Doctorate of Education, EdD
The program is centered in Indigenous knowledge systems and draws upon Indigenous teaching and learning methods. The program aligns with the UW-Green Bay’s mission to provide an interdisciplinary, problem-focused educational experience that prepares students to think critically and address complex issues in a multicultural and changing world. The Ed.D. in First Nations Education enriches the quality of life for students and the community by embracing the educational value of diversity, encouraging engaged citizenship, and serving as an intellectual and cultural resource for First Nations and non-First Nations communities. In addition, the Ed.D. advances the institutional goal of improving teaching and learning with its focus on First Nations Elder epistemology and pedagogy.
The program is practitioner focused and driven by professional and community needs. The Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) is an applied degree that addresses genuine issues and generates knowledge about First Nations. The Ed.D. in First Nations Education prepares leaders to transform institutions and promote cultural resurgence and the vitality of future generations.
The program draws students from an array of professional backgrounds including: PK-12 administrators in school districts with First Nations students, tribal college administrators and teachers, tribal education administrators, tribal social service administrators, tribal health care administrators, tribal library administration, First Nations governmental officials, tribal school district administrators, tribal career service and vocational rehabilitation administrators, tribal historians, tribal human resources administrators, and others.
The 54-credit degree program is offered over 4 years. The degree consists of a set of core courses offered primarily in face to face settings, reflecting the oral tradition. Classes are offered on weekends with limited online delivery to accommodate working professionals. Students enter the program in a cohort and work collaboratively in classes during the first two years of the program, including summer. Two classes (6 credits) in the program are shared, on-line courses offered through the UW System Ed.D. Cooperative. Students complete the degree with a culminating applied dissertation project in years three and four. The dissertation project is developed in collaboration with First Nations governments, communities, and individuals. It is a scholarly project that impacts the Tribal World.
More information, admission requirements, required application materials and applications are on the UW-Green Bay Graduate Studies website.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Foundations Courses | 21 | |
| Introduction to Indigenous Education | ||
| Ancestral Leadership Ways of Leadership | ||
| Indigenous Pedagogy | ||
| Generational Healing | ||
| Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership in Education | ||
| Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequity: Social Justice Education | ||
| First Nations Law and Policy | ||
| First Nations Research and Assessment | 12 | |
| Indigenous Inquiry | ||
| Relational Assessment | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
| Statistics Lab | ||
| Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Upon completion of 33 credits of First Nations Education coursework (not including the elective credits) students must pass one individual written comprehensive exam and one cohort oral comprehensive exam. | ||
| Area of Emphasis or Approved Elective Class 1 | 3 | |
| Dissertation Applied Project | 18 | |
| Dissertation Project Seminar: Relational Knowledge and Praxis (9 credits required) | ||
Upon completion of 9 credits of dissertation seminar, student must successfully defend a written dissertation project proposal. | ||
| Dissertation Project (9 credits required) | ||
Upon completion of the dissertation project, studet must pass a public oral defense. | ||
| Total Credits | 54 | |
| 1 | Students must enroll in a minimum of 3 credits of electives and may choose from the Ed.D. cooperative program course offerings. These credits may be packaged to provide a specialty emphasis established by the participating institution or may be chosen in consultation with and as approved by the Ed.D. chair or student’s Ed.D. advisor. |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| FNED 800 | Introduction to Indigenous Education | 3 |
| FNED 801 | Ancestral Leadership Ways of Leadership | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNED 804 | Indigenous Pedagogy | 3 |
| FNED 820 | Critical Analysis of Systemic Inequity: Social Justice Education | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| FNED 805 | Generational Healing | 3 |
| FNED 807 | Indigenous Inquiry | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNED 810 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership in Education | 3 |
| FNED 825 | Relational Assessment | 2 |
| FNED 826 | Grant Writing | 1 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNED 830 | First Nations Law and Policy | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Individual written comprehensive exam | ||
| Cohort oral comprehensive exam | ||
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| FNED 831 | Qualitative Research Methods | 2 |
| FNED 832 | Program Evaluation | 2 |
| FNED 834 | Statistics Lab | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNED 898 | Dissertation Project Seminar: Relational Knowledge and Praxis | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNED 898 | Dissertation Project Seminar: Relational Knowledge and Praxis | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| FNED 898 | Dissertation Project Seminar: Relational Knowledge and Praxis | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNED 899 | Dissertation Project | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNED 899 | Dissertation Project | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| FNED 899 | Dissertation Project | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
Steps Toward the Degree
- Student applicant is admitted to the doctoral program.
- In year three, after completion of 33 credits of coursework (not including elective credits), student enrolls in FNED 898 Dissertation Project Seminar.
- Student successfully completes an individual comprehensive written exam.
- Student successfully completes an all-cohort comprehensive oral exam.
- Student successfully completes a dissertation project proposal.
- Student enrolls in FNED 899 Dissertation Project
- Student successfully completes a dissertation project including the dissertation oral defense.
- Dissertation advisor files the Approval of Dissertation Project Defense Form with the Office of Graduate Studies.
- Degree is awarded and graduate received diploma.
The faculty in the Ed.D. in First Nations Education represent a wide range of teaching, practice, and research experiences. Both oral traditional and academic scholars collaborate and co-teach classes together. The oral traditional scholars provide an experience in listening, observing, doing, and inquiring that fits within indigenous cultural contexts. This offers students an opportunity to experience learning in traditional First Nations approaches. Contact information and biographies for faculty and staff are available on the program website at www.uwgb.edu/fned
