DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GIFTED EDUCATION

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program at the Arabian Gulf University was established in 2008 in order to meet the needs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of specialized and distinguished researchers in the field of gifted education.

The PhD Program is designed to prepare educators and psychologists who wish to become university professor, researchers, administrators, and policymakers in gifted education. 

The PhD courses are distributed across three semesters where candidates take foundation courses in the first semester, and core courses in the second and the third semesters. PhD courses provide candidates with an in-depth knowledge on different topics in gifted education including identification and assessment, creativity, curriculum planning, twice exceptional, social and emotional development, and methods of assessing the impact of gifted programs provided by public sector in the Arab Gulf region.

Candidates in the PhD program are expected to publish a paper or more throughout their doctoral journey, attend regional and international conferences, and actively participate in community service activities. 

After successfully completing all courses, candidates are assigned with at least two supervisors who will closely work with them to assure the quality, the added-value, and the scientific significance of their doctoral dissertation. The minimum duration of study in the PhD Program is three years and the maximum is five years. 

After more than a decade of the establishment of the PhD program at the Department of Gifted Education, we are proud of graduating more than 90 PhD holders who are taking lead in different positions in K-12 education as well as higher education institutes in the GCC countries. Last but not least, we are proud of our partnerships with leading institutes and centers in the Arab Gulf Region such as Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, and the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States.

Vision

The PhD Program at the Department of Gifted Education will strengthen the science and practice of gifted education in all the GCC countries through innovative scholarly contributions, dedicated services, and rigorous preparation of distinguished future researchers and practitioners in the field of gifted education.

Mission

The PhD Program at the Department of Gifted Education is dedicated to providing rich and extraordinary learning experiences to prepare future researchers and practitioners in gifted education through evidence-based research and practice.

Program’s Objectives

• To conduct cutting-edge research that addresses different topics related to gifted education in the GCC countries.
• To prepare distinguished future researchers in the field of gifted education.
• To carry out world-class research aligned with strategic priorities of the GCC countries.

Learning’s Outcomes

By the end of the PhD Program, candidates will be able to:

• Apply their advanced knowledge to address fundamental issues related to educating and nurturing gifted and talented students in the GCC countries.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge in one or more areas of study in gifted education.
• Engage in conducting original research that makes an original contribution to the body of knowledge in gifted education.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of gifted services provided by Ministries of Education in the GCC countries.
• Develop and implement gifted and talented programs in K-12 education and in higher education institutions.

Methods of Assessment

Methods of assessment vary from formative assessment where instructors examine students’ knowledge and skills at the beginning of the program, to criterion-reference assessment where students performance is being assessed based on the learning outcomes specified in each course. As we believe that there are individual differences between students, the formative assessment allows each instructor to modify curriculum based on the level of each student.

Another kind of assessment employed in the PhD Program is summative assessment. Summative assessment method is used in the middle and at the end of each course through variety of methods including weekly assignment, projects, and quizzes and exams. 

Finally, the overall performance of all students is assessed at the end of the program through comparing their overall performance with the Program Learning Outcomes.

Admission Requirements

All applicants for the PhD Program must meet the following admission criteria:

• Submit a research proposal,
• A minimum of 3.00 out of 4.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) in the master’s degree from an accredited higher education institute,
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended,
• Successfully passing the interview with the Department faculty,
• Successfully passing an exam in gifted education and an exam in research methodology, and
• Submit a TOEFL score of at least 450 papers based (46 Internet based), OR an IELTS score of 5.

Graduation Requirements

• Successfully complete 57 credit hours including course work and doctoral dissertation
• Successfully pass doctoral dissertation defense
• Obtain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 points.