This page provides information about the content and format of the doctoral qualification exam.
Important: The exam format and content may vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is recommended to consult the instructor who will prepare the questions for the relevant term.
CONTENT
In the doctoral qualifying exam, questions are asked from three main areas. Information and recommended sources for each area are provided below.
Instructional Design
This area focuses on how instruction is planned, designed, developed, and implemented. It covers instructional models, design principles, technology integration, and the creation of effective learning environments. It is recommended that you study for this question using the following sources.
-
Reiser & Dempsey – “Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology”
-
Readings of the CEIT 652 Theories of Learning and Instruction
Research Design
This area covers the fundamentals of planning educational research, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs; sampling; instrumentation; validity and reliability; and the overall research process. It is recommended that you study for this question using the following sources.
-
Fraenkel, Wallen & Hyun – “How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education”
Statistics
This section includes fundamental statistical concepts in the behavioral sciences, such as descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, and various inferential analyses. It is recommended that you study for this question using the following sources.
-
Gravetter & Wallnau – “Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences”
FORMAT
The examination process is divided into two sequential steps: the Written Exam and the Oral Exam.
The Written Exam
The Written Exam is conducted face-to-face within the department. It is typically spread across two days: the first day focuses on Instructional Design, and the second day covers Research Design and Statistics. Although students may use a computer for answering certain questions, Internet use is strictly prohibited at all times.
The Instructional Design exam is closed-book. In contrast, students are permitted to use books when answering the Research Design questions. For the Statistics section, students will be provided with a formula sheet and may use a non-scientific calculator.
The Oral Exam
The Oral Exam takes place several days after the written component. In this session, an evaluating committee will ask students to defend, elaborate on, and clarify their answers from the written exam.
Crucially, failure in the Written Exam will immediately disqualify the student from taking the Oral Exam.