Program Overview

Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.

Overview

Become a leader in Curriculum and Instruction with Kent State's Ph.D. program. Conduct original research and develop expertise in curriculum theory to shape the future of education.

Contact Information

• Scott Courtney |
• Jiahui Wang (Educational Technology concentration) |

Program Delivery

• Delivery: In person
• Location: Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

• Education teachers, postsecondary
  • 4.8% about as fast as the average
  • 77,300 number of jobs
  • $65,440 potential earnings
• Instructional coordinators
  • 5.9% faster than the average
  • 192,900 number of jobs
  • $66,970 potential earnings

Additional Careers

• University Professor

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 graduate GPA is recommended) starting with spring 2026 admission term, minimum 3.000 graduate GPA will be required
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Application essay
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application Deadline: July 15
• Spring Semester
  • Application Deadline: November 15
• Summer Term
  • Application Deadline: April 15 (domestic students only)

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• CI 87000: THEORY AND RESEARCH IN TEACHING
• CI 87001: THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CURRICULUM
• CI 87002: FORMS OF INQUIRY IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
• RMS 75510: STATISTICS I FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
• RMS 85515: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
• RMS 85516: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
• RMS 85517: ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 1
• or RMS 85518: ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
• Doctoral Elective (70000 or 80000 level) Approved by Prospectus Committee
• Culminating Requirement
  • CI 80001: PROSEMINAR IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION I
  • CI 80090: RESIDENCY II
  • CI 80199: DISSERTATION I 2
• Concentrations
  • Choose from the following:
    • Adapted/Physical Education
    • Curriculum and Teaching Studies
    • Educational Technology
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics Education
    • Science Education
    • Social Studies Education

Adapted/Physical Education Concentration Requirements

• Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
  • CI 75592: PRACTICUM IN ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
  • CI 77096: INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
  • CI 85025: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SPORT PEDAGOGY - AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
  • CI 85037: ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
  • CI 85044: PEDAGOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT
  • CI 85055: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN SPORT PEDAGOGY
  • Other doctoral-level course, with advisor approval

Curriculum and Teaching Studies Concentration Requirements

• Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
  • CI 71130: MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES
  • CI 77002: CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP
  • CI 77003: TEACHER EDUCATION
  • CI 77005: INTERCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
  • CI 77010: CURRICULUM EVALUATION

Educational Technology Concentration Requirements

• ETEC 77420: RESEARCH ISSUES IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
• ETEC 77491: SEMINAR: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
• ETEC 87450: LEARNING WITH EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES
• Educational Technology (ETEC) Doctoral-Level Elective (70000 or 80000 level)

Early Childhood Education Concentration Requirements

• Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
  • ECED 70152: APPLICATION OF SELECTED THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN
  • ECED 70158: RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
  • ECED 70163: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
  • ECED 70170: WRITING FOR PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
  • ECED 80298: RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Literacy Concentration Requirements

• CI 87340: RESEARCH IN READING
• CI 87342: SEMINAR IN READING AND LANGUAGE
• CI 87343: RESEARCH IN TEACHING OF WRITING
• CI 87398: RESEARCH IN READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS

Mathematics Education Concentration Requirements

• CI 77225: RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
• CI 87791: DOCTORAL SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
• Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
  • CI 77095: SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
  • CI 77224: TEACHING MATHEMATICS WITH TECHNOLOGY
  • CI 77226: IMPROVING MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD

Science Education Concentration Requirements

• CI 71133: ISSUES AND TRENDS IN ELEMENTARY SCIENCE
• CI 71134: RESEARCH TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
• CI 71140: CULTURE AND MULTICULTURALISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
• CI 71141: NATURE OF SCIENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

Social Studies Education Concentration Requirements

• Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
  • CI 71124: EDUCATING THE GOOD CITIZEN
  • CI 71125: ISSUES AND TRENDS IN SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION
  • CI 71126: RESEARCH IN SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING AND LEARNING
  • CI 71127: TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
  • CI 77095: SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA:
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000

Comprehensive Examination Requirements

The course phase of study culminates with a written and oral comprehensive examination that is created and evaluated by each doctoral student’s prospectus committee. Students choose one of the following options for the written component:

• Eight-hour in-class written examination
• Take-home written examination
• Written examination and portfolio (this option must be selected when submitting the plan of study)

Once doctoral students have passed the comprehensive examination, they organize a dissertation committee, which supervises their dissertation research project.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Practice research-based leadership.
2. Function as responsible, informed researchers in a specific curriculum and instruction area of study and professional practice.
3. Establish a disciplined life of inquiry.
4. Conduct research informed by multicultural education literature.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction prepares scholars for successful careers in college and university settings and produces curriculum leaders for schools and other educational institutions. The program is relevant for qualified students interested in issues related to educational research with a curriculum and instruction focus. Upon completion of the program, students will have gained insight into what it means to transition from doctoral student to disciplined scholar.

The major comprises the following concentrations:

• Adapted/Physical Education
• Curriculum and Teaching Studies
• Educational Technology
• Early Childhood Education
• Literacy
• Mathematics Education
• Science Education
• Social Studies Education