Educational Studies

Minimum admission criteria for all areas of concentration are consistent; however, additional concentration level criteria may be applied. The program is selective. There will be limits on the number of students a faculty member can mentor at one time.

Degrees. Earned Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in areas of concentration or closely related area from an accredited college or university. Students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in unrelated areas, but with clear evidence of experiences and/or credentials appropriate to the degree and a specific area of concentration may be accepted. 

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA). Successful applicants must have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) from their undergraduate coursework and 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) from previous graduate work.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional. It can be submitted as part of the holistic review of your application, but is not required.

Applicants: The program will be using the university's holistic review process for all areas of the PhD. The holistic review involves written responses to selected questions. The questions do not require specific content background or knowledge, but assess preparedness for the writing, analysis, and critical thinking required of a doctoral degree. An admissions committee reviews each application using pre-determined criteria. Applicants should expect a follow up interview with an admissions committee member to complete their application.

Speakers of English as Second Language. If an applicant’s first language is not English, he or she must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or another comparable test unless he/she has previous degrees from higher education institutions in the United States. The recommended test scores are: 92-93 for Internet-based TOEFL; 237 for Computer-based TOEFL; 580 Paper-based TOEFL; 6.5 for IELTS; and 62-63 for PTE. The test must be taken within two years prior to application to the program.

Letters of Recommendation. Applicants must have a minimum of three current letters of recommendation that address their academic background and accomplishments submitted by college or university faculty, graduate advisors, or other individuals who can address applicants’ accomplishments or potential as educational researchers.

Writing Sample Prompt.  The purpose of the Writing Sample is to demonstrate the quality of your academic writing skills, your ability to think critically, your ability to construct an argument, and your ability to analyze educational issues and/or data. There are two ways that you may choose to do this:

1.     Provide a prewritten sample, perhaps something you composed for a prior course, that is 2,000 words or less and contains at least three references (an excerpt of a longer paper is acceptable).

OR

2.     Compose an essay where you discuss your position on an issue in your field of interest within education and how you hope to address that issue during your studies. Your essay should be 2,000 words or less and contain at least three references.

Goal Statement Prompt. The purpose of the Goal Statement is to determine how your research interests align with the Educational Studies program, your area of concentration, and the faculty within it. You are encouraged to consult the university website to learn more about the areas of focus for the program, concentrations, and faculty.  This information will also help the program select the best faculty advisor aligned with your interests.  In your Goal Statement of 1,500 words or less, you should describe:

a) your previous teaching or research experiences;

b) topics or issues that you hope to learn more about during your time in the program;

c) how your interests align with your intended area of concentration; and

d) your professional short-term and long-range aspirations.

Curriculum Vitae/Resume. A copy of a curriculum vitae or resume that indicates the applicant’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address, colleges attended with degrees and dates, employment history, professional experiences, any publications, or conference presentations, and names of references who will be sending letters.

Application Deadlines

Prospective students should complete the online application for the EDST Ph.D. degree by December 1st, at which time they will select a concentration from among the options available. Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Applicants will be notified of acceptance or rejection by February 15th.