EDU-ABA - Exceptional Learning, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration, Ph.D.

Academic Requirements and Expectations

The student must maintain a cumulative point average of 3.25 and, in addition to adhering to the general regulations of the College of Graduate Studies, adhere to the specific regulations for the Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning program. These regulations, standards, and expectations include:

1. A minimum of 78–79 semester hours of successfully completed course work: 13 hours core courses, 21 hours research courses, 23–24 hours concentration courses, 6 hours elective courses, and a minimum of 15 dissertation hours. All hours should be taken at the 6000– and 7000–levels (transfer credit may include other level courses with approval). Note: if an equivalent specialty course is not available at the 6000– or 7000– level, a 5000–level course that is germane to the student's research/areas of research interest may be used to meet the minimum requirements of course work only by permission of the instructor of the course in question, student's advisor or graduate advisory committee, and the Director of Graduate Programs. Written approval must be secured before enrolling; this may be through inclusion on the approved Program of Study or separate documentation, such as a Substitution form.

a. A minimum of 51 semester hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate must be completed after admittance into the doctoral program, including a minimum of 12 semester hours at the 7000- level (excluding dissertation credit).
b. Upon approval from the student's advisory committee and the Director of Graduate Programs, up to nine (9) graduate credit hours with a grade of B or better can be counted toward the first 33 hours of the ELPhD Program of Study; these may be credits that are independent of or included in a previously earned degree. Requests to transfer more than a total of 18 credit hours must be approved by the Director of Graduate Programs prior to submitting the Program of Study or transfer request. No more than 27 semester hours of credit at the Master's and Educational Specialist levels, excluding theses and problems courses, may be accepted for transfer credit toward the doctorate. All transfer credit must align with Tennessee Tech and SACSCOC guidelines.

2. All requirements, including the dissertation, must be completed within a period of no more than eight (8) consecutive years.

3. As and Bs are required in coursework. A grade of C is considered a failing grade in doctoral programs. The student is allowed to maintain a grade of C in only one (1) course completed toward the Ph.D. degree. A student receiving two (2) Cs will be dismissed from the program. If a second C is received, it may not be substituted or moved out of the student's program of study in order to avoid dismissal.

4. Ds and Fs are not acceptable in the Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning program. If a student receives a grade of D or F in a course, she/he will be dismissed from the program.

5. If an Incomplete is granted, the student has one (1) academic year to complete the requirements. If the requirements have not been met in the allotted time period, the grade is converted to an IF and the student will be dismissed from the program.

6. A maximum of twelve (12) credit hours may be taken in one (1) semester. Written approval from the student's advisor/chair, department chair, and director of graduate programs is required to register and take more than 12 credit hours in one semester.

7. Course repetition is not allowed in the ELPhD program.

8. Course substitutions are allowed upon written approval from the advisor/graduate advisory committee, department chair, and director of graduate programs.

9. Students should complete their Comprehensive Examinations either a) following completion of all course work, excluding EDU 7920 and EDU 7990, or b) during the last semester during which such course work is to be completed. Comprehensive Examinations should occur no later than the end of the semester in which the student completes EDU 7920.

10. Approval of the dissertation topic, a successful dissertation proposal presentation to the entire graduate advisory committee, and IRB approval (where appropriate) must precede any significant work on the dissertation. IRB approval must be obtained for any human subjects research project initiated by a student (or faculty member); this includes studies using secondary data.

11. Satisfactory completion of the dissertation requires an oral defense.

12. Dissertation hours (15 hours minimum) may not be completed in fewer than 2 semesters.