Education (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Education program is designed to prepare you to conduct research and make scientific and theory-based contributions to the field of education, including formal educational settings such as schools and classrooms and informal settings for learning such as family and community activities outside of schools. Through scholarly inquiry grounded in the reality of educational practice across varied settings, you will examine educational issues from philosophical, sociocultural, and policy-related perspectives, which can build a foundation for a variety of research, teaching, and leadership roles. Graduates of our Ph.D. in Education program hold faculty positions in colleges and universities, teaching and leadership positions in K-12 public and private schools, scientific positions in educational research consulting firms, as well as leadership positions in innovative schools and programs for learning.

Students admitted to the program must have completed a master's degree in education or a related field. Entering students are generally expected to have some experience working in areas related to education, broadly conceptualized. To apply, candidates must submit a Graduate School application and transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.In addition to the personal statement required on the Graduate School application, candidates must submit an essay on an educational issue. This essay should discuss one issue in the field of education that is of interest to the candidate and that illustrates the applicant's early ideas about an area of focus. The essay should explore the opportunities and challenges this issue poses and explain why the applicant finds it personally compelling (1,000 to 1,500 words in length).