Building a Methodological Foundation: Doctoral-Level Methods Courses in Colleges of Education

Due to the continued growth of qualitative research methodology, the demand for large-scale quasi-experimental studies, and a renewed interest in mixed methodologies, there is concern regarding methods courses taught in schools or colleges of education in the United States. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of current methods course requirements in doctoral programs and explore the balance among qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods course requirements and dissertation policies and procedures. A purposeful sample (n = 100) of schools of education was collected from across the nation. The findings indicate that, overall, there is large variability in the number of students accepted into education doctoral programs as well as the number who graduate from the programs. (Contains 5 tables.)