APCE Ph.D. Coursework Overview
The Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education (APCE) is a structured, research-focused program designed to be completed in stages over three years, followed by dissertation work. Students progress through foundational courses in adult education, community development, program planning, and organizational leadership. The curriculum also includes rigorous training in research methods (both qualitative and quantitative), elective flexibility, and a dissertation phase. The planning sheet below outlines the recommended sequence of coursework.
| Education Ph.D. APCE Course Planning Sheet (Effective Fall 2024) | ||
|---|---|---|
Course | Plan to Take | Completed |
Year 1 Fall Semester | ||
| ED 7321 History and Philosophy of Adult Education (3 hours) | ||
| ED 7318 Advanced Studies in Adult Learning (3 hours) | ||
Year 1 Spring Semester | ||
| ED 7314 Community Development (3 hours) | ||
| ED 7315 Models of Inquiry: Understanding Epistemologies (3 hours) | ||
Year 1 Summer Session | ||
| ED 7316 Adult Development (3 hours) | ||
| ED 7324 Problems and Strategies in Program Planning Seminar (3 hours) | ||
| APCE Major Courses 12 hours Research Courses 12 hours | ||
Year 2 Fall Semester | ||
| ED 7322 Human Resource and Professional Development (3 hours) | ||
| ED 7352 Beginning Qualitative Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Fall or Spring) or ED 7351 Beginning Quantitative Research Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Fall or Spring) | ||
Year 2 Spring Semester | ||
| ADED 7325 Teaching Adults: Principles and Practices (3 hours) | ||
| ED 7352 Beginning Qualitative Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Fall or Spring) OR ED 7351 Beginning Quantitative Research Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Fall or Spring) | ||
Year 2 Summer Session | ||
| ED 7320 Literature Review for Research Writing (3 hours) (Year 2 Summer) | ||
| ED 7354 Intermediate Qualitative Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Year 2 Summer) or ED 7353 Intermediate Quantitative Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Year 2 Summer) | ||
Year 3 Fall Semester | ||
| ED 7312 Leadership and Organizational Change (3 Hours) | ||
| ED 7341 Dissertation Proposal Development (3 hours) (Fall or Spring, after core & research courses) | ||
| The Dissertation Proposal serves as the Comprehensive Exam. The Comprehensive Exam may be taken after completion of all major courses and Beginning Qualitative and Beginning Quantitative Research courses (you do not need to have taken elective courses). | ||
Elective Courses 6 hours You are required to take 2 elective courses. Courses taken as electives must be at the 7000 level. You may take them during the semester of your choice. One may be an Independent Study with a faculty member relevant to your dissertation. | ||
| Elective One (3 hours) | ||
| Elective Two (3 hours) | ||
Dissertation Courses 12 hours | ||
| ED 7199A, 7399A, and/or 7699A, and or 7999A Dissertation in Education –Adult, Professional, and Community Education (3 hours) | ||
| ** Students have 5 years from entering the Program to Advance to Candidacy. ** Students have 10 years to complete their dissertation and graduate. ** According to Texas law, students will be charged out-of-state tuition rates for courses taken after accruing 99 credit hours toward their degree. | ||