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Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830
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March 14, 2007
Susan Beasy Latto, Director, UMD Public Relations 218 726-8830 slatto@d.umn.edu
Jackie Millslagle, Assoc Dean and Director, Collegiate Graduate Programs 218 726-7191 jmillsla@d.umd.edu
Vince Magnuson, Vice Chancellor for Academic Administration 218 726-7103 vmagnuso@d.umn.edu


UMD Launches First Doctoral Program

Major Milestone Demonstrates Ascending Academic Status
Taught Entirely on UMD Campus by UMD Faculty


The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is pleased to announce the launch of the first doctoral program to be delivered entirely from the UMD campus. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program, which will begin its initial course offerings in August 2007, is a major milestone in the continuous ascending academic status of UMD.

"This announcement represents a landmark achievement in the history of UMD," said Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin. "The development of a doctoral program taught entirely by UMD faculty on the UMD campus clearly demonstrates our depth of academic achievement and the very high quality of our faculty. There is significant demand and great enthusiasm for this degree, and we are proud to offer it."

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a major in Teaching and Learning is an applied degree for the professional development of K-12 teachers, community college/university faculty and administrators, human service professionals--such as coaches, athletic trainers, criminal justice professionals, social workers, community agency administrators, and university student personnel--as well as business professionals involved in education and training activities. The mission of the program is to produce "scholarly practitioners." Therefore, throughout the program, students will be immersed in research on "best practices" models in teaching and learning, and will acquire the skills needed to apply these "best practices" in their own schools and organizations.

The program is designed to meet the needs of advanced degree students throughout Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, and to take advantage of the expertise of UMD Department of Education faculty in the areas of Curriculum Design and Development, Educational Leadership, and Educational Technology.

"The new doctoral program gives us an opportunity to build on the many relationships we have with educators throughout the region," said Bruce Munson, head of the Department of Education. "It will provide a stimulating and rewarding experience for people who want to complete the highest educational degree."

Program courses will be organized on a schedule that will permit teachers and other professionals to remain employed while pursuing a doctoral degree part-time. The delivery of course work will be based on a hybrid model-a combination of traditional, face-to-face classroom instruction, combined with online teaching and learning.

"I am excited about the depth of learning that an online delivery mode will add to the Ed.D. program," said Jackie Millslagle, Associate Dean and Director of UMD Collegiate Graduate Programs. "A hybrid online model has been used in the UMD Master of Education cohort program for five years, and it has proved to be highly effective. Students can participate in courses online at a level that is often deeper than can be reached in a time-defined classroom schedule."

For a number of years, UMD Education Department faculty have been teaching doctoral courses and advising candidates in cooperative delivery with the Twin Cities campus. The new Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning provides a curriculum designed and delivered totally by UMD faculty on the UMD campus.

Major goals of study in the UMD Doctor of Education program are to help students:

  • acquire greater content knowledge in the areas of teaching and learning
  • develop abilities for research in the fields of teaching and learning
  • evolve a broadened professional background in areas related to teaching and learning--such as systems and system interactions, and methods for program improvement
  • increase awareness of diverse cultures

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association visited UMD in November 2006 and approved the campus status change to include doctoral education.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents, upon recommendation of the University Graduate School, officially approved the UMD Ed.D. Program at its February meeting.

June 15, 2007 is the application deadline for the first class, with decisions back to applicants by June 30, 2007. Orientation for the program and the first two-week course are scheduled for August 6-17, 2007.

More information, including admission criteria and application materials, are available online at
http://www.d.umn.edu/educ/programs/edd/


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