The PhD in Learning Design and Technology requires completion of a minimum of 40 credit hours of coursework after admission to the program. Students who attend full-time typically complete coursework in about two years prior to working on a doctoral dissertation. 

The LTEC PhD includes the Inquiry Core (12 credits of research courses), Design Core (3 credits of advanced instructional design), LTEC Seminar Core (9 credits), Elective Courses (15 credits, generally other LTEC courses but can be outside of LTEC with advisor permission) and Dissertation (1 credit minimum). Up to six credits of electives may be waived for recently taken courses, but only for those courses taken after admission (i.e., summer term 2022 for fall 2022 admits) and usually in the LTEC department; such waivers are at the discretion of the LTEC PhD advisors and are not guaranteed. Each student’s program will be individually designed with his or her advisor.

The doctoral core and seminar courses are designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the theory, skills and practice that guide the profession of learning design and technology. Elective courses are selected by the student in consultation with an advisor to provide support for an individual’s dissertation topic; these may be additional LTEC courses or classes offered by other disciplines at UHM with permission. 

Upon completion of coursework, for most after about two years, students begin the steps to the dissertation (see topic 3.1).