Degree Information

Information for all degrees

Faculty advisors will provide each student with a copy of the student’s approved program plan to follow. Master’s degree students admitted Autumn 2015 and later, are required to run a Degree Audit (see this page for information on running the degree audit.)

You are expected to meet annually with your faculty advisor. At that meeting, you will review your progress toward your degree. After your meeting with your advisor, you will turn in a signed copy of your current degree audit or your degree program and annual review program sheet to the Student Services Office in 122 Ramseyer Hall or by scanning the document (as a PDF) and emailing it to EdStudies@osu.edu

General degree information is available in the Graduate Studies Committee Handbook (see link above) and documents with specific information for each degree are available on this webpage. Students with questions should contact their faculty advisor or staff in the Student Services Office (EdStudies@osu.edu or 614-688-4007). Students in programs that publish program-specific handbooks should also refer to those handbooks for degree and/or licensure requirements and information.

Master’s Degree Information

A master’s degree from the Department of Educational Studies can be completed through one of two options. You will discuss these options with your advisor soon after being admitted to the degree program.

  1. Thesis option: Students who choose the thesis option complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of course work and write a thesis for as the final project. Students are also required to complete an oral examination.
  2. Non-thesis option: Students who choose the non-thesis option complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework and completes a 4 hour comprehensive examination, a case study examination or an action research project. The type of exam (or alternate) is determined by the advisor in consultation with the student.

Some of our programs require more credit hours than the minimums stated above. It is key that you meet with your advisor soon after admission so you are aware of all degree requirements. You will be given a “Degree Plan and Annual Review” program sheet at orientation or during your first meeting with your advisor. This program sheet lists required coursework and other degree requirements. It is used to guide you through annual reviews and a final review prior to graduation.

Master’s degree students and their advisors will submit a signed degree plan within their first semester of enrollment. This allows you and your advisor to review the degree and program requirements, sign the plan and place it on file in the Student Services Office. Updated forms or signed copies of your degree audit will be turned in after each annual review. Final program sheets or degree audits will be submitted as part of the application to graduate process.

Helpful links:

MLT (Master’s of Learning Technologies) Degree Information

The Master of Learning Technologies provides students with the skills needed to excel in the field of learning technologies. This professional degree is fully online and prepares you to succeed in multiple sectors of education.

This 30-credit program provides you in-depth theoretical and practical training covering a range of topics including instructional design, technology skills, assessment, reading research, learning theory and specific applications such as online learning environments. All students are required to participate in a practicum experience in which they will document their experience in an electronic portfolio. The practicum will serve as the required comprehensive exam for this degree. Each student will be paired with a mentor in a professional setting who will guide and evaluate the practicum work.

MLT students will have access to the “MLT Hub” which is an online site for specific degree information including additional details about the practicum experience and electronic portfolio.

EdS (Education Specialist) specializing in School Psychology

The School Psychology Education Specialist (EdS) Program at The Ohio State University is a full-time program that is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and has conditional approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The EdS Program is also accredited by the Ohio Department of Education. To complete the EdS degree, students are expected to maintain two years of full-time enrollment that may include summers and to successfully complete on year of internship. All EdS students will obtain the Master of Arts degree after their first year (33 semester hours). The EdS degree must be at least 38 post-master’s semester hours for a total of 71 semester hours. Successful completion of the internship is required to obtain licensure from the Ohio Department of Education.

Students admitted to the EdS program will receive a program handbook that provides thorough information about the academic aspects of all aspects of the program including accreditation, program courses, required practicums, internships, and professional standards.

PhD Degree Information

PhD programs at The Ohio State University and in the Department of Educational Studies “provide students with an opportunity to achieve a high level of scholarly competence and to develop the capacity to contribute to the knowledge of their field” (ref. Graduate School Handbook Section II.6.1). You and your advisor will work together to design a program within the published requirements for your specialization that will help you achieve your educational and professional goals. You are required to submit a program plan signed by you and your advisor within the first semester of your enrollment. This plan will be used for your annual reviews and graduation clearance.

Understanding the policies and procedures surrounding PhD examinations including the candidacy examination and the final oral examination can be confusing. We can help you demystify the process with our helpful step-by-step guide to PhD examinations.

PhD degrees are a minimum of 80 semester hours post-baccalaureate or 50 semester hours post-masters. Some of our programs require more credit hours than the minimum. Please see your advisor and your program sheet for additional information.

Helpful Links

EdD Degree Information

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate’s vision “is to inspire all schools of education to apply the CPED framework to the preparation of educational leaders to become well-equipped scholarly practitioners who provide stewardship of the profession and meet the educational challenges of the 21st century.” To that end, the Department of Educational Studies has created an Education Doctorate to “provide students with an opportunity to achieve a high level of scholarly competence and to develop the capacity to contribute to the knowledge of their field” (ref. Graduate School Handbook Section II.6.1). Our EdD focuses on two areas of study: Educational Administration (with a K-12 focus) and Higher Education and Student Affairs (with a post-secondary education focus).

You and your advisor will work together to design a program within the published requirements of your specialization/area of study that will help achieve your educational and professional goals. You are required to submit a program plan signed by you and your advisor within the first semester of your enrollment. This plan will be used for your annual reviews and graduation clearance.

Understanding the policies and procedures surrounding EdD examinations including the professional examination and the final oral examination can be confusing. We can help you demystify the process with our helpful step-by-step guide to EdD examinations.

Education doctorate degrees are a minimum of 51 semester hours post-masters for the EdD specializing in Educational Administration and 54 semester hours post-masters for the EdD specializing in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Students are required to have a master’s degree and professional experience prior to admission to the EdD program. Check out the documents below for more information. Individual specializations will provide students with more detailed degree requirements and program sheets after admission to the program.