CTLT Library

Quick Facts

  • Modality: In-person
  • Degree offered: Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.
  • Credits: 72
  • Length of Program: 4-5 years
  • Application Deadline: January 1 for Fall start

Program Overview

Our Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in educational leadership, organizations, and policy (ELOP), prepares educational researchers who inquire into pressing problems in the leadership, organization, and policy of P-12 educational systems. Faculty expertise includes accountability systems, education policy, ethical leadership, instructional leadership, religion and schools, rural education, school reform, and social justice leadership. 

Is this for you?

 The Ph.D. principally prepares students to pursue faculty positions in colleges and universities and positions as educational researchers in public institutions and private organizations, such as state educational agencies and educational policy research centers. Some graduates who have extensive classroom and/or administrative experience work in district and state leadership positions. 

Curriculum

The Ph.D. program is designed to offer students both the rigorous methodological preparation required to undertake educational inquiry at the highest levels and the flexibility to pursue coursework and experiences that support the students’ individual research interests and professional paths. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 72 credits.  

Students will create an Academic Plan (AP) with their major professor and Academic Plan Committee (APC) based on Graduate College and SOE policies and requirements. The specific coursework of the program will vary depending on the student interests and guidance from their major professor. Some required coursework is listed below. Transfer credits, substitutions, and customization of the AP are allowed when approved by a student’s APC.

All Ph.D. students in the SOE are required to develop and understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methods

  • RESEV 6010: Foundations of Educational Inquiry
  • RESEV 5520: Basic Educational Statistics
  • RESEV 5530: Intermediate Educational Statistics
  • RESEV 6030: Foundations of Qualitative Inquiry in Education
  • RESEV 6040: Advanced Qualitative Inquiry in Education 

  • EDUC 5820: History of Public Schooling in the United States
  • ELPS 6300: Education Policy and Analysis

One of the following:

  • EDUC 5330: Theories of Learning
  • EDUC 5360X: Sociocultural Learning Theory
  • EDUC 6120: Socio-psychological Foundations of Educational Technology

Affiliated Faculty

Douglas Wieczorek

Associate Professor

Department: School of Education

View

Joanne Marshall

Professor

Department: School of Education

View

Anita Micich

Associate Professor of Practice

Department: School of Education

View

Application Information

This program has the following application deadlines:   

  • January 1st, for entry the following Fall semester

Complete the online graduate application. Applications require:    

  • Statement of Purpose   
  • Resume/CV   
  • Scholarly writing example   
  • Three reference who will provide letters of support   
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended  

For more information, visit our Graduate Application Information and Frequently Asked Questions page.