What is a cognate (for the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies in Education)?
The cognate for the Leadership Studies in Education doctoral degree consists of a minimum of six hours of graduate coursework offered outside the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS). These courses may fulfill two purposes: (1) the acquisition of additional skills and knowledge not covered by the prescribed coursework within the field of educational leadership, and (2) the acquisition of skills and knowledge needed to complete the dissertation. The Educational Administration and Supervision faculty recognize the value of developing additional skills related to an individual’s future career plans. The cognate courses, selected in consultation with the student’s advisor, are in a discipline related in some logical way to an individual’s field of graduate study. The cognate courses may also be related to the student’s research interest and may serve to better prepare the student to work on the dissertation.
