CECS Educational Computing Doctorate

The doctoral program in Educational Computing prepares graduates for dynamic roles in education and leadership in statewide, regional, national, and international computer education communities. The program in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems is nationally and internationally known for preparing future educators and technology professionals to advance knowledge of technology tools and their applications. Perhaps the single most distinctive feature of the program is its longevity at the forefront of educational computing in the nation. Although the Ph.D. in this area is new, four of the faculty have been teaching doctoral courses and supervising dissertations in this area for more than 15 years, and three have been at the forefront of the field for more than 20 years. This long lineage of wisdom traces its roots back to one of the earliest National Educational Computing Conferences held at UNT, in 1981.

The organizer to the right details the process involved in starting and then finishing the CECS Educational Computing Doctorate. Please visit those links for additional information.

The Educational Computing doctorate focuses on defining, understanding, and expanding the synergy of technology and learning/instructional systems theory. This program emphasizes the application of advanced technologies including computers and information technology to educational environments in the public and private sectors. The core of the program is the application of technologies within the learning process. Strong foundations in computing and information/cognitive science, in additional to learning theory and education, distinguish this program from many others.

Doc students

Graduates of the program will 1) understand the relationship between human learning, technology intervention, and instructional practices and 2) have experience in laboratory and field-based research, internships and practicum, presenting papers at professional conferences, and disseminating research through the traditional professional journals, through the Internet and other electronic media. Doctoral courses are designed to engender a sense of inquisitiveness in the students. Students are expected to engage in research and publish their efforts. Student research and publication are demonstrated in their doctoral portfolios. Each class requires that the students explore a topic related to the class and write the results of the investigation in a publishable format.

Many of our graduates are prepared to accept appointments at universities and organizations whose mission is the creation and testing of innovative applications of technology to education and training. Currently, over 50% of graduating doctoral students have accepted appointments as tenture-track professors.

Graduates of the CECS Educational Computing Doctorate have been hired as program coordinators, technology directors, professors, and principals at universities and school districts. An eye toward a future career is very much a part of the doctoral mentoring process, including choice of dissertation topic.