Davidson EdD Program: Part-Time

The part-time doctoral program (EdD) of the Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education is designed to prepare students for senior positions of educational leadership, administration, supervision, curriculum development, and educational research.

As a rule, students will not be considered for admission to the part-time doctoral program in Jewish education unless they have had a minimum of four years of part-time experience working in the field of Jewish education.

The information below reviews the policies and procedures by which doctoral students in the school will be guided.

The program offers two areas of concentration:

  • Teaching and learning
  • Leadership and administration

The part-time EdD option will allow students to enroll in all of the same classes in which full-time students enroll and proceed through the doctoral program at a part-time pace of 6 credits per semester.

The doctoral program requires 63 credits beyond the master's degree. A candidate for the EdD who is enrolling in the part-time track must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree, including courses, comprehensive examination, and the deposit of the dissertation in no more than ten years from the date of formal admission to the program.

Funding

The part-time EdD program must be funded by the student, or when possible the student's employer. Although JTS scholarships are not available for part time doctoral students, the JTS financial aid office (financialaid@jtsa.edu) offers low interest student loans for doctoral students taking six credits a semester (repayable over ten years after completion of program) and no interest payment plans to help students finance this program.

The 2009–2010 financial aid applications are posted on the JTS website at http://www.jtsa.edu/campus/finaid/. Applicants are able to download and access all of the applications at this site.

Admissions Procedures

The Davidson School accepts and reviews applications for admissions and funding on a rolling basis until June 1 of each year. Applications that are not completed by June 1 will not be reviewed. It is in the applicant's best interest to apply as early as possible as space in the class does fill up and funding, though merit-based, is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Matriculated students are only accepted in the fall.

Download the application.

An applicant for admission as a degree candidate must submit the following:

  • A completed application form together with the $65 fee
  • An official transcript of academic records from all colleges and universities previously attended
  • Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic references
  • Two academic writing samples that reflect the candidate's writing and research skills

One of the most important skills a doctoral student must have is the ability to write clearly. Please submit two writing samples that you feel represent your skills as a researcher and writer. If you have earned an academic degree in the last ten years, please submit two academic papers written for that degree. If you have been out of school for more than ten years, please see the list below for some examples of what you might want to submit. Please submit one from List A and one from List B or two from List B. Both pieces should be substantial works directed at an adult audience and written by you in the last ten years.

List A

  • Curriculum or Teacher's Guide
  • Classroom Report
  • Parent Newsletter
  • Other field-based work

List B

  • Published Article
  • Original Research Paper with citations, on the topic of your choice, to be approved by the director of Admissions. Minimum length: ten pages

Applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not been educated at a college where English is the language of instruction, may submit TOEFL scores instead of GRE or MAT scores.

As a rule, students will not be considered for admission to the doctoral program in Jewish education unless they have had a minimum of four years of full-time experience working in the field of Jewish education.

Students accepted to the part-time doctoral program must possess a substantial, graduate-level knowledge in both education and Judaica. This can be demonstrated through a master's degree or other equivalent academic work. In some cases, students may be able to make up for deficiencies in these areas through additional course work taken while enrolled in the doctoral program. An interview with the admissions committee and Dean is required.

Length of program

The part-time doctoral program requires 63 points beyond the master's degree. A candidate for the EdD who is enrolling in the part-time track must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree including courses, comprehensive examination and the deposit of the dissertation in no more than ten years from the date of formal admission to the program.

The dean regularly reviews student files to ascertain that appropriate progress is being made toward the completion of degree requirements.

However, candidates engaged in the writing of the dissertation may apply in writing to the dean for an extension, which ordinarily cannot exceed two years.

To achieve satisfactory academic progress, students must complete all the course requirements within the first six years of the program, a minimum of one-third the required number of credits, depending on the area of specialization and prerequisites needed. Students should allocate a minimum of two academic years after completion of course requirements to prepare for the comprehensive examination and begin research for the dissertation. Students should allocate two additional years to completion of the dissertation, which must be defended by the second semester of the tenth year.

Program Plan

Since the program is cohort based, students may only enter in the fall semester. Upon entering the part-time doctoral program, the dean of the Davidson School will assign the student to a doctoral program adviser from amongst the faculty of the Department of Jewish Education. This adviser will assist the student in formulating an initial program of study that will both serve the student's research interests and help the student to begin to meet the doctoral requirements.

