Coordinator:
Dr. James Giarelli (732-932-7496, ext. 8209; email:
james.giarelli@gse.rutgers.edu)
The program in social and philosophical foundations of education provides students with an opportunity for advanced study and research in education from the perspectives provided by the social science and humanities disciplines. The program prepares individuals for conducting research, teaching at the postsecondary level, and assuming leadership positions in public and higher education and other organizations.
The Ed.D. program in the social and philosophical foundations of education requires a minimum of 48 postbaccalaureate graduate credits, which may include a maximum transfer of 18 credits from graduate work completed outside of Rutgers prior to matriculation in the program. All doctoral programs require a minimum of 30 graduate credits in the social and philosophical foundations of education approved by the adviser and department chair. In addition, doctoral students must register for a minimum of 24 research credits during dissertation study.
Two concentrations are available within the Ed.D. program in the social and philosophical foundations of education: a program specialization concentration and an educational theory concentration. Both concentrations have four elements: doctoral coursework, residency, qualifying examinations, and doctoral dissertation.
Degree Requirements:
Program Specialization Concentration
Doctoral students enrolled in a program specialization concentration may specialize in social and cultural studies in education or humanities and education. All specialization programs follow a common set of guidelines in specifying degree requirements.
Doctoral coursework: program specialization
Total coursework in social and philosophical foundations of education: 30 credits, including 21 credits of coursework in area of specialization.
Collateral coursework: program specialization
Students specializing in social and cultural studies must take at least 6 credits in humanities and education. Students specializing in humanities and education must take at least 6 credits in social and cultural studies.
Degree Requirements: Educational Theory Concentration
Doctoral students enrolled in the educational theory concentration develop a coherent plan of coursework focused on two areas of specialization. All educational theory programs follow a common set of guidelines in specifying degree requirements.
Doctoral coursework: educational theory concentration
Total coursework in social and philosophical foundations: 30 credits, including 21 credits in area of specialization. All educational theory students must take at least 6 credits of coursework in both social and cultural studies and humanities in education.
Degree Requirements: All Doctoral Programs
Doctoral coursework: GSE core requirements in research methods
All doctoral students must take a minimum of 9 credits of research methods courses appropriate to the student's scholarly and professional interests. Appropriate courses may be taken outside of the program area. Applicable research courses within the social and philosophical foundations program area would include the following:
15:310:536 Methods of Educational Ethnography (3)
15:310:601 Problems in History of Education (3)
15:310:615 Seminar in Philosophy of Education (3)
Doctoral coursework: GSE core requirements in outside areas
All Ed.D. students in social and philosophical foundations must take 3 credits from each of the following three areas: learning in a content area, policy/leadership, and psychological foundations.
Qualifying Examination
Doctoral qualifying examinations normally are given to students at the completion of their coursework to assess the breadth and depth of the knowledge that they have acquired during doctoral studies and to gauge readiness to begin dissertation research. Successful completion of qualifying examinations is a prerequisite for admission to doctoral candidacy. These examinations are offered once each semester. Program specialization students respond to three questions: two questions in the area of specialization and one question focusing on research methods and their application. Educational theory students respond to three questions: one question from each of their areas of specialization and one question focusing on research methods and their application.
Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is the capstone of doctoral studies. With the advice of a duly constituted doctoral dissertation committee, Ed.D. candidates prepare and defend a dissertation proposal and a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates the ability to engage successfully in the scholarly and systematic study of educational problems and to make an original and creative contribution to educational research.
