Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy and Management

DEPM CURRICULUM

Requirements for the PhD in Education Policy and Management are as follows:

To view the detailed DEPM curriculum, please see KIMEP University Catalog *hyperlink to the Catalog

STUDY PLAN

The following tables are a sample program of study to finish the PhD in Education Policy and Management in three years.

Total for Program: 75 credits (180 ECTS)

EPM/TFL6101 Academic Writing (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces young researchers to the principles and practices of academic discourse writing. Doctoral students will practice writing their own articles – formulating the purpose of the article, reviewing the literature on the research topic, describing the research methodology, methods and results, developing conclusions and discussion part in the light of modern literature, editing and formatting texts in accordance with the requirements of international journals. Doctoral students will have the opportunity to receive constructive feedback and editorial comments from the faculty, allowing them to gain real experience in academic writing and prepare the article for publication internationally.

EPM/TFL6102 Philosophy of Education (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

This course is a study of human learning and cognitive organization and process. The content will provide an overview of the development of learning theory and cognitive models since the beginning of the scientific study of human learning and mental processes. Major theories concerning the learning process and their implications for the instructional process are investigated.

EPM/TFL6103 Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

The purpose of this course is to introduce doctoral students to field methods and qualitative data analysis, including such methods as unstructured interviews and observation. Doctorate students will become acquainted with the epistemology of qualitative approaches and with developing skills in all areas of qualitative methodology, through first-hand experience of using these methods to collect and analyze data on an appropriate topic.

EPM6203 Teaching Internship: Educational Leadership (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

This course is based on an analysis of case studies and is aimed at developing important skills and developing concepts related to the ability to manage an educational organization. In the framework of this discipline, topics such as organizational theory, factors and the structure of the educational process management, criteria for making important management decisions to improve the effectiveness of educational activities, and the main corporate governance models in the field of education are considered. Doctoral students learn to develop their own leadership style and successfully manage curricula and educational institutions.

EPM6201 Leadership and Management for Changes in Education (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

In this course, doctoral students will get acquainted with new management theories that reflect the mutual influence of educational processes and sociocultural changes. During this course, they will master methods, skills and theories in the field of motivation and optimization of the educational process performance, ways of monitoring and ensuring the quality of educational services provided. The main attention is paid to the development of managerial and creative decisions used in educational organizations to ensure effective social changes in the field of education.

TFL/EPM6202 Advanced Program Evaluation (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Doctoral students learn to conduct a variety of evaluations of language education programs, including needs assessment, formative research, process assessment, outcome monitoring, impact assessment, and cost analysis. Doctoral students gain hands-on experience through a series of exercises that include conceptual model development and familiarity with various research methods — experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental.

EPM6204 Policy Development and Implementation (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Education policy is crucial to educational improvement and renewal. In this course, education professionals develop the skills for critical analysis of education policy at the local, national, and international levels. The topics include: the processes of policy implementation and evaluation, the use of logic models in the policy process, ensuring educational equity and justice, etc.

EPM/TFL6205 Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

The goal of the course is to teach students (1) to understand and (2) to confidently apply a variety of statistical methods and research designs that are essential for education research. The course covers basic data management, measurement, hypothesis testing, bivariate least-squares regression, multivariate least-squares regression, and some extensions.

EPM6211 The Economics of Education (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Education is a key contributor to the stability of local, national, and global economies. Addressing challenges related to these key ideas, education professionals in this course explore the financing and provision of education. They apply economic principles and econometrics to their understanding of educational practices and policies. They also identify research to improve efficiency, quality and equity of education.

EPM6302 Research Internship (6 credits, 10 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM/TFL6103 Qualitative Research Methods or EPM/TFL6205 Quantitative Research Methods

During the research internship, students will gain first-hand experience in data collection and analysis under the supervision of both local and international supervisors. Students will also have the opportunity to further develop their literature review.

EPM/TFL6304 Seminar in Advanced Research Methods (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: TFL Qualitative Research Methods

This is a special topic seminar is designed to further develop students’ knowledge and skills in qualitative research methods. Seminars proposed by faculty could focus on advanced discourse analysis, advanced ethnography, advanced critical discourse analysis or corpus linguistics. Seminar topics will be listed on the program website during the registration period prior to the start of the semester.

EPM6601 Research Projects including research seminars and publications (6 credits, 15 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Conducting research, participating in research seminars and conferences, publishing articles to meet MES requirements for PhD candidates

EPM6602.1 Dissertation 1 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM/TFL6101 Academic Writing

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work.

EPM6602.2 Dissertation 2 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM6602.1 Dissertation 1

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work.