After the first semester, but no later than the beginning of the fourth semester, the student will, with the assistance of the program adviser, complete a program plan of study that details the projected course of study to satisfy requirements for the EdD degree. It includes courses taken at JTS or through the consortium, as well as those transferred from other institutions, and proposed research and field experiences that are determined to be necessary in light of the candidate's professional and academic goals. Each student's plan requires the signature of the candidate, the adviser and the dean. Students have a total of ten years to complete their degree.

The Department of Jewish Education faculty, in conjunction with the dean, will continually review the progress the student has made to date and assess the student's potential to complete the degree. If the faculty and dean are not satisfied with either the student's progress or potential, they may exercise their prerogative of terminating the student's participation in the program.

This plan includes:

  • Courses at JTS, UTS, Teachers College, as well as courses transferred from other institutions.
  • Proposed research and field experiences that are required in light of the candidate's professional and academic goals. Each student's program plan must be submitted to the dean and will be reviewed by the doctoral committee and signed by the candidate, the adviser and the dean.

Program Requirements

The program is cohort based and students may only enter in the fall semester when a new cohort begins. Students will be expected to take two courses per semester. Courses in education, research and the doctoral seminar will be carefully sequenced and structured in order to make sure students can complete the program. Judaica courses and summer courses will be more flexible, based on individual needs and preferences.

During the first semester(s), courses are selected in consultation with the program adviser, and later, in consultation with the dissertation adviser. The dissertation adviser has the prerogative to require additional course work or readings beyond the number of credits specified in the bulletin for each category of course work. View the course grid.

First-Year Review
The candidacy of all first-year doctoral students will be reviewed during their second semester of residence. The doctoral committee and the dean will review the progress the student has made to date and assess the student's potential to complete the degree. Occasionally a review may result in a recommendation to terminate the student's candidacy in the program.

Course of Study
As described above, in creating the program plan, courses are selected in consultation with the program adviser and with the dissertation adviser. The purpose of the consultations is to strengthen the student's background knowledge and to build expertise in areas which are crucial to the preparation of the student's dissertation proposal.

Hebrew Language
All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination. In order to receive the degree, students must demonstrate a proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of HEB 5304 (advanced). Students must study Hebrew every semester until this proficiency is attained.

Judaica (15 credits)
Students are required to take at least five advanced graduate level courses in Judaica beyond the M.A. and in addition to the following foundation courses:

  • TAL 5021: Introduction to Talmud
  • BIB 5011: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
  • LIT 5031: Introduction to Liturgy
  • MDS 5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition II

If a student can demonstrate mastery of foundation course materials or has previously taken a comparable course for credit at an accredited institution, a waiver may be requested. Students of the Davidson School who wish to take a course in Talmud above the level of Talmud 5027 must take the Diagnostic Exam.

Education (27 credits)
These credits reflect both the predetermined sequenced courses and a balanced selection of courses in the following areas: history and philosophy of education, curriculum and instruction, and administration and supervision.

Research Methods (9 credits)
Students will gain an understanding of educational research and develop facility in applying research skills through enrollment in three types of courses and seminars, as well as through their involvement in research projects related to their work in The Davidson School.

Doctoral Seminar (four semesters, total 12 credits)
All part-time doctoral candidates participate in a weekly seminar together with full-time doctoral candidates for four semesters.

The four semesters of the doctoral seminar will consist of the following content:

  • One semester on research questions, including the exploration of what makes a good research question. It will also deal with the relationship between research questions and research methods. It will present examples of research (in general and Jewish educational contexts) but focus on their questions and method rather than their specific findings. It will also include selected JTS education doctoral dissertations from previous years.
  • Two semesters on selected readings from the Comps list to help students prepare for and build group togetherness, inspiring study groups organized by the students themselves. The specific readings will be divided up so that the two semesters will focus on different materials.
  • One semester will be an in-depth look at a topic of interest—mostly led by the doctoral students themselves. The professor will choose a topic of general interest and the class will divide up responsibilities for leading the discussion and teaching the class for each session. This will be an advanced course in a classic seminar style. It will fulfill the social dimension of the seminar but will also advance students' thinking in other areas and give them experiences as teachers.
Study at Other Institutions

Consortium

All matriculated students in The Davidson School may take courses offered through Teachers College at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. Students must receive approval from their advisor and must register for these classes through JTS by filling the JTS Consortium Registration Form.

