About PhD Program,
The Ph.D. in Education program in the School of Education seeks to prepare scholars whose research will address critical problems in education, develop our understanding of teaching and learning in diverse contexts, and lead to improved outcomes for all learners. There is no more important goal, nationally and globally, than educating all children and youth so that they may develop to their fullest potential. However, much remains to be discovered about how best to achieve this goal, given variation in learners, contexts, and opportunities.
Our mission, to prepare the educational researchers of tomorrow, is accomplished through the implementation of a rigorous doctoral program that emphasizes high quality educational research utilizing varied methodological approaches. The program is grounded in interdisciplinary perspectives, including those from anthropological, sociological, psychological, and cognitive science traditions.
The Ph.D. program prepares students to assume leadership roles in both academic and non-academic settings. The program requires a shared first year core that provides the foundation needed to frame and begin investigating important research questions. Specializations within the program build on this foundation and offer students the opportunity to pursue individualized programs of study that capitalize on faculty expertise both within the School of Education and across the University. By engaging in ongoing research and producing evidence of their accomplishments through apprenticeship activities, graduates are well positioned to contribute to solving significant educational problems throughout their careers.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Students generally complete the degree in 4-5 years of full-time study. A minimum of 55 credit hours is required to complete the Ph.D. program. Most students will take far more than this minimum in order to complete apprenticeship and specialization requirements or maintain full time status. While some courses may be offered online, this program in general is not offered in an online-only format.
- Core Content Courses:Doctoral Core coursework includes two proseminars (EDUC 805, EDUC 806) that students take in the first two semesters of their program.
- Research Methods Core Courses:Students take two core research methods courses (EDUC 850 and 856) while taking their core content courses. They also choose primarily a qualitative (EDUC 852, 858, 859) or quantitative (EDUC 812, 865, 874) set of three courses to fulfill the methodology core requirement. In some cases, and with the approval of their advisor, students may fulfill the methodology core by choosing courses from both tracks.
- Specialization Area Courses:All students are accepted into one of 4 specialization areas. These areas vary in how specialized knowledge and skills are acquired, but each requires between two and four specialization courses. All students will take at least two additional specialization core courses from one or more areas outside of their primary area. Students must choose courses carefully to ensure that this requirement is met, recognizing that most courses are offered every other year (some may be offered less frequently depending on enrollments). Students may draw courses from Learning Sciences, Literacy, Mathematics Education, Sociocultural and Community-Based Approaches or from our degree programs in Educational Statistics and Research Methods or School Psychology. (Students admitted in Fall 2019 or earlier to the Ph.D. in Education program may view the School Psychology specialization page.)
- Colloquium Series:Research colloquia expose students to some of the foremost thinkers and researchers in the field of education. Guest scholars are invited to share their research findings with doctoral students and faculty in a setting that encourages collegiality and familiarizes students with a number of scholarly presentation styles and content areas. A one-credit course (EDUC 840) is offered each semester in conjunction with the colloquium series and students must complete a minimum of 4 credits of colloquium.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All CEHD Ph.D. students are typically funded for four years, which includes a total stipend of at least $32,667 for 12 months in your first three years, and a total stipend of at least $24,500 for 9 months in your fourth year. CEHD’s funding package also includes a 100% tuition scholarship for fall and spring semesters, plus a reduced-cost health insurance plan and optional dental insurance. For more information about this financial support, visit CEHD’s graduate tuition page.
Graduate student assistants work 20 hours a week, engaged closely with their faculty mentors in research and teaching activities. Prospective students can learn more about PhD assistantship experiences through our PhD student spotlights and our PhD student directory.
We also have conference travel funding available through the SOE and the UD Graduate College.
Application Requirement,
Some application items specific to the Ph.D. in Education program include:
- Transcriptsof all previous academic work at the undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) level. Please note that the Mathematics Education Ph.D. specialization requires the applicant to hold a master’s degree in mathematics or a related field. Applicants may upload unofficial copies of their transcripts and if admitted, all transcripts will be verified by the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. Applicants who previously attended the University of Delaware still need to upload an unofficial transcript, but do not need to provide official transcripts for verification. Please do not send any transcripts to the School of Education.
- GRE scoresare required. Students typically are expected to have minimum scores of 150 on the verbal and quantitative sections and a 4.0 on the analytic writing section. Most admitted students have far higher than the minimum scores. The GRE is optional for Fall 2025 applicants. Please see the note at the top of this section.
- Three letters of recommendationare required. Applicants should select recommenders who can comment on their potential to succeed in doctoral work.
- A personal statementin the essay section of the application is required.
- Applicants should introduce themselves and discuss educational and career goals related to the Ph.D. in Education program and how this program is a good match for their interests. Applicants should identify their area of specialization and potential research interest.
- While there are no requirements set by the School of Education, personal statements are generally 2-5 pages in length.
- A resumeis required.
- No writing samples or supplemental documents are required.
- International applicants must submit scores from either the TOEFL, IELTS, or iTEP Academic Plus.Scores more than two years old cannot be validated or considered official. Required minimum scores for the TOEFL are 100 (internet-based test -iBT), 600 (paper-based test), or 250 (computer-based test). For the IELTS, the minimum score is 7.0. For the iTEP Academic Plus, the minimum score is 4.5.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
For the current application season the application fee is $75.00. We encourage applicants
