The Doctor of Education in Intercultural Education

The program goals include mastery of disciplines in intercultural education disciplines, graduate-level understanding of biblical and theological disciplines, growth in Christian maturity and integrity, and increased capacity to engage in educational administration, teaching, training, and research.

Program learning outcomes:

• Students demonstrate a theological understanding of the issues and practices of intercultural educational ministry.
• Students demonstrate doctoral-level research, communicating effectively in both written and oral forms.
• Students engage academics as a whole person in character formation, embracing the synergy between scholarship and piety, without which credibility and viability are compromised.
• Students demonstrate competence in the understanding of local and global education.
• Students carry out the pedagogical task of teaching and training others for gospel-centered intercultural education.

Applicants for the EdD program must possess an Association of Theological Schools’ (ATS) accredited MDiv or a comparable two-year master’s degree in appropriate intercultural, biblical, and theological disciplines with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and present at least two years of effective intercultural ministry experience relevant to the proposed EdD program focus. Doctoral applicants who are otherwise qualified but whose graduate degree is not an MDiv, or other specified master's degree may seek admission by establishing the educational equivalence of the admissions requirements. Interested parties are invited to contact the Director of Admissions or the Director f the EdD program for further information.

Doctoral students must have written and oral skills in English appropriate for research and dialogue at the post-graduate level. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must pass an entry written and oral English examination (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 25 on each of the four section tests of the TOEFL-IBT or 7.0 or above in each area with a 7.0 overall score on the IELTS. If the EdD student intends to enter the United States on a student visa, at least three months are necessary to secure admission approval and visa documentation.

If the applicant has completed a higher education degree in English from an accredited institution, they may apply for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver.

Of the 42 credits required for the EdD, a minimum of 6 credits should be taken in residence study at Western’s Portland campus through intensive modules. (Exceptions are made for international students and internationally-located students.)

The EdD program includes a total of 42 credits and consists of core modules (30 credits), specialization electives (6 credits), dissertation coursework (6 credits), including a comprehensive examination.

The program is usually completed through one-week periods of intensive study and interaction, followed by longer periods of reflection and application to ministry in the global context of educational service. On a full-time study basis, the equivalent of a three-year period is necessary to complete the doctorate. It is understandable to spread this over a longer period of time to ensure excellence in scholarship and integration with ministry. Much flexibility in scheduling is possible. Four components are included in the doctoral program: program focus, competency modules, comprehensive examination, and dissertation.

Program Focus: The program focus expresses the student’s opportunities or concerns in intercultural education. Students in the EdD program should identify educational challenges or ministry opportunities within an intercultural context to be the program focus, guiding him/her throughout the program in research and dissertation completion.

Competency Modules: Doctoral courses are designed around lectures, seminar presentations, practical assignments, and fieldwork. In addition to core courses, each student may choose a specific educational area for specialization by using six credits of electives.

General Education and Specialization Studies: All students are required to receive general education in intercultural education by earning 24 credits.

Each student will be guided by his/her program focus throughout the EdD program. Development in an area of specialization is facilitated by six credits of electives, six credits of research methodology, and six credits of dissertation research.

Comprehensive Examination: The written comprehensive examination is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding and application of intercultural and educational insights to their program focus.

Dissertation: The EdD dissertation is the result of research, reading, reflection, and fieldwork centered around the program focus. It contains recognition and clarification of a major topic in intercultural education and a process to research the topic at hand, leading to implementation in ministry and career advancement. The dissertation brings together work done in the competency modules and the refining of thought through interaction with faculty and field research.