Transfer Credit

A student who wishes to transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at other institutions of higher learning must submit an official transcript with complete course descriptions to The Davidson School Admissions Office, which will consult with the appropriate department. Credits counted toward another degree will not be considered. The maximum number of credits accepted for transfer is 9. No credit will be accepted for transfer from courses in which a grade lower than B was earned.

Summer Study

Courses offered during the summer sessions may be used to fulfill program requirements. Summer school is also open to graduate students in Jewish studies and related fields from other academic institutions. For information and application forms, contact the Summer Sessions Office at (212) 678-8886.

Completion of Requirements

A candidate must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree, including courses, comprehensive examination and the deposit of the dissertation, in no more than ten years from the date of formal admission to the program. The dean regularly reviews student files to ascertain that appropriate progress is being made toward the completion of degree requirements.

Comprehensive Examinations

Upon completion of course work, part-time doctoral candidates are required to take a written and oral examination to assess their familiarity with and understanding of the field of Jewish education, educational literature and research methodology. Guidelines for the comprehensives appear in the Doctoral Studies Handbook which is available from the Office of the Dean.

Download the doctoral exam comprehensive reading list.

Dissertation

As the student approaches completion of all course and examination requirements, the student will, with the assistance of the program adviser, select a dissertation adviser from among the faculty members of the Department of Jewish Education. This selection is subject to the approval of the Dean of The Davidson School.

The student must select an appropriate dissertation topic that will be an original and important contribution to the candidate's proposed area of research. The student will prepare the proposal in consultation with the dissertation adviser.

The student will present a preliminary version of the proposal at a session of the doctoral seminar during the fourth semester of residence. When the adviser is satisfied with the written proposal that the student has prepared, the proposal must be presented to the faculty of the Department of Jewish Education at a hearing to which all of the departmental faculty have been invited. Faculty members must receive copies of the proposal at least one week before the hearing.

The approval of the department is required before the student may go forward with the dissertation. The faculty may decide that the proposal requires revision and, if need be, the dean will appoint a faculty committee to give final approval to the proposal. The final written version of the proposal must be submitted to The Davidson School Office and be approved in writing by the dissertation adviser and the dean.

The dissertation will be written under the direct guidance of the candidate's adviser and a second member of the faculty, selected by the adviser and the student in consultation with the dean. Dissertations are to be written in English.

After the dissertation has been approved by the adviser and the second reader, it must be defended before a committee. A student must apply for permission to defend the dissertation during the registration period of the semester in which he/she plans to defend.

The committee will consist of at least five members, including one from another institution. The committee will be selected by the dean, the adviser, and the student, at least eight weeks before the date of the defense. Copies of the approved dissertation must be submitted to the Office of The Davidson School for distribution to the members of the committee at least eight weeks before the defense.

The defense committee may approve the dissertation as submitted, accept it with minor or major revisions, or reject it. If major revisions are required, a subcommittee will be appointed by the defense committee chair and the dissertation adviser in consultation with the dean to review the revised dissertation. Rejection of a dissertation automatically terminates the student's participation in the program.

After final approval by the defense committee or the subcommittee, the dissertation shall be prepared in final form for deposit at least six weeks before commencement. Guidelines for the preparation and deposit of doctoral dissertations are available in The Davidson School Office.

Special Registration Categories

Students who are not taking courses are required to register for one of the following categories until the resumption of course work, the completion of all other degree requirements, graduation or official withdrawal from JTS:

Extended Residence
Students in the EdD program who have finished all course work but have not yet completed all comprehensive exams must register for this category.

Matriculation and Facilities
Students in the EdD program who have finished all course work and completed all other requirements except for the dissertation must register for this category.

Defense Semester
Students in the EdD program who plan to defend their dissertations must register for this category.

Maintaining Matriculation
Students who have completed all requirements for the degree but must wait for the next commencement exercises before receiving their degrees must register each semester for this category until their degrees are awarded. Although this category carries no fee, it does require the submission of a registration card each semester until the degree is awarded. Confirmation in writing from the dean of the school is required. Full payment of the commencement fee is due at spring registration.

