Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Education (PhD)

Program Educational Goals:

With an equity-focused lens, doctoral students will be able to:

1.) Demonstrate knowledge/expertise of classic and contemporary theories and research, key questions, and contexts relevant to the field of education

2.) Critique and ethically design and implement research using appropriate methodologies to address significant questions to the field of education

3.) Communicate effectively about educational research and issues with diverse audiences, such as scholars, students, practitioners, and policy makers

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the Degree:

A minimum of 55 credit hours is required to complete the Ph.D. program.

Course Work:

First Year Core Courses:

Students take the following 4 courses during their first year.

EDUC 805 - Proseminar in Education I Credit(s): 3
EDUC 806 - Proseminar in Education II Credit(s): 3
EDUC 850 - Qualitative Research in Educational Settings Credit(s): 3
EDUC 856 - Introduction to Statistical Inference Credit(s): 3

Research Methods:

Nine credits from the following options:

EDUC 826 , EDUC 844 , EDUC 863 , EDUC 873 , and EDUC 884 may satisfy the research methods core requirement if not used to meet the specialization area core requirement. These courses cannot be counted twice, may only be used once.

EDUC 812 - Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling Credit(s): 3
EDUC 826 - Mixed Methods in Social Science Research Credit(s): 3
EDUC 844 - Intermediate Regression and ANOVA Credit(s): 3
EDUC 852 - Critical and Interpretive Methods in Education Research Credit(s): 3
EDUC 858 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods Credit(s): 3
EDUC 859 - Qualitative Methodology Research Workshop Credit(s): 3
EDUC 863 - Program Evaluation in Education Credit(s): 3-4
EDUC 865 - Educational Measurement Theory Credit(s): 3
EDUC 873 - Multilevel Models in Education Credit(s): 3
EDUC 874 - Applied Multivariate Data Analysis Credit(s): 3
EDUC 884 - Advanced Research Design for Causal Inference Credit(s): 3

Specializations:

Students take 9-12 credits of primary specialization core courses, and 6 credits of secondary specialization core courses or EDUC 826 , EDUC 844 , EDUC 863 , EDUC 873 , and EDUC 884 .

Learning Sciences:

Students take the following 3 courses (9 credits):

EDUC 804 - How People Learn Credit(s): 3
EDUC 815 - Design of Learning Environments Credit(s): 3
EDUC 819 - Disciplinary Knowledge/Learning Sciences Credit(s): 3

Literacy:

Students take the following 3 courses (9 credits):

EDUC 802 - Reading Development and Instruction Credit(s): 3
EDUC 807 - Writing Development and Instruction Credit(s): 3
EDUC 822 - Critical Issues in Literacy Development Credit(s): 3

Mathematics Education:

Students take the following 4 courses (12 credits):

EDUC 833 - Research/Theory of Math Learning Credit(s): 3
EDUC 834 - Research/Theory of Math Teaching Credit(s): 3
EDUC 835 - Research/Theory of Math Curriculum Credit(s): 3
EDUC 836 - Research/Theory of Math Teacher Education and School Improvement Credit(s): 3

School Psychology:

Students take the following 4 courses (12 credits):

EDUC 618 - Introduction to School Psychology Credit(s): 3
EDUC 651 - Diversity and Family School Collaboration Credit(s): 3
EDUC 813 - Developmental Differences Across Childhood and Adolescence Credit(s): 3
EDUC 830 - Consultation and Intervention: Classroom-Based Prevention Credit(s): 3

Sociocultural and Community-based Approaches to Education:

Students take the following 3 courses (9 credits):

EDUC 853 - Topics: Culturally Relevant Pedagogies Credit(s): 3
EDUC 854 - Topics: Equity in Education Credit(s): 3
EDUC 855 - Topics: Sociocultural Theories of Education Credit(s): 3

Required Course:

Complete the following.

EDUC 732 - Community Based Practicum Credit(s): 1-3

Electives:

Students take 6 credits of Elective coursework from any graduate level courses.

Scholarly Apprenticeship Requirements:

All students must participate in an annual College Research Forum; submit a publication to a peer-reviewed journal on which they are a coauthor; present their work at a national conference; and develop skills in university teaching.

Residency Requirement:

One year in residence (one continuous academic year-9 credit hours per semester) must be completed. Students are strongly encouraged to complete this requirement in the first year.

Examinations:

The Annual Review process will serve to monitor and document yearly progress. Each year’s successful review will qualify the student to progress to the next year of study. This Annual Review fulfills the University requirement for a qualifying examination. Specialization areas may require additional qualifying exams or projects.

Dissertation research:

Nine hours of dissertation credit is required of all Ph.D. students, and additional coursework may be specified by a student’s advisory committee as part of the student’s Individual Program Plan.

EDUC 969 - Doctoral Dissertation Credit(s): 1-12

Dissertation defense:

An original work of scholarship, meeting School, University and professional requirements, plus an oral defense of the work.

Research Colloquia:

A one-credit course is offered each semester in conjunction with the colloquium series and students must complete a minimum of 4 credits of colloquium. Although students are required to attend colloquia for 4 semesters (1 credit/semester), they are strongly encouraged to attend every year during their tenure in the program.

EDUC 840 - Research Colloquium in Education Credit(s): 1-3

Program Requirements for the M.A. in Education:

Education (MA)

Education (PhD)

Program Educational Goals:

Program Policy Document:

Requirements for the Degree:

Course Work:

First Year Core Courses:

Research Methods:

Specializations:

Learning Sciences:

Literacy:

Mathematics Education:

School Psychology:

Sociocultural and Community-based Approaches to Education:

Required Course:

Electives:

Scholarly Apprenticeship Requirements:

Residency Requirement:

Examinations:

Dissertation research:

Dissertation defense:

Research Colloquia:

Program Requirements for the M.A. in Education:

Credits to Total a Minimum of 55

Last Revised for 2025-2026 Academic Year