Jennifer Summerville, Ph.D.

National Faculty,
Department of Professional Educational Studies

Dr. Jennifer Summerville currently serves as the Associate Dean, Distance Learning for a large community college in the Dallas area. She is the primary learning officer over the areas of online learning and technology-centered learning. Her team provides learning technology support for faculty, staff, and students with enrollment approaching 26,000 students.

Dr. Summerville's career spans corporate and higher education contexts. Previously, she was the Manager of Learning Technologies for a multi-billion dollar, multi-national company specializing in call center and customer service support. She has also served an associate professor of instructional design at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, teaching graduate-level courses in the Master of Instructional Technology program. From 1997 to 2003, Dr. Summerville taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses for the Department of Instructional Design and Technology at Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. 

Dr. Summerville is an award-winning instructor, has published three textbooks as well as numerous journal articles, and has presented at local, national and international conferences. Her articles and presentations focus on instructional design, instructional media design, and web-based distance learning design and development.

Education

  • Doctorate in Educational Technology
    University of Northern Colorado
  • Master's in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems
    University of North Texas
  • Bachelor's in Marketing
    Baylor University

Research Interests

  • Learner-centered design

  • Cognitive profile and personality in instructional design

  • Policy issues in online learning

Program Affiliations

Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Doctor of Education

This customizable degree is designed to help you advance your understanding of a wide range of curriculum development and instructional methods that can improve teaching and learning in diverse educational settings.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Instructional Technology Doctor of Education

This customizable degree is designed to help you advance your understanding of methods of instructional technology for a wide range of educational settings. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Leadership Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education in Leadership program is designed to help you advance your leadership and research skills within your chosen discipline, whatever that may be. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Nursing Education Doctor of Education

The Doctorate in Nursing Education is for master’s degree nurses who want to help address the growing need for more RNs in today’s ever-expanding healthcare system. The American College of Education Ed.D in Nursing Education program is a fully online curriculum to prepare nurses as educators in either an academic or professional development setting. The program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to focus on the science of teaching and learning. Students will engage in scholarly research to support their dissertation while developing the competencies to create and evaluate curriculum, develop effective teaching strategies, use innovative technology to promote learning and much more as they prepare to educate the next generation of nurses.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Public Health Education Doctor of Education

The customizable Doctorate in Public Health Education is designed for healthcare educators and professionals who wish to address public health issues through education in local, national and international communities at the post-master’s level.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Second Language Instruction Doctor of Education

The Doctorate of Education in Second Language Instruction is designed for professionals with a master’s degree who wish to advance their second language instruction skills and knowledge at the post-master’s level. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction degree is for leaders who wish to advance their skills in curriculum development and instructional methods at the post-master’s level without having to complete a dissertation.

34

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Instructional Technology Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist in Instructional Technology degree for leaders who want to advance their knowledge in instructional technology at the post-master’s level without needing to complete a dissertation. You will use theoretical foundations and current real-world practices to support the development of relevant technology that meet the needs of diverse learners.

34

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Leadership Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist in Leadership degree is designed for leaders who wish to pursue advanced training at the post-master’s level without having to complete a dissertation. You will learn advanced leadership skills and competencies that will make you a more effective leader.

34

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Nursing Education Educational Specialist

This program is perfect for nurses who want to advance their knowledge in nursing education beyond a master’s degree without completing a dissertation. It’s also stackable, if you decide after completing the Ed.S. program that you would like to continue and complete an Ed.D. program with a dissertation. This means that you can apply your Ed.S. credits to the Ed.D. in Nursing Education and complete that program in just 37 credits.

34

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Public Health Education Educational Specialist

The Education Specialist in Public Health Education degree is designed for educators and healthcare professionals who wish to address public health issues through education in local, national and international communities at the post-master’s level without having to complete a dissertation.

34

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Second Language Instruction Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist in Second Language Instruction is for professionals with a master’s degree who wish to advance their second language instruction skills and knowledge at the post-master’s level without having to complete a dissertation. Students will become more effective leaders in the field of Second Language Instruction through in-depth knowledge of research-based theories of language acquisition, assessment and instructional methods, strategies that promote cultural understanding, and current best practices to meet the needs of second language learners across diverse educational settings.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Educational Technology Master of Education

The Master of Education in Educational Technology program prepares educators and other professionals to serve as technology leaders by teaching them to track trends and leverage technology as an effective tool to support learning and meet the needs of school staff, teachers, and students.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Elementary Education Master of Education

Specifically designed for elementary teachers who wish to advance their expertise and skills, the Master of Education in Elementary Education degree will build on their current understanding of young students’ learning needs and introduce them to new ways of incorporating technology into the classroom.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Elementary Education for Graduates of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Master of Education

19

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Higher Education Master of Education

Designed for individuals who wish to advance their skills or career in higher education, this program focuses on the ever-changing global, economic, and technological environments that impact the field of higher education.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Technology Master of Education

This degree is designed for students wishing to use technology to pursue a career in instructional design. You will learn how to evaluate, develop, and implement effective instructional design in a variety of educational settings.

31

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum for Graduates of the M.Ed. in STEM Leadership Master of Education

2018 Catalog Release

22

Semester Credits

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M.A. in Elementary Teaching Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Elementary Teaching degree is designed for those who want to be elementary teachers but have bachelor’s degrees in non-education fields. By building a solid foundation in elementary education, you’ll earn a master’s degree and be prepared for a career of working with young learners.

34

Semester Credits

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M.A. in Secondary Teaching Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching is designed for students who have bachelor’s degrees in non-education fields but want to be teachers at the secondary level. By building a solid foundation in secondary education, you’ll earn a master’s degree and be prepared for a career in teaching at the secondary level.

34

Semester Credits

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Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Elementary Education Certificate

This program is designed for those who want to be elementary teachers but have bachelor’s degrees in non-education fields. By building a solid foundation in elementary education, it will prepare you for a career of working with young learners.

24

Semester Credits

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Certificate Transition to Teaching in Secondary Education Certificate

This Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Secondary Education program is designed for those who want to be teachers but have a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field. By building a solid foundation in secondary education, it will prepare you for a career in teaching at the secondary level.

18

Semester Credits

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Certificate in Virtual Instruction Certificate

The Certificate in Virtual Instruction will help you transform your teaching strategies to fit virtual formats. Grounded in current research and best practices, your assignments will help you become a leader in this rapidly evolving field. This transferable certificate can lead to a full degree by adding additional coursework.

22

Semester Credits

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Micro-Credential in Digital Learning and Teaching Micro-Credential

The micro-credential in Digital Learning and Teaching is designed to help educators re-examine technology, student learning, and classroom structure, as well as the roles of teacher and student. The micro-credential explores how to design learning environments supported by technology, integrate digital technology into curriculum to maximize student learning, and evaluate emerging technology for personal and professional productivity.

9

Semester Credits

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Micro-Credential in Educational Technology Micro-Credential

In the Educational Technology, micro-credential attention is given to the broader elements needed for an effective technology program including strategies to assess components, ways to design the virtual environment, and how to lead and guide the process when program change is required.

9

Semester Credits

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Micro-Credential in Information Systems Micro-Credential

This micro-credential addresses the notion that technology is a way of life in the 21st century. Information is gathered, stored, processed for reports and retrieved from data warehouses to be analyzed and acted upon by decision-makers. The quality of the information is critical for effective action in face-to-face environments and in the virtual world of content delivery.

9

Semester Credits

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