Ph.D Programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in education is a 60-credit-hour academic degree designed primarily to provide students with the intellectual background and research skills of a scholar. It emphasizes disciplinary training and research methodology, culminating in a dissertation, and is a degree that connotes advanced study in theoretical and research issues. Doctoral students specialize in either History, Philosophy, and Sociological Studies of Education or Language, Culture, and Curriculum. All students, whether admitted as part-time or full-time students, are expected to complete the program in five years. The Ph.D. program progresses in three stages.
Specialization Areas
The Department offers four areas of emphasis from which students select one.
Curriculum
The Ph.D. program, regardless of specialization, progresses in three stages.
Stage One: Admission, Coursework, and First Year Review
After passing the first- or second-year review, students form a preliminary exam committee of three ECS faculty. With guidance, they develop two exam questions and reading lists. The written exam (20–25 pages per question) is completed over 10 weeks and followed by an oral defense.
The committee evaluates both components, assigns a grade, and, upon passing, the student meets with their chair to prepare for the next stage of the Ph.D.
Stage Two: Preliminary Exam
Students are assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to guide them through Stage One, which includes coursework and the First-Year Review after at least 18 credit hours. The Director of Graduate Studies provides additional support, especially for review preparation. Stage One concludes with successful completion of the review and most coursework.
Stage Three
After passing the preliminary exam, students select a dissertation chair and form a committee of ECS and external faculty. The qualifying exam includes two parts: the dissertation proposal and the dissertation.
Part I: Dissertation Proposal
Students develop and defend a proposal; successful defense advances them to ABD status.
Part II: Dissertation
Students complete a five-chapter dissertation, defend it publicly, and submit final
revisions to graduate.