Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Florida Tech Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Florida Tech Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

STEM Education, Ph.D.


Major Code: 9126 Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
Delivery Mode(s): Classroom Admission Status: Graduate
Admission Materials: letters of recommendation,
résumé/CV, objectives, transcripts
Location(s): Main Campus - Melbourne

The primary purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy in STEM Education is to increase competence in a specialty area of STEM education (science education, mathematics education, educational technology), including competence in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Recipients gain appropriate knowledge and skills for teaching, supervisory, research and administrative positions in college and university STEM education programs; state and local school systems; and community and state colleges, liberal arts colleges and university programs in STEM fields. 

The focus of the Ph.D. program is typically theoretical, with attention to relevant research and practice. Dissertation research is oriented for the student going into a college/university teaching and research setting. 

Graduate courses in education are offered in the evening to allow working professionals to complete these coursework requirements. 

Admission Requirements 

Applicants should hold a master’s degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) or in a related area of K-16 STEM education, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Although not required, at least three years of teaching experience is highly recommended. 

Applicants must submit the application materials listed above, including a statement of purpose that describes their background and reasons for doctoral study in STEM education and in the area in which they wish to specialize. 

General admission requirements and the application process are presented under General Academic Information (all students)  and Graduate Academic Information 

Degree Requirements 

The Ph.D. program requires successful completion of a major technical area, in addition to the minimum of 42 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, which includes core courses, electives and dissertation research. A candidate for the doctoral degree must maintain a program grade point average of 3.2 or better throughout the 42 credit-hour program.

After the core coursework has been completed, the student must successfully complete written and oral comprehensive examinations. Typically, written comprehensive examinations are given in the last full week of January. A four-member committee approved by the program chair, department head and graduate programs office administers the written and oral comprehensive examinations. lt is the responsibility of the student to organize this committee and to schedule the oral examination, following doctoral program policies/procedures and in consultation with their academic advisor.

Before graduating, the student must present their dissertation in an open seminar. ln addition, the student must prepare a manuscript based on work undertaken for their research and submit it for publication to a peer-reviewed journal. 

General degree requirements are presented under Graduate Academic Information .

Curriculum 

Each student must establish an appropriate program of study with the guidance of their academic advisor, subject to final approval by the program chair and department head.

Major Technical Area

A minimum of 21 master’s degree-eligible credits beyond the bachelor’s degree must be completed in a major technical area within their selected STEM field (science, mathematics, educational technology). This may include courses previously applied to graduate degrees/study, courses taken as part of the Ph.D. program and any other credit hours from approved post-baccalaureate courses in the selected major technical area. 

Doctoral Program Requirements


Core Courses (18 credit hours)


All core courses must be taken at Florida Tech. Exceptions may be considered only through a written petition reviewed by the department head and graduate faculty in education. 

Elective Courses (minimum of 6 credit hours)


The doctoral program includes a minimum of six semester credit hours of electives. Elective credit hours are typically chosen to fulfill requirements in the major technical or specialization areas, for study relevant to their dissertation and to broaden competence in education. 

Dissertation (18 credit hours)


Students are required to complete at least 18 semester credit hours of dissertation in a manner that complies with all doctoral program policies. To advance to doctoral candidacy, the student must successfully defend the dissertation proposal to their committee. To complete degree requirements, the student must successfully defend the dissertation to their committee and have the final dissertation accepted by the graduate programs office. 

Total Credits Required: 42


Area of Specialization

Each area of specialization includes the major technical area, core and elective courses, and dissertation requirements.

Educational Technology

  • Completion of a major technical area in computer science (CSE or CIS)
  • Successful completion of 18-credit core and a minimum of six credit hours of electives
  • A minimum of 18 credit hours of EDS 6999 Dissertation-STEM Education , including defense of the dissertation proposal and dissertation in a selected area of educational technology

Mathematics Education

  • Completion of a major technical area in mathematics (MTH)
  • Successful completion of 18-credit core and a minimum of six credit hours of electives
  • A minimum of 18 credit hours of EDS 6999 Dissertation-STEM Education , including defense of the dissertation proposal and dissertation in a selected area of mathematics education

Science Education

  • Completion of the major technical area in a selected area of science
  • Successful completion of 18-credit core and a minimum of six credit hours of electives
  • A minimum of 18 credit hours of EDS 6999 Dissertation-STEM Education , including defense of the dissertation proposal and dissertation in a selected area of science education