain a holistic understanding of the research process and examine the most common research designs used in educational research. In this course, students are prepared to make thoughtful and wise choices about their dissertation research project or capstone project through the exploration of different research design options. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
EDU8003, EDU8003-8 | Statistics I | This course provides an introductory exploration of statistics for the graduate Learner. It includes instruction on the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics, and introduces inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts to help the Learner understand statistical methodology used in education, and also more generally, developing a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
EDU8202, EDU8202-8 | Research Design | In this course, the Learner acquires the basic skills necessary for the interpretation and application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. The Learner will examine the formal research process carefully, with an emphasis on practical applications and skill development. Critical concepts and principles intrinsic to research paradigms, study designs, and methods of inquiry are presented to empower the Learners ability to formulate and respond to research questions. The resources listed below from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center are critical resources throughout the whole research process _ learners are highly encouraged to become deeply familiar with the resources from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center. |
EDU8005, EDU8005-8 | Qualitative Research Design | This course is an examination of qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, and case studies. |
Specialization Course 4 | ||
EDU8006, EDU8006-8 | Statistics II | This course is an intermediate examination of statistical analyses commonly used for research in education. It prepares the doctoral student with the skills required to plan, conduct (using SPSS), report, and interpret quantitative statistical analyses. Topics include: basic statistical knowledge, probability theory, exploratory data analysis, assumptions for statistical tests, parametric and nonparametric tests. Specific analyses include correlation, regression (simple, multiple, and logistic), basic ANOVA and advance ANOVA techniques. |
Specialization Course 5 | ||
EDU8007, EDU8007-8 | Quantitative Methods | This course provides students with the skills essential for designing experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey studies; analyzing the data collected in those studies, and interpreting the results of data analyses. Students will explore designs and statistical techniques to use with their envisioned dissertation research. |
Specialization Course 6 | ||
EDU8207, EDU8207-8 | Planning Dissertation Research in Education | Students in this course will begin the process of writing a dissertation for a research or professional doctorate. The course will address the University dissertation procedures and aids students in the process of successfully completing a dissertation, including attending to self-care and time management. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU8000, EDU8000-8 | Foundations for Doctoral Study in Education (This course will be taken as the first course) | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a doctoral degree in Education. Doctoral level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
EDU8001, EDU8001-8 | Advanced Scholarly Writing | The purpose of this course is to build advanced skills identifying and obtaining high quality sources through online library searches. In addition, the course addresses advanced writing and APA formatting skills, and it prepares students to be critically reflective consumers of research reports. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
IE7001-8 | Introduction to Global and Comparative Education | This doctoral level course introduces students to theories of comparative education, cross-national comparative analysis, global educational transfer and borrowing, and the relation between culture and education. Through this course, students will begin to develop the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to be effective educators of global and comparative education. Students will understand the commonalities, differences, and connections between global and comparative education, and the meaning and significance of globalization in the field of education. Students will comprehend, through reading and class assignments, the global dimensions of several crucial contemporary issues, including the hopes of global cooperation, and the complexity of educational accountability, authority, and professionalism. This course will underline the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding these complex issues. |
IE7003-8 | Culture, Society, and Education in Comparative Perspective | Comparative methods serve as the framework to understand culture and society as well as global theories of education. This course provides doctoral students the opportunity to explore and analyze international and comparative education. This course examines the ways in which school, youth, and culture intersect. Students will explore the ways popular culture and education are often opposing forces and investigate reasons why. Students will investigate the shaping and reflecting of popular culture, how the meaning of education shifts over time, how students use popular culture to learn. Students will also look at the multiple ways youth and teachers are constructed in various culture forms. Students examine how demographic factors like race, class, gender, ability, and age are represented and what this means for educational practice and policy. |
IE7005-8 | International Organizations in Global Education | This Doctoral level course introduces students to international organizations in global education. Global education is coming to be one of the most important aspects of 21st century life. As educators become more knowledgeable about global education and understanding of different cultures and educational systems, they will better be able to work with and assist other professionals with whom they previously had no connection. Organizations interested in global education are to be studied, supported, and commended. |
IE7009-8 | Conflict Resolution in an International Context | students in this Doctoral level course will explore the conceptual structures of peace and conflict and the theories of conflict resolution currently practiced by peace negotiation specialists. Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological breadth of conflict resolution in local, national, and international contexts. Opportunities will be provided for students to develop application-based experience on a variety of international conflict resolution situations. |
IE7013-8 | Globalization and Educational Change | Globalization and Educational Change will give students an opportunity to better understand cross-cultural efforts to effect positive global educational change. Students will also come to understand that issues in one country are often found elsewhere. |
IE7007-8 | International Education Leadership | This course allows students to explore theoretical approaches to the study of education leadership in diverse contexts. These approaches are used to consider current topics and debates in the fields of international education. This course also introduces students to institutions involved with educational development in diverse global settings. Students will focus on building leadership skills in international education and on developing intercultural exchanges of ideas, resources, and practices. Special emphasis is given to practices, strategies, and techniques that can be adapted to intercultural/multicultural contexts. |
IE7017-8 | International Education Concepts and Theory | Students will explore concepts and theories of education systems around the world, including the cultural and historical bases of these systems and the spread of educational trends across the globe. Alternative theories and definitions of development, as expressed in international education institutions, will be evaluated. The student will be required to consider the challenges of reform, and unique practices in international contexts. In addition, students will integrate an understanding of diverse educational perspectives through the evaluation of worldwide educational systems. |
IE7021-8 | Global Perspective on Ethical Issues | This Doctoral level course will address ethical issues confronting education from a global perspective, including both comparative and transnational points of view. It will address cross-border issues such as international school reform and educational inequality, along with trace patterns of international ethical traditions, especially those that emerged during the second half of the 20th century in order to develop an understanding of the basis of rights, obligations and responsibility. Students will examine contemporary examples of international ethics, especially ones involving safety, truth, and educational practice. Students will be encouraged to research topics of interest related to the course. Finally, the course will address organizational ethics and compliance, including ethical issues for educators and organizations providing services in other countries. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
CMP9500E | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination | In pursuit of a research doctoral degree (PhD) at Northcentral University, students gain expertise in their academic discipline and in one or more specializations that complement their academic discipline. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is intended to assure that students have mastered knowledge of their discipline before candidacy status is achieved and their dissertation work is initiated. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination is taken following the completion of all foundation, specialization, and methods courses. This course is graded using Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) grading criteria. The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination must be successfully completed with an "S" grade prior to beginning any work in Dissertation courses. This course may only be retaken once. |
DIS9501E | PhD Doctoral Dissertation | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9502E | PhD Doctoral Dissertation | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9503E | PhD Doctoral Dissertation | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9504E | PhD Doctoral Dissertation | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the PhD degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral defense. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least every 28 calendar days. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Doctor of Philosophy in Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your PhD in Education program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s PhD in Education costs below:
- Per credit cost: $857
- Per 3 credit course cost: $2,570
- Program cost: $51,400
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
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- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
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