SMEC Doctoral Programs
The Centre’s doctoral programs cater to the wide range of academic and professional research interests of teachers, curriculum developers and educational administrators.
Doctor of Philosophy(PhD)
by thesis
[Handbook course info]
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a degree by research and thesis only, and is designed for those students who wish to pursue an area of research in depth. A PhD thesis should illustrate the student’s general understanding of the field of study, the originality of the work embodied in the thesis, and the significance of the thesis as a contribution to knowledge or understanding of knowledge in the field of study. The examination of a PhD thesis involves two examiners external to the University.
Possible thesis topics are suggested in the SMEC’s Academic Staff section where their Research Interests are listed. A small number of coursework units may be chosen or required as a way of preparing for the thesis.
Doctor of Science Education (ScEdD)
by coursework and thesis
[Handbook course info]
Doctor of Mathematics Education (MathEdD)
by coursework and thesis
[Handbook course info]
The Doctor of Science Education and Doctor of Mathematics Education are professional doctorates equivalent in rigour to the PhD. They combine a program of coursework (one third) and a thesis (two thirds) involving study of an applied nature. As with the PhD thesis, the Doctor of Science Education thesis should illustrate the student’s general understanding of the field of study, the originality of the work embodied in the thesis, and the significance of the thesis as a contribution to knowledge or understanding of knowledge in the field of study.
Doctoral Level ‘Special Topics’
Special Topics enable students to undertake special doctoral level units either over a whole semester (content negotiated with supervisors) or in ‘concentrated’ form during teachers’ school holidays (in the form of Institutes).
Assessment of the units is based on a combination of presentations, assignments and minor projects. Students must demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge and skills which they have acquired to practical situations in classrooms or their working environments such as administration, coordination or curriculum development.
The knowledge and skills acquired by students through the study of various combinations of these doctoral level units is used as a way of preparing for the thesis.
ScEdD and MathEdD Thesis
The thesis for the professional doctorates consists of a practically oriented research project in a specific area of science, mathematics or technology education culminating in a thesis report. The scope of the research and the length of the thesis report for the Doctor of Science Education or Doctor of Mathematics Education is expected to be about two thirds of that for the PhD (in recognition of the manner in which the thesis draws only two thirds of the total credit for the professional doctorate). The same criteria applicable in the examination of a Curtin PhD thesis (see above) are also expected of a Doctor of Science Education or Doctor of Mathematics Education thesis. The examination of the thesis for the professional doctorate involves two examiners external to the University.
Possible thesis topics are suggested in the SMEC’s Academic Staff section where their Research Interests are listed.