The doctoral degree in Learning Technologies is offered through the College of Information and the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies at UNT. The program reflects the multidisciplinary nature of learning technologies, drawing on cognitive science, educational research, instructional design, human factors, information science, learning science, and psychology. The program traces its roots to one of the earliest National Educational Computing Conferences, held at UNT in 1981.
40+
Years of history
69
Total credit hours
2
Program offerings
8 yrs
Completion limit
Program focus
The Ph.D. focuses on the synergy of technology, instructional systems design, and learning theory. Strong foundations in computing and information theory, cognitive science, learning theory, human development, leadership, and education tools distinguish this program.
Career paths
University facultyInstructional designerDirector of distance edTechnology coordinatorTraining managerResearch scientistHRD professionalEd tech consultant
Program offerings
Residential
Campus-based; typically 3 face-to-face courses per long semester. Option to pursue a minor (12 hrs).
Completion in 3–5 years typical
Two residency pathways available
Distributed (online)
100% online with synchronous meetings via Teams/Zoom plus mandatory annual face-to-face meeting each fall.
3-year coursework sequence
Annual fall meeting is mandatory
All students entering the program beginning Fall 2022 are assigned an Associate Graduate Faculty (AGF) member. Students must select a major professor during the first year of coursework.
Doctoral studentAdmitted, enrolled, and active in coursework.
Doctoral candidateCompleted all required coursework and successfully defended the portfolio qualifying exam.
Doctoral candidate (ABD)Successfully defended the dissertation proposal and remains active.
Doctoral graduate (Ph.D.)Successfully defended the dissertation and completed all required graduation paperwork.
Four-stage process
Three exams: (1) portfolio defense with dissertation plans discussion; (2) dissertation proposal defense; and (3) dissertation defense.
Degree plan
Residential students must file before end of second semester. Distributed students receive their plan at the first annual meeting orientation.
Academic Review Committee (ARC)
Convened for significant academic or compliance problems. Possible outcomes: permanent dismissal, additional coursework, one-semester dismissal, or remediation plan.
GPA and enrollment standards
Minimum 3.0 GPA in all degree plan coursework
ARC convened after two C or W grades, or any single D, F, or WF
Continuous enrollment in minimum 3 hrs of LTEC 6950 each fall and spring after portfolio
8-year time limit from first doctoral credit — LOA does NOT stop this clock
Mentoring and advising
The major professor is primary mentor. Each student is assigned an AGF who regularly contacts them. Students must engage a major professor by end of their second semester.
Leave of absence and transitions
Students may file a leave of absence (LOA) for up to one calendar year. The LOA does not stop the 8-year clock. Distributed students returning must submit a transition plan.
Residential residency
Option 1: Two consecutive long semesters with 9+ hrs each. Option 2: 18 hrs over three long semesters.
Distributed residency
18 hrs each of first two years, plus mandatory annual fall meeting for three years (~40 hours/year, 160 hours total).
Credit hour summary
15
Core
18
Topics
15
Research
9
Tools (waivable)
12
Dissertation
Total: 69 hours; or 60 hours if all tools courses are waived. Up to 9 hours of Independent Studies, Practicum, or Internship may count.
Core / foundation courses (15 hrs)
LTEC 6000Philosophy of Computing in Education
LTEC 6010Theory of Instructional Technology
LTEC 6020Advanced Instructional Design: Models and Strategies
LTEC 6030Emerging Technologies in Education
LTEC 6040Theory and Practice of Distance Education
Topics courses (18 hrs)
LTEC 6121Leadership Development in Applied Technology and Training
LTEC 6200Message Design
LTEC 6210Theory and Design of Interactive Multimedia
LTEC 6220Theory of Educational Technology Implementation
LTEC 6230Advanced Educational Production Design
LTEC 6240Artificial Intelligence Applications
LTEC 6250Learning Technology Systems Design and Management
LTEC 6260Creating Technology Based Learning Environments
LTEC 6270Developing Funding Opportunities in Learning Technologies
LTEC 6310Digital Game-based Learning
LTEC 6700/01Practicum / Field Problem / Internship
LTEC 6800Special Topics in Learning Technologies
LTEC 6900/10Special Problems — Independent Study and Research
Research courses (15 hrs)
LTEC 6500Intro to Quantitative Research in LTEC
LTEC 6510Introduction to Research in Learning Technologies
LTEC 6511Analysis of Research in Learning Technologies
LTEC 6512Analysis of Qualitative Research in Learning Technologies
LTEC 6480Dissertation Prep (required final course)
Advanced research — choose one:
LTEC 6514Advanced Research: Foundation of Data Science & Learning Analytics
LTEC 6280Educational Technology Project and Program Evaluation
Tools courses and waivers (9 hrs)
Students with an MS in an aligned area may request waivers. Decisions rest with the major professor before the degree plan is filed.
