About PhD Program,
The Doctor of Philosophy program in the College of Education prepares students for careers in research or scholarly inquiry and teaching at the college level. The program consists of: (1) continuous research, (2) courses in education and related fields designed to develop a comprehensive academic basis for future work in research and teaching, and (3) teaching and other related experiences tailored to individual needs and career goals. Each student works closely with an advisor and a faculty Supervisory Committee to select courses, topics of research and inquiry, and teaching experiences. These three areas will combine to: (1) convey deep scholarly knowledge of education and a specialty outside of education (2) promote a broad understanding of various methods of inquiry in education and develop competency in several of those methods, (3) impart broad knowledge of theory and practice in two supportive cognates, and (4) promote excellence as a college teacher. Our Ph.D. alumni have positions at national research universities, at region and local universities, in community colleges, K-12 school settings, laboratories, foundations, agencies, and private businesses.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits), however this is just one part of the application.
Our programs review all applications holistically, so we encourage you to still apply. You do not need to take classes to increase your GPA. Instead, we would like for you to focus on a goal statement which discusses your interests and how the program will meet your professional or individual goals and strong letters of recommendation. You can also feel free to address why your GPA is lower than a cumulative 3.0.
- A four year bachelor’s degree is required for our Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) programs
- A master’s degree is required for most of our doctorate programs
- The Ph.D. programs for Learning Sciences and Human Development and Special Education allow applicants to apply with a Bachelor’s degree. You can earn your master’s degree as part of their Ph.D. program.
- The required degree can be in-process at the time of your application but must be completed before the program starts.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Students in the College of Education fund their degree programs in many different ways. The College of Education offers assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships to admitted and current students throughout the academic year. Given our holistic and accessible model to our program admissions, we cannot guarantee full or partial funding for all of our admitted students. However, we still encourage you to apply for internal and external funding sources. Below are several resource links to learn more about the various funding options:
We support approximately 75 graduate students each academic year through roles as teaching assistants (TA) and research assistants (RA). TAs help professors with tasks like grading and leading discussions, while RAs contribute to research projects.
The UW Office of Student Financial Aid is the primary source of financial assistance for most students. UW requires students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be qualified for federal financial aid programs.
Application Requirement,
WEST-B: Basic skills test for teaching candidates
Application Deadline,
Jan 03, 2025
Application Fee,
An $90 application fee is required for each graduate program application. The fee payment is the last step to complete in the online application and can be paid by Visa or Mastercard. The UW Graduate School provides application fee waivers for those who qualify and demonstrate financial need. The fee waiver request is final step in the online application.
