About PhD Program,
Doctoral study in education at Washington University in St. Louis is aimed at strengthening and deepening the student’s analytical understanding of education in both research and practice. Our doctoral program focuses on two major strands of study:
- Educational Policy Studies
- Educational Psychology
Educational Policy Studies – Students in this concentration wish to understand the policy and social contexts of schooling, and the theoretical assumptions that shape them. Students in this concentration engage in the analysis of educational policy (e.g., school discipline, school choice, and school desegregation) and address systemic inequities, counter deficit notions of those marginalized, and develop deep understandings of sociology and history as they undertake qualitative, quantitative, and historical projects. Such projects examine the interconnected experiences and positionality of educational constituents, including teachers and students, at the individual, organizational, and structural levels. Recent dissertations have included foci such as English language learners’ constraints and opportunities; shadow education and its structural relationship with school quality and demographics; school discipline policies, including restorative justice and exclusionary practices; factors impacting under representation of the marginalized in STEM fields; and effects of pediatric chronic disease on developmental and educational outcomes.
Educational Psychology – Coursework in this concentration is designed to help students acquire a foundation in psychological research and theories pertaining to learning and motivation. Among other skills and knowledge, students are expected to develop: (1) an appreciation for the challenges and progress in this area of research; (2) an understanding of how theory and research in psychology can be applied to facilitate learning and motivation in educative contexts broadly construed; (3) the ability to analyze educational practice and policy from the perspective of psychological theories of learning and motivation. Coursework will be based on the needs of the student and determined by consultation between the student and the advisor.
Students working toward a PhD in education are expected to acquire an understanding of education as a complex social, cultural, and moral/political activity and as a field of study with rich literature bases and strong ties to disciplinary knowledge, classroom practice, and a variety of technologies.
Our faculty brings special interests and expertise to the examination of educational interactions in such sites as schools, families, and other cultural institutions. Students are expected to acquire theoretical and empirical expertise in an area of concentration even as they demonstrate their broader understanding of educational processes and problems. Finally, students are expected to acquire methodological competence in empirical inquiry and to pursue questions that are of interest and import for the student individually as well as a larger educational community. Graduates of the PhD program should be prepared to join the community of professional educators who contribute to our understanding of the complexity of education and to continue inquiring into educational processes and problems wherever they choose to work.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, before enrolling in a Graduate program at Washington University in St. Louis. You may be considered for admission before you finish your undergraduate degree.
General information on the application process is provided below. Please review the program website for more detail on deadlines and other materials that may be required for application.
Applications are submitted online, but some supporting documents may need to be mailed or sent electronically. All application materials should be received by the program application deadline. Applications missing materials after the deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed for admission.
GRE scores are not required for admission to the Ph.D. in Education program.
PhD Funding Coverage,
We know a big part of your graduate school decision hinges on funding, both for your education and for research in your chosen field. We are dedicated to fully covering our Graduate students’ needs, with most of our Ph.D. students receiving a stipend and full tuition coverage.
Washington University is committed to funding most Ph.D. students for 4-6 years, depending on the time needed to complete their particular program. Funding typically consists of full tuition remission and a 9 to12 month stipend to defray living expenses. Monetary support may come from the University or from outside sources, and it may be administered by an individual faculty member or by the staff of the program or school.
The majority of full-time students receive financial support through financial assistance, grants, loans, or Federal Work-Study Program opportunities. Financial assistance in the form of fellowships and mentorship are offered annually on a competitive basis through Arts & Sciences from government, private, unrestricted, or endowed sources. Also available are scholarships, fellowships, and clinical internships in applied social sciences; grants and fellowships in national competitions, and loans.
Washington University encourages and gives full consideration to all applicants for admission, financial aid, and mentorship. The University does not discriminate in access to, or treatment of mentees in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.
Application Requirement,
- Completed application
- Personal statement: Please explain why you wish to pursue graduate work in the field you have selected and describe your ultimate academic and career objectives. What research question(s), within your general proposed field of study, do you hope to explore in depth during your graduate studies? What are your research-related and lived experiences that will contribute to your ability to be successful in this doctoral program? Finally, please indicate member(s) of the Washington University education faculty (who currently mentor Ph.D. students- a list of these potential advisors can be found below) with whom you might want to pursue a reserach topic, and describe the match between your research interests and their area(s) of expertise.
- Writing Sample
- Current CV/resume
- Transcriptsof all previous college work
- Three completed Letters of Recommendation with Recommendation Forms
- International applicants are also required to submit proof of English proficiency through official TOEFL or IETLS scores.
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
- The application fee for graduate programs in Arts & Sciences is $45.
- Fees are payable by credit card or electronic-check issued from a United States banking institution.
