A qualitative analysis of a cohort doctoral program in educational administration

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new educational doctorate-training program initiated at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana that utilized both distant learning and cohort paradigms, and incorporated the requirements for a Superintendent\u27sCertification, in addition to the Ph.D.degree. Stufflebeam\u27s “process” method of evaluation was employed using both surveys and personal or phone interviews to obtain data from students who had either graduated or completed the course work. Questions were asked regarding student expectations, curriculum, adequacy of inclusion of the latest IPSB Standards, cohorts, distant learning technology, communication methods used, graduation roadblocks, and aids to job performance. Findings included the following suggestions: greater use of mentors and the program\u27s web site, using a Polycam system for instruction except for technical courses, like statistics, which should be taught in-person, the necessity for professors to maintain contact with students after the completion of course work, more information regarding finance budgeting, and negotiations presented with the aid of case studies applicable to present-day school situations, and structuring the courses so that dissertation topics, relevant literature research and the first three chapters be accomplished upon completion of the course work. The study validated the importance of careful selection of students for the program as the collegiality, interactive support, sharing, and communication among the cohort members played a vital part in their successful completion of the program, but proved a valuable asset in their job performance after graduation. Ninety per-cent of the students interviewed stated that they would not have sought a Ph.D. if it weren\u27t for this new program, as it enabled to obtain the degree while continuing in full time administrative jobs and not incurring the cost and time required to travel to Purdue and back, yet still have the advantage of learning with outstanding professors