Graduate Degree Programs

William Woods University aligns with the principles and requirements of the Higher Learning Commission and where appropriate, the accreditation requirements of external accreditation bodies for specific programs.  
 
Below are the primary distinguishing characteristics of graduate programs at William Woods University. 

All graduate level courses are taught with the assumption that students possess the requisite knowledge expected to enter graduate studies. 
 
Graduate courses emphasize analysis, interpretation, synthesis, and application of knowledge in the discipline.  
 
Graduate courses emphasize written and oral communication of information that is at a professional level for the discipline. 
 
The advancement of research and scholarly work by graduate students will be strongly encouraged. 

Master’s degrees are designed for students who have successfully completed an academic program at the baccalaureate level and who desire to continue studying at a higher level. The degree requires a higher level of responsibility and independence from the student. This is reflected in course projects, research in the field, working with teams, individual projects, and the successful completion of capstone presentations and field experience. 
 
Courses at the master’s degree level are designated by 500 – 599 numbering systems. 

Specialist degrees

The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.). The Ed.S. is a master plus thirty-hour program that builds upon the skills developed in the MED degree. The degree is designed for advanced leadership training for those who desire to become leaders for change in the classroom or in the administration of a school district. In general, this degree has all the expectations of the master’s degree with more emphasis on critical problem solving in a K-12 setting.

Courses at the specialist degree level are designated by 600 – 699 numbering systems. 

Doctoral level degrees

Doctoral courses are designed for students who desire to study at the highest academic levels and typically require students to demonstrate the ability to appraise, critique and make judgements based on criteria and standards within the discipline.  They also require students to measure, test and validate original and secondary information and produce new knowledge in the field.    

Courses at the doctoral level are designated by 700 – 799 numbering systems.

Professional Doctoral Degrees 

Professional Doctoral degree programs at William Woods University are practice focused and include applied research in the form of a traditional dissertation, a dissertation in practice or a dissertation project. Such programs are primarily for individuals who want to apply their knowledge to practice.   

Degree programs can be completed in 2.5 years if students remain continuously enrolled at full- time status. Doctoral students have seven years from the start of their program to meet all requirements for degree conferral

 
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 
 
Doctor of Philosophy programs at William Woods University are focused on developing original research in the discipline under study and include research and advanced theory in the form of a traditional dissertation. Such programs are primarily for individuals who want to apply their knowledge to theory and research, thus they prepare graduates for research in their field.  

Degree programs can be completed in 3 years if students remain continuously enrolled at full- time status

• Graduate Majors