Texas State adds doctorates in Developmental Ed

Posted by University News Service

July 28, 2011

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has authorized Texas State University-San Marcos to offer two doctoral programs in developmental education beginning in the 2011 fall semester.

The two programs – a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of education degree – are designed to produce leaders in a field deemed critical to changing workforce needs in Texas and nationally.

“Studies indicate that we require a workforce with higher education attainment. But, at the same time, we are seeing smaller numbers of high school graduates who are prepared to do college work. We believe our new doctoral programs in developmental education will produce leaders who can help bridge that gap,” said Gene Bourgeois, Texas State provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Texas State’s Ph.D. program in developmental education will produce researchers, university faculty and scholars qualified to build a strong research and theoretical base for developmental education. The Ed.D. program is designed to produce program leaders and practitioners in the field of developmental education.

Texas State currently offers the only master’s degree program in developmental education in Texas. The new Ph.D. program will be the first of its kind in the nation and the Ed.D. program will be the second in the nation.

“Developmental education programs can help underprepared students achieve postsecondary success,” said Bourgeois. “The consequences of maintaining the status quo are reduced state and national per capita income and wasted human capital.”

Degree plans will consist of 48-66 credit hours, depending on each candidate’s academic preparation, scholarly accomplishments, experience and professional goals. Texas State now offers 11 doctoral programs.

The new doctoral programs will be housed in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Texas State’s College of Education. For further information, contact the department at (512) 245-2157.