Frequently Asked Questions
If you have more questions, contact the Instructional Technology Doctoral Program Director, Bill Sadera at bsadera AT_TOWSON.
Instructional Technology Ph.D. FAQs
What are the deadlines for applying to the doctoral program?
Applications to the Ph.D. Program are reviewed twice a year. For Fall Admission: June 15th and for Spring Admission: November 1. For more details, view the admissions requirements and deadlines.
What are the required components of the doctoral program application?
Required components can be found here.
Do I need to submit a current GRE score to apply for the doctoral program?
GRE scores are accepted for the doctoral program application, but they are no longer required.
Do you have assistantships or fellowships for doctoral students?
Yes. There are a variety of fellowships and assistantships available to doctoral students each academic year. Please inquire with the program director, Bill Sadera, or department chair, Mahnaz Moallem, to apply for these opportunities.
Are there scholarships available to doctoral students?
Yes. Many of our students receive scholarships or fellowships to support their studies. Click here to learn more about these opportunities or speak with the program director.
How many classes can you transfer into the program?
A maximum of 18 credits can be transferred. After being admitted, confer with your advisor about transferring coursework to Towson's doctoral program. If the courses have good analogs to courses in the doctoral program, you may complete a transfer form obtained through the registrar’s office. Once the form is completed and submitted, the transfer course work may be applied to your program at Towson. For more information about transfer course policies, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.
Are there any prerequisites for the ISTC doctoral program?
A master’s degree from an accredited university is the only official prerequisite to enroll in the ISTC doctoral program. Previous experience and knowledge in learning theories, instructional design, statistics, and research design is recommended. If these topic areas are not present in graduate transcripts, relevant directed readings will be assigned and must be completed within the first year of the program. If you do not currently have a master's degree, inquire with the program director about the accelerated M.S./Ph.D. program.
If I attended Towson University as an undergraduate or graduate student, do I need to submit Towson University official transcripts?
No, you do not need to submit official transcripts for degrees or coursework completed at Towson University. Instead, you may submit unofficial transcripts.
Am I required to have a background in technology in order to apply?
You do not need to have a technology background, but it is expected that you use technology regularly as part of your teaching or in other work. The coursework in the doctoral program will be focused on meeting the needs of our students, designing effective instruction, and integrating technology into learning environments.
If I am currently in a Master’s program, do I send my unofficial transcripts?
Completion of a master's degree is a requirement for admissions consideration.
Do I need to submit my resume?
A resume is not a requirement but can be used as a supplemental document.
If I send more than one writing sample, will it be reviewed?
Only one writing sample is reviewed for admission. Please select and submit a writing sample that best captures your ability to write for an academic audience.
Is the doctoral program completed on a full-time or part-time basis?
Most of our students pursue their degree part-time, while working full-time jobs. A full-time course enrollment is 9-12 credits each semester (three - four courses), though you may take as few as one course each Spring and Fall semester (spring/fall). Few of our students are considered full-time. If you are interested in pursuing your degree as a full-time student, you may wish to look into the scholarships or fellowships.
How long does it take to complete the doctoral program?
The program requires a minimum of 63 credits. A full-time student (12 credits/semester) can finish the coursework in 3-4 years However, completion time varies based on the number of credits you are enrolled in each semester. Most students finish in 5-7 years, taking an average of 9-15 credits a year, and 1-2 years to write and defend the dissertation project.
What is the format of doctoral courses?
Most classes meet once per week, usually beginning at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. A typical class meets for 2-3 hours. All doctoral courses are offered online in a hybrid mode; on-campus classroom meetings with online synchronous videoconference. Click here to find a course schedule.
What careers or areas of work do graduates of your program pursue?
Graduates from our program work in a wide variety of fields, including higher education, healthcare, computer science, PreK-12-based instructional technology positions, PreK-12-based administration positions, business, training, instructional design, and professional development. The program is designed to be flexible and allows you to specialize in areas you are most interested in and are most in line with your professional goals.
Do the directed readings need to be completed prior to enrolling in other courses or can they be taken concurrently?
Directed readings are assigned as one part of a conditional admission. Students must complete directed readings within their first year. You may choose to complete the directed readings while taking other courses.