Program Overview

Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction

The Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction is a 66-hour doctoral program that establishes a link between research and practice, providing opportunities to investigate curriculum, instruction, assessment, and social justice issues within an urban education context. Ph.D. students engage in rigorous research, quality teaching, and contextual service to enhance education, curriculum and instruction, and community connections.

Program Structure

The program consists of:

• Curriculum and Instruction Core (24 hours)
  • Issues in Urban Education
  • Social Justice and Equity
  • Learning, Design, and Technology
  • Curriculum Theory
  • Curriculum and Instruction Seminar
  • Advanced Internship
  • The State of the Curriculum Field in Education
  • Instructional Strategies for Teaching Adults
• Research (15 hours)
  • Introduction to Educational Research
  • Introduction to Quantitative Educational Research
  • Introduction to Qualitative Educational Research
  • 6 additional hours of Advanced Research Courses
• Specialization (21 hours)
  • Hours from one of the following specializations:
    • Art Education/Visual Culture
    • Bilingual/ESL Education
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Learning, Design, and Technology
    • Mathematics Education
    • Reading, Language Arts, and Literature Education
    • Science Education
    • Social Education/Social Studies
    • Teaching and Teacher Education
• Dissertation (6 hours)

Total Program Hours

The total program hours are 66 hours.

Degree Plan

Since degree plans change periodically, students will follow the degree plan that is in place at the time in which they complete an official, approved degree plan.

Program Leadership

• Program Director: Dr. Jennifer Chauvot
• Specialization Leads:
  • Dr. Sheng Kuan Chung - Art Education/Visual Culture
  • Dr. Mikel Cole - Bilingual/ESL Education
  • Dr. Xin Li - Early Childhood Education
  • Dr. Sara McNeil - Learning, Design & Technology
  • Dr. Jennifer Chauvot - Mathematics Education
  • Dr. Laveria Hutchison - Literacy Education
  • Dr. Sissy Wong - Science Education
  • Dr. Conra Gist - Teaching/Teacher Education

Program Overview

The program prepares students for positions in Tier 1 universities or other related areas that expect continued examination of research and practice in urban environments. The program area, core, and research courses, in addition to the dissertation process and other experiential opportunities, enhance education, curriculum and instruction, and community connections.