Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Doctoral Programs in Education


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Director of Doctoral Programs
John Gleason, Ed.D.

Office: The Benoit Education Center
Phone: (603)897-8592
Email: jgleason@rivier.edu

Doctoral Programs at Rivier University began in 2008 with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Learning, Ed.D. In 2013 the Doctoral Program in Counseling and School Psychology, Psy.D., was inaugurated. Each of these degree programs builds on the strengths of programs and faculty in order to offer the terminal degree in their respective fields. The goal of each program is to offer students opportunities to continue their education at the most advanced level of doctoral education. The doctoral programs parallel the structure and organization of doctoral study, that is, with core classes in each field designed to advance knowledge, provide for specialization and elective courses based on the student’s interest and research, include a written and oral comprehensive examination designed to demonstrate the student’s acquired knowledge and scholarship, and require dissertation research.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program in Leadership and Learning combines quality nursing education with the strengths of leadership and learning to offer a specialization in Nursing Education. This set of specialization courses within the doctoral program in leadership and learning is designed for working professionals who hold a master’s degree in nursing who have an interest in learning, research, and advancing their knowledge about leadership in teaching, human growth and development, and the policies and practices that enhance learning. The nursing education specialization includes courses and content that help qualify nursing professionals to become faculty in the critical need area of education.

Students are encouraged to study the two programs and the options that they afford in doctoral study. The program directors are available to advise on the appropriate program of study for prospective doctoral students.

GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

To satisfy program requirements, each student must perform the following:

  • Maintain continuous enrollment until the dissertation defense;
  • Complete course work and dissertation or research project and defense;
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher;
  • Take both an oral and a written comprehensive examination;
  • Submit and defend dissertation proposal and dissertation or research to committee;
  • Complete all program requirements and the dissertation/research project within seven years from the first semester of enrollment. To continue in the program past seven years requires the student to apply for an extension that includes a time-frame for completion of all requirements, and the expected date for graduation.

Ed.D. Admission Requirements and Procedures

An applicant for the Ed.D. doctorate must meet the following requirements:

  • Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees, Ed.S. or C.A.G.S. from an accredited College or University;
  • Grade point average: 3.25 or higher in graduate level courses at the 500 level or above;
  • Documentation of at least three years of relevant professional experience; and
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytic writing sections within the last five years.

The items below must be submitted by the applicant to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Rivier University, 420 South Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060:

  • A completed doctoral application; available online at www.rivier.edu/edd and received by midnight on February 15;
  • A $100 application fee;
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions where the student has received degrees and taken courses;
  • A personal statement of purpose for doctoral study that states the applicant’s (a) personal and professional experiences and how they relate to the doctoral program; (b) rationale for pursuing the doctoral program; (c) a statement of a research, problem or question(s) to pursue through the doctoral study and are interested in researching; and, (d) the ways in which doctoral study will contribute to the applicant’s personal and professional goals and plans.
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons who can speak to the following areas:  (a) one recommendation from present or former employers who can address the applicant’s professional experience and leadership potential; (b) one recommendation from a current or former professor or  colleague who can discuss the applicant’s ability and potential for advanced course work, scholarship, and research; and (c) one recommendation from someone who can speak to the applicant’s personal and professional character.

After all application materials have been received, the applicant may be contacted to schedule a formal interview with the admissions committee. When a decision is reached, student will be notified by letter.

Psy.D. Admission Requirements and Procedures

There are two routes of admission to the proposed program, Traditional and Advanced Standing.

The Traditional route is for students who hold a bachelor’s degree. This 120-hour program includes coursework, practica, research, and internship requirements (as outlined in the Program of Study section below). Students entering under this route may transfer a maximum of 9 graduate credits into the Program.

Traditional students may earn an Ed.S. in Counseling degree en route to the Psy.D.

Students are never admitted to the Psy.D. program for the purpose of completing the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Ed.S. in School Psychology or Counseling programs.

The second route to admission, Advanced Standing, is open to students with a master’s, specialist, CAGS, or Ed.S. degree or the equivalent in Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or School Psychology from a regionally accredited institution. (See details about admission criteria for Advanced Standing below). This program includes coursework, practica, research and internship requirements (as outlined in the Program of Study, Section 7 below), and the number of credits required are determined on the basis of which and how many courses are credited to advanced standing (see Admission Criteria below). Students entering under this route may transfer a maximum of 9 graduate credits into the Program, but they may not be for courses credited toward advanced standing.

Rivier University offers an M.Ed. in Counseling and School Psychology, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, an Ed.S. in School Psychology, and an Ed.S. in Counseling. In fact, the Introductory Courses in these programs overlap with the PsyD Program introductory courses. Students in the above Rivier University programs may apply for Advanced Standing admission to the Doctoral Program after successful completion of 40 graduate credits.

PsyD Program Admission Criteria

Individuals may apply for admission to the Psy.D. Combined Program in Counseling and School Psychology via two routes: Traditional or Advanced Standing.