Academic Standards

Attendance
Regular attendance is expected. Instructors shall have the right to stipulate attendance requirements and penalties that may be incurred as a result of failure to comply with these requirements, provided that students are informed within the first two weeks of the semester.

Grades
The grading system is as follows: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor; F, fail. No credit will be given for grades of C- or lower.

Once a grade has been received in the Office of the Registrar, it may be changed by the course instructor only upon written application from the instructor to the dean of the school. The dean's approval is required.

Full-time graduate students are permitted to take one course per year with a grade of pass/fail, with the permission of the departmental or program adviser.

Auditing
The grade R signifies that the student has attended classes and completed all course work except for the final exam and/or paper. Students must notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing, by the date stipulated in the academic calendar of their intention to audit. Failure to do so will mean that the course is being taken for credit. No credit will be given for courses taken for the grade R; such courses will not count toward fulfilling the requirements for the degree. Students cannot audit online courses.

Withdrawal
With the permission of their adviser, students may withdraw from a course by the date listed in the academic calendar. In such cases, the symbol W will appear on the transcript. Students are responsible for tuition and fees for classes from which they withdraw. Students who discontinue attendance in a course and who fail to withdraw formally within the designated period will receive the appropriate alternate letter grade.

Academic Probation
A student who receives two grades of B- (or lower) in a semester will receive a letter of warning along with a request to schedule a meeting with his/her adviser and the dean.

No student will be permitted more than one semester of probation toward the degree.

An EdD student who receives a grade lower than B will be placed on academic probation the following semester. To be restored to good standing, the student must register for the next semester and may neither receive a grade lower than B nor take an Incomplete during the semester of probation. Failure to meet this standard will constitute grounds for dismissal. The student shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedures, available in the Office of the Registrar. No student will be permitted more than one semester of probation toward the degree.

Incompletes
A student who, for compelling reasons, finds it necessary to postpone the submission of required course work may petition for the grade of Incomplete (INC). The student must obtain a Request for Incomplete Form from the Office of the Registrar. This form must contain all information requested, including a description of the work to be completed and the due date, which cannot be later than the date specified in the academic calendar. The form must be signed by the student, instructor, and dean or academic adviser. The form must be returned to the Office of the Registrar. The last day to request an Incomplete and submit the form is indicated in the academic calendar.

All outstanding course work must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the date specified in the academic calendar. Generally, this date is six weeks from the end of the final examination period.

The registrar shall record that work has been submitted and provide a written receipt to the student for the work received. The registrar will transmit the completed work to the instructor. No work should be sent or given directly to the instructor by the student. The student is advised to retain a copy of all work submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

The grade of INC shall remain on the student's transcript until a grade has been submitted by the instructor.

If a student fails to submit the outstanding work to the Office of the Registrar by the specified due date, the grade of INC will be converted to the alternate letter grade previously submitted by the instructor. This alternate grade reflects the instructor's assessment of a student's performance, taking into account the fact that work is missing. Students should be aware that the missing work may have been counted as an F (or 0) in the computation of the final grade for the course.

In special circumstances, the dean has the authority to grant an extension for the submission of overdue work as long as it is agreeable to the instructor. This extension must be sent in writing by the dean to the Office of the Registrar.

Students may not request an INC for any course during the semester of their graduation.

Absence from Final Examinations
A student who, because of illness or personal emergency, cannot be present for a scheduled final examination must inform the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible to indicate the reasons for the absence. The Office of the Registrar will inform the instructor and the dean of the student's absence. The student must arrange with the instructor for a makeup examination if the student cannot be present for the regularly scheduled makeup examination day. The instructor will inform the Office of the Registrar of the arrangement and provide the office with the exam so that it can be given to the student.

Students may not request Incompletes in advance for an in-class final examination. The student must take the makeup examination as soon as possible, but no later than the date indicated in the academic calendar governing the completion of outstanding work.

Leave of Absence
Students who, for compelling reasons, are unable to take courses or continue with appropriate academic progress in a particular semester may request a leave of absence from the dean and must register for a leave of absence each semester until they resume their studies.

MA students may generally not be granted a leave of absence for more than one semester; doctoral students, for not more than two semesters. During the period of leave, a student may not take an examination, written or oral; be advised by the academic adviser; or submit any part of an essay or dissertation required for the completion of a degree.