May 03, 2024  
***DRAFT 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog*** 
    
***DRAFT 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog***

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.)


Program Overview


Ideal for those interested in a career as a professor in teacher education programs at the collegiate level, as well as those interested in becoming master teachers, curriculum and instruction specialists, supervisory personnel, academic coordinators, and educational specialists in state departments. Coursework may be taken in elementary, secondary, special, or STEM education to allow for individual needs and goals. This program provides you with the necessary background and professional expertise to go into university teaching, supervisory work in schools, curriculum planning, consultant work or similar positions. The USD School of Education has been accredited by CAEP (formerly NCATE) since 1956. Learn more at usd.edu/tre

DELIVERY: On campus

Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction


The Doctor of Education requires a minimum of 90 hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, or 60 hours beyond the master’s degree, including 15 credit hours of dissertation. A program of study designed by the committee chair and candidate must follow the catalog requirements and be approved by the division chair and must include one major area coursework selected from one or more of the areas of Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Indian Education, Middle Level Education, and/or Technology for Education and Training.

Students seeking a doctorate should discuss the residency options in this program with the division chairperson or their advisor upon admission to the program. 

Doctor of Education, Curriculum & Instruction: Total 90 credit hours


  • Required courses in major area 45 credit hours
  • Required courses in support area 15 credit hours
  • Other support courses 30 credit hours

Required Courses in Major Area: 45 credit hours


Minimum of 45 credit hours with ELED, SEED, SPED, MLED, INED, TET, LT prefix to include

Advanced Courses:

  • 21 credit hours approved by the advisor. Courses can come from one or any of the following curriculum areas ELED/SEED/SPED/INED/MLED/TET/LT

Required Courses in Support Areas: 15 credit hours


General Application Requirements


  1. Completed application
  2. $35 application fee
  3. Official transcripts*
  4. Letters of recommendation*
  5. Statement of purpose
  6. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

State Authorization- It Matters Where You Live


If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage. 

State Authorization

Questions?


Division of Teacher Residency and Education
Phone:605-658-6639 | tre@usd.edu | usd.edu/tre

Graduate Admissions 
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad