Columbus State University’s College of Education and Health Professions will offer its doctoral program to educators in Henry County at the Academy for Advanced Studies High School in McDonough beginning this fall.

The program focuses on developing educators with the research skills to design the best educational practices for a new century. The 63-semester-hour degree can be completed in about three years, including the writing and defense of a doctoral dissertation.

Columbus State University’s Fuller E. Callaway Chair of Educational Leadership and Doctoral Program Director Michael D. Richardson and College of Education and Health Professions Dean Deirdre Greer met with Henry County educators in April at a session attended by Columbus State professors Pamela Lemoine, Marguerite Yates and Tom Hackett. Since that meeting, Richardson has been working with Henry County Schools Superintendent Rodney Bowler to establish a location and times for the program, which is presented in a blended format with on-site classes in McDonough and additional work online.

“It is tremendously exciting to offer the doctoral program in curriculum and leadership in Henry County, particularly given the tremendous vision being shown by the board and district leadership in leading the school district into the 21st Century,” said Columbus State professor Tom Hackett. “We think that Henry County is a tremendously forward-thinking school district with educators engaged in cutting edge instructional practices.”

Typically, instruction will be delivered in two eight-week blocks in a semester with a usual course load of 6-9 semester hours.

Columbus State’s doctoral program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.