Course Descriptions

Core Seminars

EDD 9100 Leadership (3 Cr)
This course focuses on strategic leadership and its influence for organizational effectiveness which occurs in the context of modern society by initiating change and reacting to change. Participants will pursue theory and research focusing on the foundations for decision making and analysis of complex historical, cultural, sociological, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives in the leadership process. This results in the creation of action plans for restructuring organizations.

EDD 9100 Leadership Simulation(3 Cr)
Reinforcing EDD 9100, this co-requisite course applies problem based learning methodologies to allow students to practice the leadership skills being acquired in EDD 9100. Students will learn to apply problem solving and critical thinking skills in a real world-like, risk-free, and immersive environment. Through rich dialog and collegial collaboration, students will serve in a variety of key leadership roles within a city administration using a cutting-edge interactive simulation of a virtual city. Over a period of 12 weeks, you will be engaged in making vital decisions relating to the quality of life of Centerville.

EDD 9200 Trends and Issues (6 Cr)
This course provides a study of the significant current trends and issues that provide paradigms of functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interaction. Emphasis is placed on critical review of issues of recent trends and developments affecting the interpretation of the (a) social process: culture socialization, and change, (b) institutions: political, economic, educational and religious, and (c) social structures: social stratification, ethnic race, relations, and environment. Students examine issues through research findings and case study analysis/results provide knowledge through a learner-designated development action plan leading toward a vision and mission of achieving success.

EDD 9300 Methods of Inquiry (6 Cr)
The purpose of this core course is for doctoral students to demonstrate an understanding of the use of the scientific approach in educational and human service practices to ensure informed decision making grounded in empirical research. Research design and methods, and program evaluation will constitute the major focal points. A theory-to-practice model will be utilized with an emphasis on applied research. A diversity of research designs and methodologies as well as program evaluation models will be examined. Upon completion, students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate research in preparation for dissertation studies.

Concentration

EDD 8020 Continuing Education for the Health Care Professions (3 Cr)
This course is based on the belief that an educated, trained, and motivated staff is the most important asset of a health care organization. To that end, the course will cover the changing roles of health care educators as facilitators, innovators, leaders, consultants, and instructional designers. Fundamental principles of teaching and learning are covered, so that the health educator can learn to be effective while teaching colleagues in a continuing education setting, students in the classroom, and patients in clinical settings. Besides developing a multiskilled and flexible workforce, lifelong learning and adult education principles form a foundation for consideration of technologically based educational delivery systems and career and professional development patterns. Implications for education and training caused by operational restructuring of health care organizations and patient care delivery are studied. The purpose, benefits, and goals of health care education; the nature of the educational process; and the role of the health care practitioner as educator are examined.

EDD 8021 Contemporary Theories in Healthcare Education and Promotion (3 Cr)
The course will link current theories of health education and promotion to current and evolving challenges in the field of health care education. It examines current issues and practices influencing leaders in the field of health care education. Topics include demographic, economic, ethical, and political factors influencing health care delivery and the practice of health education; the changing nature of health care delivery in the United States; leadership perspectives on health care education; evolving models and practices in health promotion and education; and health education for special populations. This course addresses internal and external forces currently shaping the profession and practice of health education and promotion, and focuses on the creative application of health education theory and practice to specific health related problems identified by learners in their own communities or workplaces.

EDD 8022 Trends in Health Care Policy (3 Cr)
This course explores contemporary issues of health care organizations and institutions. The course will examine current trends and issues in health care and health care education. Students will be responsible for researching and presenting contemporary issues affecting today’s health care and health care organizations. The course examines major trends in health care education and policy that determine the role and future of health care as well as health care educators. Topics include challenges in provision of health services, health care reform, managed health care systems, mortality trends, public health, political aspects of health care, elderly health care, long term health care, disease trends, mental health concerns, health behavior, economics of health care, reproductive health, health and the media, alternative medical therapies, and complementary medical approaches. Disease trends and determinants of health and illness will also be examined.

EDD 8023 Ethics and Professionalism in Healthcare (3 Cr)
This course is designed to provide an understanding of essential ethical considerations in health care occupations and will examine prominent bioethical issues that confront today’s health care professionals. The course has an applied focus for health care educators and providers as well as a focus on organizational ethics in health care settings. This course focuses on social and ethical developments in health care. Topics include professional relationships among health professionals and patients, critical thinking and ethical decision making skills, basic principles of health care ethics, relevant information on social developments and ethical issues in health care, developments in standards of care and related emerging social and ethical trends in health care, legal and ethical issues affecting educators and students, professional ethics, organization ethics, and ethical climate in the health care organizations.

EDD 8024 Health Care Communications (3 Cr)
This course examines health communication, while identifying current issues and challenges facing health care. Learners will be exposed to multiculturalism in terms of thinking about health care education and how age, gender, race, and language influence health communication. The course addresses patient-caregiver communication, communication within health organizations, communication of risks, diagnoses, prognoses, and therapies, and how cultural factors influence health communication. Learners will also examine the Internet, telemedicine, health economics, and other factors that are changing the way health care educators and professionals are communicating, as well as health images in the media.

