Admission Statement

• Designed for the experienced professional, the Doctor of Education offers opportunities for professionals in education, government, corporate human resource development, and human service organizations to do advanced formal study of their profession. The program offers broad studies in leadership and research.
• Students should have completed 60 graduate hours, including a Master's degree, prior to being admitted to the doctoral program. At least 12 hours must have been completed within the last ten years. Occasionally a student is admitted to the program with fewer than 60 credits beyond the Bachelor's, but additional work is then required before or during the doctoral cohort program. Completion of the doctoral program requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the Bachelor's degree.
• Formal doctoral study constitutes a minimum of 30 credits in a cohort core program for which there are no transfer hours permitted. The doctoral core is taken as a block and fulfills the residency requirements for the doctoral program.
• A cohort of 18-25 students is admitted every other year (on even numbered years). It is assumed that everyone admitted will be be able to access and use the web.
• Students will register for six hours of credit (two courses) during the fall and spring semesters of 2010-2011 and for three hours of credit (one course) each semester and summer session thereafter until the program is completed.
• Students must complete their studies, including dissertation, within 10 years of admission.
• The next available cohort begins classes in the fall semester of 2010.

Admission Process

Applications for the 2010 cohort are due by December 1, 2009. New admissions decisions will be announced by March 1, 2010.

Late applications will be considered only under special circumstances. Materials should be obtained from and submitted to:

Office of Graduate Admission
Drake University
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311

The formal application requires the following information and documents:

1. Completion of the Drake University Application for Graduate Admissions form.
2. Evidence of a completed Master's degree from an accredited institution and official transcripts for all post-secondary education. Applicant must have achieved an undergraduate grade point average 2.5 or better and a graduate grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Transcripts and other supporting materials are not returned to the applicant and become the property of Drake University.
3. Evidence of a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score of 43 (for exams taken before October 2004) or 400 (for exams taken after October 2004); or a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1,000 (combined quantitative and verbal scores) or better. The Drake Writing Competency Exam is not an acceptable testing option for this program.
4. Evidence of significant scholarly accomplishment, either a completed Master's thesis or other written product(s) that demonstrate ability to write clearly and coherently and to develop a thesis or an idea.
5. A letter requesting admission, including reasons for pursuing the doctoral degree, an overview of professional background and goals, and a discussion of professional philosophy.
6. Three letters of recommendation -- One from a current or recent employer and two from other qualified individuals who have first-hand knowledge of the applicant's professional abilities.

Not all qualified applicants can be admitted. Final admission decisions are based upon multiple criteria, including a range of applicant characteristics and the ability of the program to serve the applicant's needs.

Program Contacts

Dr. Catherine Gillespie
Professor
catherine.gillespie@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE, x4602
515-271-4602

Bridget Arrasmith
Program Assistant
bridget.arrasmith@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE, x2054
515-271-2054

Ann Martin
Graduate Admissions
ann.martin@drake.edu
1-800-44-DRAKE, x2034
515-271-2034