This course is designed to strengthen students’ research capacity in preparation for their doctoral dissertation and future academic careers. It introduces a range of qualitative research paradigms and methodological approaches, with attention to their philosophical underpinnings and practical applications in educational research. Students will examine how these paradigms inform research design and explore strategies for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative data. Emphasis will be placed on developing the conceptual and technical skills necessary to design and conduct rigorous, high-quality studies that make original scholarly contributions.