Instructional and Performance Technology, Ed.D.

The Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology prepares students to fulfill leadership roles related to organizational development, performance improvement, technology integration, and workplace learning across multiple sectors. Graduates will find career opportunities in K12, higher education, business and industry, military, healthcare, and other organizational settings. The Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology is an applied doctoral degree, preparing students to serve as practitioner-scholars, providing leadership, conducting applied research, and guiding change management efforts based on research and best practices related to instructional design, instructional technology, performance technology, and technology integration. Students will learn to apply the principles of systems theories, learning theories, communication theories, instructional theories, and applied research to solve organizational problems.

Students will develop, implement, and evaluate an applied research-based dissertation-in-practice in conjunction with their coursework, which consists of 24-credit hours of IPT Core coursework, 12-credit hours of Research and Analysis Core coursework, and 15-credit hours of Dissertation coursework. The anticipated time to completion of all 51 credit hours, including all coursework and the dissertation-in-practice, is 3 years. All dissertations must be professionally edited by an editor approved by the Office of Doctoral Programs, with proof of editing required before scheduling the final defense. This fully online program includes three residencies. Each residency will consist of online work before and after the residency, which will consist of a few days of intensive face-to-face work.

The expected time to completion is 3 years. Students are expected to complete 6-credit hours per semester, year-round. If a student deviates from this plan, opting to take more or fewer credits in a given semester, they should recognize that doing so may impact their time to completion and must work closely with their advisor to determine the impact on the overall degree plan. Students who fail to complete all program requirements by the end of the required coursework must enroll in a one-credit-hour dissertation-in-practice continuation course each semester until graduation.

A grade of "B" or better is required in all coursework. Students earning a grade lower than B will be required to repeat the course, which may delay graduation. Student performance will be continually assessed by faculty. Students earning more than two grades lower than "B", or two or more grades of unsatisfactory during the dissertation-in-practice phase of the program, may not be allowed to enroll in additional coursework and may be dismissed from the program.

Admissions Requirements

To apply to the online School of Education Doctoral Programs at UWF, prospective students must apply for graduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted into the University of West Florida.

This initial step establishes eligibility for graduate study and ensures that students meet the university's basic admission standards. Beyond this foundational requirement, the doctoral program has specific additional requirements that demonstrate readiness for advanced academic work and professional leadership.

The admission process is designed to identify candidates who possess the intellectual curiosity, professional experience, and academic preparation necessary for success in a rigorous doctoral program. Each application component is carefully evaluated to assess potential for contributing to the field of curriculum and instruction while completing the demanding coursework and dissertation requirements.

Required Application Materials

1. Academic Transcripts - Submit transcripts confirming a bachelor's and master’s degree from an institution whose accrediting agency is included on the UWF approved accrediting agencies list (Post-Secondary Institution Accrediting Agency Recognized by the United States Department of Education). These transcripts provide evidence of foundational academic preparation and help the admissions committee evaluate readiness for doctoral-level coursework.
2. Comprehensive Letter of Intent - Submit a detailed letter of intent responding to specific prompts that allow you to articulate professional goals, academic interests, and alignment with the program's mission. Responses to the prompts should not be less than three single-spaced pages in size 12 Times New Roman font. Students should recognize that it will be used to assess writing abilities and program fit. This substantial writing sample serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates written communication skills, provides insight into professional motivations, and allows the admissions committee to assess how well the goals align with the program's objectives. The letter should address:
   1. What personal and professional goals do you hope to meet through earning a doctorate, and why do you think the UWF Doctorate, either Curriculum & Instruction or Instructional Performance Technology, is a good fit for your goals?
   2. What special knowledge, skills, and experiences would you bring to the chosen specialization, and how are these aligned with the mission of the doctoral program? Please provide explanatory context if you have had experiences that may have affected your academic performance.
   3. Describe the knowledge, skills, and experiences you hope to gain from the program. Be careful to clearly articulate how your skills and experiences align with the goals of the specialization and show how these will impact your career trajectory.
3. Professional Reference Forms - Submit three professional letters of reference where at least two references can speak to your academic work, writing skills, and sustainability for rigorous doctoral academic work. These references should come from individuals who can provide meaningful insights into your potential for success in doctoral studies. The references serve as external validation of your academic capabilities, professional character, and readiness for the challenges of doctoral education. Choose references who know your work well and can speak specifically to your analytical thinking, research potential, and ability to complete complex long-term projects.​
4. Professional Résumé - Submit a current professional résumé that highlights educational background, work experience, professional accomplishments, and any relevant research or scholarly activities. This document should demonstrate a progression of professional growth and leadership experiences that have prepared you for doctoral study. Include information about publications, presentations, professional development activities, and leadership roles that showcase a commitment to the field of education and potential for contributing to scholarly discourse.
5. Interview Requirement - Invited applicants will be required to participate in a web-based interview.
6. Additional Admission Considerations - Applicants with a master's GPA below 3.5 are encouraged to provide additional evidence of academic readiness for doctoral-level coursework, such as examples of professional projects, design work, presentations, publications, or GRE scores. Additional materials may be requested by the program or admissions committee to support the review process.

   Submission of supplemental materials provides the committee with a broader context of an applicant's academic potential, but does not waive the overall competitive nature of the selection process. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of all materials in relation to the current applicant pool and departmental capacity.

The admissions committee takes a holistic approach to evaluating applications, considering the totality of your academic preparation, professional experience, and potential for success in the program.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the department prior to applying.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology must meet all requirements listed below.

• Complete 51 credit hours of coursework.
• Overall GPA of 3.25 or higher.
• Earn a grade of "B" or higher in all courses.
• Participate in three required residencies.
• Maintain continuous enrollment during the dissertation phase of the program.
• Complete and successfully defend the dissertation-in-practice.
• Meet all university requirements for the final submission of the completed dissertation.

Students are required to complete all components of the Instructional and Performance Technology Core (24 credit hours), Research and Analysis Core (12 credit hours), and Dissertation (15 credit hours) portions of the degree program. Students who have not completed the dissertation by the end of the 51 required credit hours will be required to register for one credit of dissertation continuation each semester until graduation.

Instructional and Performance Technology Core (24 credit hours)

Research and Analysis Core (12 credit hours)

Dissertation (15 credit hours)

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Students who are unable to complete their dissertation using EME 8980 may take EME 8984 for the remaining hours to complete their dissertation.

Instructional and Performance Technology Interventions Certificate

The Instructional and Performance Technology Interventions Certificate provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to apply theory and research to the practice of instructional design and technology-based learning and performance improvement. Students will apply research, theory, and best practices to lead intervention design and development projects and design pedagogically sound instructional products. Enrollment in this program is limited to students currently pursuing the Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology.

Organizational Systems and Leadership in Instructional and Performance Technology Certificate

The Organizational Systems and Leadership in Instructional and Performance Technology Certificate provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to facilitate improvement in individual and organizational performance. Students will learn to apply systems thinking to analyze performance, identify gaps in performance and their root causes, and select, design, develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate instructional and performance technology solutions. Students will develop critical leadership skills in project management, communication, ethics, and professionalism. Enrollment in this program is limited to students currently pursuing the Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology.

Performance Improvement Research Methods Certificate

The Performance Improvement Research Methods Certificate provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to conduct a formal front-end analysis of an organizational problem of practice. Students will learn to identify an urgent, actionable, feasible, and strategic problem of practice, design and develop instruments and protocols to gather data, analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, and formally write up the data analysis results. Enrollment in this program is limited to students currently pursuing the Ed.D. in Instructional and Performance Technology.