EDD 8025 Legal Aspects of Health Care Education (3 Cr)
This course investigates the legal aspects in health care that may affect the delivery of health care education. Practitioners of health care are legally obligated to perform their duties according to professional standards and to adhere to conditions of confidentiality, privacy, and ethical conduct. This course reviews the extent of such legal implications of working in health care settings, including such aspects as liability, negligence, malpractice, malfeasance, and others. Included will be legal issues of medical information management, health financing, and health care reform. This course provides an emphasis on teaching students and staff about the legal aspects in health care which are fundamental to practice.

Research Electives

ARC 8912 Statistical Methods (3 Cr)
Statistical Methods is a course in applied statistics that will investigate concepts and methods in descriptive and inferential statistics. The course is designed to provide students with the statistical background for doctoral level research. The application of statistics will be emphasized. Areas of study will include probability, randomization, variables, normal distribution, t-distribution, chi-square distribution, F-distribution, confidence intervals, hypotheses testing, and correlation.

ARC 8913 Program Evaluation and Policy analysis ( 3 Cr )
This course will examine key concepts, methods, and approaches in the field of evaluation research. Students will be exposed to the theoretical and methodological diversity inherent in current evaluation practice across a number of substantive areas (e.g., social services, education, and business). The comprehensive range of activities involved in designing, implementing, and assessing the utility of social and educational programs will be a primary focus of the course.

ARC 8914 Measurement, Testing, and Assessment (3 Cr)
The purpose of the Measurement, Testing, and Assessment course is to provide doctoral students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand psychometric issues. The course emphasizes the relationship between research and practice. It also provides a theoretical and practical basis for choosing and using the wide range of test and measurement data available to applied researchers. The course focuses on the uses of different tests in a variety of settings and is appropriate for applied researchers and practitioners.

ARC 8915 Survey Research (3 Cr)
The Survey Research course is designed to provide doctoral students with an overview of survey research methods. Topics in the course will include survey design, implementation, sampling, data collection, follow-up, analyses, and ethics. Students will design a pilot survey in preparation for their dissertation research.

ARC 8916 Qualitative Research (3 Cr)
The purpose of the Qualitative Research course is to introduce doctoral students to the principles of research methods. The course content includes in-depth and formal interviewing techniques, principles of field observation, content analysis, literature reviews, historical analysis, focus groups, questionnaire design, and philosophical inquiry into qualitative research perspectives. Major emphasis in the course is placed upon learning how to integrate qualitative methods as appropriate.

ARC 8917 Advanced Program Evaluation (3 Cr)
This course is intended to provide students with an in-depth and comprehensive foundation in advanced program evaluation methods. Topics will include development and use of logic models, as well as the use of quasi-experimental and randomized designs in evaluation research. A wide range of data collection procedures, including conventional (e.g., systematic surveys) and non-conventional (e.g., trained observer ratings), will be highlighted. The course will introduce a range of strategies for analysis of evaluation data that will facilitate the use of statistical procedures in evaluation research, address qualitative approaches to analysis of evaluation data and will provide guidance on the application of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit techniques in program evaluation.

ARC 8918 Advanced Statistical Methods (3 Cr)
This course is designed to build on material reviewed in the Statistical Methods course and is developed to acquaint students with advanced statistical procedures. Areas that will be covered will include factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), univariate ANOVA post hoc tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), repeated measures analysis, multiple regression, and power analysis. In addition, the course will encompass a review of select multivariate statistical techniques. This course will emphasize the application of these statistical procedures to real world challenges that students may encounter in their research or work setting.

ARC 8919 Single Subject Research (3 Cr)
This course covers basic concepts and methods employed in single subject research. Participants will learn about single subject research designs including the case study, AB and its variations, changing criterion, multiple baseline, and alternating treatment designs. Important factors in designing and critically reviewing single subject research will be presented, along with options for analyzing data from single subject research studies. Ethical issues in single subject research will also be reviewed.

ARC 8920 Mixed Methods (3 Cr)
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of mixed methods approaches to research studies. Appropriate strategies for incorporating both quantitative and qualitative paradigms will be explored. Specific issues, challenges, and considerations encountered in using mixed methodologies will be addressed in detail. The conflict between positivism and constructivism will be investigated, as will various examples of mixed model designs applicable to education and human services.

Applied Dissertation

ARC 8966 Applied Dissertation Seminar 1: Concept Paper (2 Cr)
The content of applied dissertation seminar 1 focuses on formulating research questions and writing the concept paper. The committee chair and member roles are discussed as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Applied Research Office faculty and staff. This seminar will culminate in the completion of the first corresponding benchmark, the concept paper. Credit for this seminar will be assigned following approval of the concept paper.

ARC 8967 Applied Dissertation Seminar 2: Proposal (5 Cr)
The content of applied dissertation seminar 2 emphasizes the formulation and writing of the dissertation proposal and the process for IRB approval. Methodology and content for each of the proposal chapters are defined, including a thorough discussion of the roles of the literature review to support or refute the dissertation topic. This seminar focusing on scientific inquiry will culminate in the completion of the second corresponding benchmark, the applied dissertation proposal. Credit for this seminar will be assigned following approval of the proposal.

ARC 8968 Applied Dissertation Seminar 3: Report (5 Cr)
Applied dissertation seminar 3 involves data collection/implementation, the applied dissertation (final report) and the final approval process. Content and format issues, as well as recommendations for further research, are highlighted. Dissemination of the dissertation and possible outlets for publication are covered. This seminar will culminate in the completion of the third corresponding benchmark, the applied dissertation (final report). Credits for this seminar will be assigned following approval of the applied dissertation (final report).