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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education

School of Education

Training and Performance Improvement specialization

Gain increased credibility as a leader in training and performance improvement through this PhD specialization that also includes valuable certification in ROI Methodology™ from the ROI Institute™. Based on the American Society for Training & Development's (ASTD) Human Performance Improvement model, the specialization is designed to deepen your understanding of strategic and tactical issues that are critical to the success of performance improvement interventions, and provide you opportunity to advance the field through your own doctoral research. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing chief learning officer, director-level, consulting, or higher education faculty positions in training, performance improvement, instructional design, or career counseling.

This specialization is not designed to satisfy licensure requirements for P–12 public school teachers or administrators.


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Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Next Start Date: March 5, 2012
Quarter - Coursework: $4,530
Up to 3 courses per quarter
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,062

Many of our learners receive aid.

Estimate your cost and aid now.

Image of Patti and Jack Phillips, who have signed a partnership with Capella to develop and ROI curriculum. Image of Patti and Jack Phillips, who have signed a partnership with Capella to develop and ROI curriculum.

Meet the faculty & staff who will support your academic success.»



Residency requirements: Three 4-day weekend experiences

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
In addition to your online courses, you will complete 3 residential colloquia, each of which includes a 4-day weekend experience, at specific stages in your program. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond.

Doctoral colloquia each have 3 steps:

Step 1: Colloquium Courseroom (opens approximately 2 weeks prior to Weekend Experience)
Step 2: Weekend Experience (4-day residency)
Step 3: Colloquium Courseroom—Assessment and evaluation (completed the week after the Weekend Experience)

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each colloquium is $1,495 (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment), but doesn’t include costs for evening meals or travel. You’ll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Learn more about residency requirements.
  • Get more detailed information and learn how the residency experiences will enrich your learning at Capella University. Speak with an enrollment counselor at 1.888.227.3552.

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • ED8002 - Foundations of Theory and Practice in Doctoral Studies
  • ED8112 - Educational Research Methods
  • ED8117 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods*
  • ED8122 - Statistics for Educational Research I*

Specialization Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • ED7631 - Introduction to Training and Performance Systems
  • ED7641 - Needs Assessment: Models and Procedures
  • ED7662 - Designing Training and Performance Solutions
  • ED7672 - Delivery Systems for Training and Performance Improvement
  • ED7652 - Evaluating Training and Performance Improvement Systems
  • ED7675 - Return on Investment in Training and Performance Improvement*
  • ED7677 - Survey of Training and Performance Improvement Research
  • ED9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • ED9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
  • ED9921 - Dissertation Research 1* - 5 quarter credits
  • ED9922 - Dissertation Research 2* - 5 quarter credits
  • ED9923 - Dissertation Research 3* - 5 quarter credits
  • ED9924 - Dissertation Research 4* - 5 quarter credits
  •  
  • In addition, choose three from the following courses:
  • ED7830 - Coaching for High Performance
  • ED7391 - International Aspects of Adult Education
  • ED5802 - Principles of Instructional Design
  • ED5804 - The Delivery of Distance Education
  • ED7673 - The Future of Corporate and Technical Training: Issues and Trends
  • ED8111 - The Historical and Social Foundations of Education

Ten Elective Courses

  • Recommended elective course
  • ED8123 - Statistics for Educational Research II*
  • OR
  • Choose any graduate courses.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

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I highly recommend T&PI to anyone who asks

July 31, 2010Theodora Just this week someone asked me from where did I receive my degree. I could tell that this individual was ready to judge me based on where I went to school. What I told him is what I tell anyone. My experience was excellent. The courses in my program were well designed. There was a perfect match between my professional and academic interests in every project as well as in my choice for my dissertaion work. The residencies were fantastic. The support was amazing. The students and faculty that I partnered with along the way were awesome. Doing the classroom work online simply made it possible for me as a working adult. I truly believe that the online classroom experience allowed for deeper learning for me. Professionally, having the degree opened doors for me. I am now Branch Chief of Professional Development in a U.S. Federal Agency. With just a Masters and 25+ years of experience, I might not have had this opportunity.

Earning a PhD at Capella: A Transforming Experience

July 31, 2010Edward It had been 18 years since I earned my MBA.I was traveling the world on business when I began considering pursuing a doctorate. I never took an degree entirely online-but it was an approach that would fit my professional commitments. It did. The courses were engaging, consistent in their structure from one coursse to another with fellow learners who were just as busy as I was but fully engaged in the course. The instructors were very knowledgeable & accessable. One of the best aspects of the process was that there were no exams. Grading was laid out in logical matrices that allowed me to fully understand, by assignment, what grade I would receive based on the quality and content of my submissions.It was terrific. This was the most engaging degree of the three I've earned and the only one were I was able to achieve straight A's for the entire degree. The icing on the cake was that my dissertation earned a 2nd place Distinguished Dissertation Award from ISPI an independent 3rd party org.

Use your Education ever day!

July 30, 2010Janice I will say that I have never felt so good about the training and education I received. I use my new knowledge, as well as critical thinking skills, every day in my life and I am grateful for all I learned.
Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's education degrees online and online education degree programs
Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's education degrees online and online education degree programs

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