 Applicants are reviewed and evaluated on the following criteria:

  • For admission to all Rivier University graduate programs:
    • Transcripts all from colleges and universities attended
    • Letters of reference (see Letters of Reference below)
    • Statement of purpose (see Admission Requirements below)
  • For Traditional admission to the Psy.D. Program:
    • An earned bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field from an accredited institution
    • Resume or CV
    • Undergraduate grade point average, with a preference of 3.0
    • General GRE scores within the last 5 years
    • For students whose native language is not English, evidence of proficiency in the English language. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE) are accepted. Doctoral programs require minimum scores of TOEFL (95), IELTS (7.0), and PTE (66)
    • Interview with the Core Faculty Committee
    • Evidence of commitment to the values, goals, and mission of the University and the Program in the Statement of Purpose and letters of reference
  • For Advanced Standing admission to the Psy.D. Program:
    • An earned master’s degree in a field related to psychology or counseling from an accredited institution and coursework relevant to the Program (see below regarding Introductory Courses for Advanced Standing)
    • Resume or CV
    • Undergraduate grade point average, with a preference of 3.0, and graduate grade point average, with a preference of 3.5
    • General GRE scores within the last 5 years
    • For students whose native language is not English, evidence of proficiency in the English language. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE) are accepted. Doctoral programs require minimum scores of TOEFL (95), IELTS (7.0), and PTE (66)
    • Interview with the Core Faculty Committee
    • Evidence of commitment to the values, goals, and mission of the University and the Program in the Statement of Purpose and letters of reference

Introductory Courses for Advanced Standing. In order to be eligible to apply for Advanced Standing applicants must 1) possess a master’s, specialist, CAGS, or Ed.S. degree or the equivalent in Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or School Psychology from a regionally accredited institution and 2) provide evidence of preparation at the graduate-level equivalent to that provided by at least 36 credits from the below Introductory Courses offered in the Psy.D. Program:

  • ED 501 Fundamentals of Research (3)
  • ED 505 Advanced Psychology of Human Development (3)
  • ED 530 Assessment of Learning and Reading Disabilities (3)
  • ED 538 Cognitive Assessment I (3)
  • ED 610 Basic Human Interaction (3)
  • ED 611 Psychotherapy for Children (3)
  • ED 614 Clinical Counseling Theories (3)
  • ED 615 Clinical Counseling Techniques (3)
  • ED 616 Group Counseling (3)
  • ED 618 Ethics of Clinical Counseling (3) or ED 701 Foundations of School      Psychology (3)
  • ED 623 Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
  • ED 624 Psychopathology (3)
  • ED 625 Testing and Assessment (3)
  • ED 629 Addictive Behaviors (3)
  • ED 681 Career and Lifestyle Development (3)
  • ED 704 Personality Assessment I (3)
  • ED 705 Neuropsychological Assessment I (3)
  • ED 720 Social and Cultural Foundations  (3)
  • ED 721 Advanced Multicultural Perspectives (3 credits)

Courses that may be credited for advanced standing will be reviewed during the admissions process. That is, any such courses should have been taken at a regionally accredited institution, should have earned a “B” grade, should be at the graduate level (500 or above), and should have been taken in the previous six years.

Advanced Standing students may be required to complete Introductory Course requirements not adequately covered in their previous graduate programs or not reflecting current knowledge and standards in the field. Any such courses will be indicated in the letter of acceptance and also noted in the student’s Program of Study. In essence, Advanced Standing students may be granted credit for 36 to 45 credits of previous coursework and thus bypass one year of full-time study. Credits granted to satisfy specific course requirements for Advanced Standing do not appear on the transcript. However, they do appear on the student’s Program of Study, thus indicating that the requirement for those courses has been met.

Application Requirements

A complete application, must be received by the Admissions Office by midnight of the annual deadline date. The application must include:

  • A completed and signed online application, available at www.rivier.edu/PsyD
  • A $100.00 non-refundable application fee
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions where the applicant has received degrees and/or course credit
  • A written statement of purpose (3-6 pages) that reflects the applicant’s
    •  professional experience and how this experience relates to doctoral study
    •  reasons for pursuing doctoral study
    • research and/or clinical goal(s), problem(s), and/or question(s) to  be addressed during doctoral study and research
    • how doctoral study will enhance the applicant’s personal and professional career goals
    • why you think the combined program in counseling and school would be a good fit for the applicant
    • diversity experiences and evidence of a commitment to serving diverse populations
  • At least three (3) letters of reference that speak to the applicant’s professional and/or academic work, potential for successful completion of doctoral study, and character
  • Writing sample
    • For Traditional Admission students, an academic writing sample
    • For Advanced Standing students, a minimum of one representative clinical work sample of current professional skills (i.e., test reports, treatment plans, case conceptualizations or summaries, etc.). If none of these are available, an academic writing sample should be submitted.

Transfer Credits

At the time of admission, the applicant may transfer up to 9 post-graduate credits at the 500 level or above into the doctoral program provided that (a) the transferred credits were earned at an accredited college or university; (b) a grade of B or better is received in all courses for which transfer is requested; (c) the course (s) were completed within the past ten years; and, (d) a degree or certificate has not been awarded for the courses or credits. The applicant identifies the courses to be transferred and specifies the ways in which the course(s) are consistent with their doctoral program of study and related to the content or research methods associated with their dissertation. The program director or divisional chair must review and approve the transfer requests.

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