Department of Learning Technologies • College of Information • University of North Texas
Jones — Doctoral Handbook — August 2023Try: “Ge” • “Li Cheng” • “IRB” • “game-based learning” • “leave of absence” • “LTEC 6950” • “Warren” • “VR”
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.
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.
Campus-based; typically 3 face-to-face courses per long semester. Option to pursue a minor (12 hrs).
100% online with synchronous meetings via Teams/Zoom plus mandatory annual face-to-face meeting each fall.
Residential students must file before end of second semester. Distributed students receive their plan at the first annual meeting orientation. All changes require graduate school approval.
Convened for significant academic or compliance problems. Possible outcomes: permanent dismissal, additional coursework, one-semester dismissal, or remediation plan. Appeals start with the program director.
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.
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 from leave must submit a transition plan.
Option 1: Two consecutive long semesters with 9+ hrs each. Option 2: 18 hrs over three long semesters.
18 hrs each of first two years, plus mandatory annual fall meeting for three years (~40 hours/year, 160 hours total).
Students with an MS in an aligned area may request waivers. Decisions rest with the major professor before the degree plan is filed.
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.
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.
Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings, Conclusion.
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.
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.
Click any faculty card to open a full profile with biography, education, research summary, and representative publications. Use the global search above to find faculty by name or expertise.
Use this routing tool to send Learning Technologies Ph.D. questions to the right starting point. Search Jones first when the issue is about policy, requirements, procedures, or general program information. Then contact the person or office most likely to resolve the issue.
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This page is a decision aid, not a policy authority. For formal policy language, search Jones or use the applicable university office.
Jones is the Learning Technologies doctoral handbook, knowledge base, and question-routing tool. It is named for Dr. James Gregory “Greg” Jones, a former UNT professor in Learning Technologies remembered as a generous mentor, colleague, technologist, and creative developer of learning systems.
The name fits the purpose of this site: helping students, faculty, and staff find the right information, make better decisions, and avoid turning one person into the program’s accidental help desk. Greg Jones’s UNT work focused on using technology to create and distribute knowledge through online environments, data visualization systems, games, simulations, rapport, cognitive scaffolding, and distributed technologies.