EPM6602.3 Dissertation 2 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM6602.2 Dissertation 2

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work.

EPM6603 Dissertation Defense (3 credits, 12 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM6602.3 Dissertation 3

Dissertation Defense

EPM/TFL6303 Language Policy and Planning in Education (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: EPM/TFL6102 Philosophy of Education

The course is aimed at acquainting with theoretical approaches to language policy and planning, with the theories and methods that are used to develop research and applied projects. The aim of the course is to develop a critical understanding of linguistic diversity in different social contexts, including in the media, in public institutions, at school and on the streets of a multilingual city.

TFL6201 Seminar in Applied Linguistics (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

This is a special topic seminar that will focus on various contemporary issues in language acquisition and teaching. Seminar topics include (but are not limited to): bilingualism, language policy and planning, discourse analysis, program evaluation, and critical pedagogy. Seminar topics will be listed on the program website during the registration period prior to the start of the semester.

TFL6203 Teaching Internship (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Internship gives PhD students an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge acquired during their studies, get some business and academic experience and be better prepared for their future career.

TFL6304 Advanced Second Language Acquisition (3 credits, 5 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

This course aims to deepen the students’ understanding of historical and contemporary theoretical perspectives on SLA and core methodological topics in work in SLA research. Students will be also encouraged to reflect on how L2 acquisition theory informs teaching practices in L2/FL contexts.

TFL6601 Research Projects including research seminars and publications (6 credits, 15 ECTS)

Prerequisite: None

Conducting research, participating in research seminars and conferences, publishing articles to meet MES requirements for PhD candidates.

TFL6602.1 Dissertation 1 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: TFL/EPM6103 Qualitative research methods, TFL/EPM6205 Quantitative research methods

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work. PhD dissertation is a scholarly research work, involving the analysis of a specific problem in the area of specialization, evaluation of the results of the analysis, which serves as a basis for developing specific proposals and implementing the appropriate solution to the problem. The student will present an oral defense of their dissertation in front of the members of   the dissertation committee, in a public forum.

TFL6602.2 Dissertation 2 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: TFL/EPM6103 Qualitative research methods, TFL/EPM6205 Quantitative research methods

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work. PhD dissertation is a scholarly research work, involving the analysis of a specific problem in the area of specialization, evaluation of the results of the analysis, which serves as a basis for developing specific proposals and implementing the appropriate solution to the problem. The student will present an oral defense of their dissertation in front of the members of   the dissertation committee, in a public forum.

TFL6602.3 Dissertation 3 (4 credits, 11 ECTS)

Prerequisite: TFL/EPM6103 Qualitative research methods, TFL/EPM6205 Quantitative research methods

Students will use this period to advance their dissertation writing and research work. PhD dissertation is a scholarly research work, involving the analysis of a specific problem in the area of specialization, evaluation of the results of the analysis, which serves as a basis for developing specific proposals and implementing the appropriate solution to the problem. The student will present an oral defense of their dissertation in front of the members of   the dissertation committee, in a public forum.

TFL6603 Dissertation Defense (3 credits, 12 ECTS)

Prerequisite: TFL6602.3 Dissertation 3

Dissertation Defense

What specific jobs will this degree qualify me for?
Education Policy and Management is a multidisciplinary field that can qualify you to work as an administrator, an education expert in government and private agencies, a lobbyist, a curriculum designer, an advisor in legislative and legal settings, or an analyst.

Here are a few of the job titles open to those who hold a doctorate in education policy and leadership:

• School principalAs a school principal, you’ll guide policy development and oversee student affairs at one school. You’ll manage teachers and other administrators while also acting as a student advocate and the voice of the school in the community.
• Education policy analystAs an education policy analyst, you’ll identify challenges, research mandated education policies, analyze their effectiveness, and lobby for more effective laws related to education. In other words, you’ll be responsible for seeing problems and finding workable solutions. In this role, you will work with not only teachers and administrators, but also lobbyists, lawyers, politicians, and special interest groups.
• Director of education policyAs a director of education policy, you’ll work for a university, state agency, or school board to develop policies and legislative agendas that make it easier to meet the needs of students in public and private educational settings.
• University deanAs a university dean, you’ll manage a specific department at a school or work on behalf of a specific student population. You’ll serve as a liaison among faculty, administration, and students. You may also be responsible for developing new curricula, overseeing fundraising initiatives, creating or signing off on budgets, and even processing student complaints.

PhD in Education Policy and Management holders also work outside the education system, in national nonprofits concerned with education, policy think tanks, and government agencies.