Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Numerous faculty positions at colleges and universities go unfilled each year due to a lack of qualified candidates and to the need for quality teacher education training programs in our state, region, and nation.

SPU’s doctor of philosophy in education (Ph.D.) degree program addresses this need by emphasizing teaching and learning theory, research, teacher preparation, and university teaching. Our research-based, 90 quarter-credit program is designed to educate and prepare students to serve as college- and university-level educators who can conduct publishable research and other scholarly work.

PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS
SPU’s Ph.D. in education is the preferred degree for teaching in higher education. SPU’s program is designed to provide the appropriate blend of rigor, best practice, and original research to prepare students for careers in higher education. Other distinctions include

• Small, focused classes with personalized instruction; education Ph.D. students are limited to approximately five students a year
• Comprehensive research component that prepares students to explore and understand both quantitative and qualitative research designs
• Sense of community that helps students develop helpful and supportive relationships
• Excellent faculty with proven expertise and a strong desire to help students succeed in the program
• Opportunities for involvement in undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programming at SPU via teaching and intern supervision.
  

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
The following items are required for application to the Ph.D. program in education

• Application and fee
• Official transcripts documenting excellent undergraduate and graduate GPAs
• Master’s degree in education or related field
• Minimum of three years successful experience as an educator in K–12 schools (public or private)
• GRE-Revised Test score taken within five years of application. Preferred minimum combined score of 303/60th percentile on verbal + quantitative or 1200 on old GRE test.
• Four letters of recommendation (two academic and two professional recommendations)
• Personal statement, including goals and proposed area of study (no more than 500 words)

• A writing sample demonstrating graduate-level writing skills. The sample could include, but not be limited to, papers from graduate courses, master’s thesis, professional blog, policy statement, white paper/report, etc. Please limit submission to 7 pages total.
  

• Personal interview with at least two SPU core doctoral faculty members
  

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PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the program’s course curriculum, Ph.D. students must fulfill the following requirements to complete the degree

• Complete coursework with 3.2 GPA or better
• Receive a passing mark on a publishable colloquium paper
• Obtain passing marks on three comprehensive examinations (research, foundations, specialization)
• Demonstrate supervision competency by supervising practicum and internship teacher education students evaluated in SPU’s University Teaching Practicum Seminar
• Show instructional competency by teaching a teacher education course
• Achieve a passing mark on written dissertation
• Receive a passing grade on oral defense of dissertation

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is the culminating experience in the Ph.D. in Education degree. It is a scholarly inquiry into an area of professional and intellectual interest, and it is a highly individualized experience.

Working with faculty throughout the coursework and with a dissertation advisor, the student develops a research question and proposal. Using the expertise and knowledge developed in the research courses and under the direction of a faculty dissertation advisor and committee, the student conducts the research and produces a quality report of the findings. As a final demonstration of scholarly competence, the student conducts an oral presentation and defense of the research.

While it is expected that the dissertation will follow standard accepted research methodologies and format, the topic of the research may vary depending on the professional goals and area of specialization of the student and the expertise of the faculty

QUESTIONS?
Learn more about admissions, enrollment, and costs

For complete information about the Ph.D. in Education program, or if you have questions regarding admission requirements, contact SPU’s Graduate Center at gradadmissions@spu.edu or 206-281-2091 (800-601-0603).

If you have questions about School of Education doctoral programs or your candidacy, contact Dr. Andrew Lumpe, director of doctoral programs, at 206-281-2369 or lumpea@spu.edu.

REQUIRED COURSES
The Ph.D in education program requires 90 quarter credits and consists of the following

Prerequisite Coursework

Depending on a student’s educational background, the following prerequisites may be required for the doctoral degree:

• EDU 7300 Introduction to Educational Research and Statistics
• EDU 6975 Interpreting & Applying Educational Research I
• EDU 6976 Interpreting & Applying Educational Research II
• EDU 6655 Human Development & Principles of Learning
• EDU 6524 Approaches to Curriculum Design
• EDU 6526 Survey of Instructional Strategies
• EDU 6613 Standards-Based Assessment