LTEC 5210Instructional Systems Design I — ADDIE, learning objectives, evaluation planning
LTEC 5220Multimedia and Instructional Design — digital media principles, production
LTEC 5420Web Authoring — web design, HTML, JavaScript, responsive design
LTEC 6950Dissertation (12 hrs — after successful portfolio defense only)
Admission to candidacy
Students are admitted to candidacy after completing all coursework and passing the Portfolio Qualifying Examination. No dissertation enrollment is permitted until this exam is passed.
Part I — Portfolio qualifying examinationSubmitted to the major advisor minimum 10 days prior to the oral exam.
Part II — Oral examinationStudent meets with advising committee to discuss dissertation readiness, field knowledge, area, and timeline. Results: pass, pass with conditions, or no-pass.
Eligibility
Final semester of coursework OR all coursework complete with incompletes resolved
UNT residency requirement met; enrolled at time of defense
Incompletes must be removed within 1 year, no later than 30 days after final semester
Portfolio requirements
Begin assembling your portfolio immediately upon entering the program. Create a written portfolio plan during the second semester with your major professor.
1. Professional overviewPersonal statement of professional identity, vision, and scholarly goals
2. Curriculum vitaeComplete, current academic and professional CV
3. Scholarly writing6 quality scholarly papers; at least 2 publishable in appropriate journals
4. PresentationsMinimum 2 at professional associations; at least 1 at a state, national, or international conference
The dissertation documents the creation of new knowledge in Learning Technologies based on a theoretical foundation. No restriction on methodology — quantitative, qualitative, or multi-strategy designs are all acceptable.
Traditional (5 chapters)
Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings, Conclusion.
Manuscript style (3 papers)
Three papers published or in press, plus introduction and concluding chapters. First author on at least 1, co-author on all 3. At least 1 must be empirical.
Dissertation stages
Topic selectionAfter portfolio success. Residential: with committee chair approval. Distributed: abstract presented at third annual summer meeting.
IRB approvalRequired before any human subjects research. PI must be a full-time UNT faculty member. All resulting publications must include the supervising investigator.
Proposal (Chapters 1–3)Submitted to committee at least 10 working days before defense. One-hour meeting. Second failure triggers ARC review.
LTEC 6950 enrollmentMinimum 3 hrs per fall/spring (residential) or each semester including summer (distributed). Only 12 hours applied to degree.
Apply for graduationApply via my.unt.edu to generate the Toulouse Oral Defense Form, required at least two weeks before defense.
Dissertation defenseFinal dissertation submitted 10 working days before two-hour oral defense. Outcomes: accept; accept with revisions; revise and re-present; or reject.
Important forms
LT Department — Important FormsDegree plans, committee paperwork, leave of absence requests, tools waivers, portfolio defense applications, and all other official program forms.
Where program policies are more stringent or specific than UNT Graduate School or College of Information policies, this doctoral handbook governs. The handbook is updated annually — students are responsible for reading updates.
IRB and student research
Research involving human subjects requires IRB approval before any data collection
Principal Investigator must be a full-time UNT faculty member
All publications from IRB-covered research must include the supervising/principal investigator as an active author
Class assignments not covered by an IRB cannot be published
Important contacts and resources
PhD DirectorScott J. Warren — scott.warren@unt.edu — (940) 369-7489 — Discovery Park G158
Dept ChairXun Ge — xun.ge@unt.edu — (940) 565-2057 — Discovery Park G195A
Dept officeLT-Office@unt.edu — (940) 565-2057 — 3940 N. Elm St., Suite G150, Denton TX 76207
Click any faculty card to open a full profile with biography, education, research summary, and representative publications. Use the global search above to find any faculty member by name or expertise.