From Doctoral Study to Scholarly Professional Practice

A professional doctoral program, in line with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (http://www.cpedinitiative.org/), emphasizes scholarship of application/engagement (vs discovery-- as emphasized in traditional PhD... [ view full abstract ]

A professional doctoral program, in line with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (http://www.cpedinitiative.org/), emphasizes scholarship of application/engagement (vs discovery-- as emphasized in traditional PhD programs), as well as professional advocacy and leadership development. This presentation shares best practices of an online EdD in Kinesiology program designed to promote moving from scholarship in the classroom into professional practice in the field. Boyer’s (1990) multiple forms of scholarship are introduced early in the program, and applied/engaged scholarship is emphasized throughout the program. Findings gathered from student surveys, annual reports, and course evaluations across four years of the program suggest that students developed an understanding of professional scholarship and application in three phases 1) early course content and assignments facilitated understanding of the scholarship of application, 2) courses emphasizing mixed methods and research questions addressing problems of professional practice helped students develop research proposals grounded in professional practice, and 3) dissertation proposals were grounded in professional practice and included action plans for dissemination and application of findings. For example, one current 4th year student is examining the relationship of fitness and academic performance in elementary students from high and low-poverty schools in a large urban school district; he plans to use findings to advocate for increased physical activity options in his school district. Another student is implementing a learning module on person-centered care in the athletic training program she oversees; that module will not only serve her program but be a model for others. This presentation will provide further details on the three phases and offer implications for continuing research on professional doctoral programs that help students become scholarly professionals who put that scholarship into practice.