Concentrations
The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in education prepares individuals to assume faculty and research positions in academia, government, and the private sector. Students in the Ph.D. in education program choose one of two concentrations.
The Ph.D. in education concentration inlearning, cognition, instruction, and development (L-CID) prepares students to carry out research with implications for learning and teaching in classrooms and other settings. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged within this
concentration, which focuses on: how people think, how knowledge is conveyed, how
understanding is acquired, how human beings develop in learning environments,
and the ingredients of effective teaching. Students can specialize in areas of
faculty expertise, with opportunities for research in interdisciplinary studies
and these specializations: early childhood education, educational psychology,
human development, language education, learning sciences, literacy education,
mathematics education, science education, social studies education, special
education, and statistics and measurement.
We help our students to develop the broad base of knowledge
and research skills needed to design and investigate methods of improving
learning and teaching in real learning environments. Students specialize in one
area of study but learn about one or more other areas, allowing them to develop
stronger educational interventions and research designs.
The Ph.D. in education concentration in theory, organization, and policy (TOP) is designed to prepare researchers who will study organizational leadership, policy, international and comparative education, and the social science and humanities disciplines of education. The concentration focuses on the interplay between larger social, political, economic, and historical contexts and educational policies, practices, and outcomes.
Admission Requirements
Only applicants who have demonstrated the potential for outstanding research are selected for the program. Among the factors considered for admission are a bachelor's degree in a relevant area; an undergraduate cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0; a graduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (if applicable); and a strong performance on the Graduate Record Examination. In the personal statement, the applicant should
discuss the issues he or she is interested in studying, describe reasons for
those interests, and identify Rutgers faculty with whom he or she would be
interested in working. Applicants should
also provide three letters of recommendation from former professors or employers. In addition, foreign applicants must provide a TOEFL score indicative of proficiency in English. Additional criteria may be set by each concentration.
Students must complete at least 48 credits of coursework, which are distributed as follows:
- 6 credits in the education core (Proseminars I and II);
- at least 12 credits in research methods, including at least one course in qualitative research and at least one course in quantitative research methodologies;
- 6 credits in prethesis research in the education concentration (LCID or TOP);
- at least 18 credits in a concentration; and
- at least 6 credits in the appropriate cognate disciplines as specified in the program policy on cognate requirements.
An additional 24 credits of dissertation research are required. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in their doctoral coursework. Students may petition the faculty of the Ph.D. in education program to transfer up to 24 graduate credits from coursework taken elsewhere toward these requirements.
Each Ph.D. student is assigned a faculty adviser. Students must complete at least two research projects before they are admitted to dissertation candidacy, and they must pass a qualifying examination that is evaluated by a faculty committee in the area of concentration. Students are admitted to dissertation candidacy by the faculty after they have completed successfully the above requirements. In addition, students must provide evidence of successful university-level teaching experience, which is documented by a portfolio for evaluation by the faculty.
Students who are admitted to the Ph.D. in education program will be eligible to earn a master of arts (M.A.) degree while working toward the Ph.D. degree. Only students admitted to the Ph.D. program will be eligible for the M.A. degree. Applications by prospective students seeking only an M.A. degree will be rejected without review.
Students will be eligible to receive an M.A. from the Graduate School-New Brunswick upon completion of 30 credits (taken at Rutgers and eligible to be counted toward Ph.D. requirements) and successful completion of the qualifying examination. The 30 credits will include 6 credits in the two proseminars (300:501 and 300:503).
All Ph.D. students are encouraged to take the examination and earn an M.A. as they work toward their Ph.D. degrees.
Additional information on the Ph.D. in education program can be found at: https://gse.rutgers.edu/academic-programs/phd-programs.
Programs, Faculty, and Courses 
