Education (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Education offers specializations in fields related to the areas of:

1. children and youth in communities;
2. curriculum and instruction/teacher education;
3. leadership and policy studies

The Ph.D. program is designed to engender a broad understanding of the field of education by encouraging focused scholarly inquiry grounded in the realities of formal and informal settings for learning. Professors and students work to examine educational issues from philosophical, socio-­cultural, and policy­-related perspectives. The program enrolls full­- and part-­time students.

An individualized program of study is planned by the student and their guidance committee. Each includes a set of common core courses, specialized study, a number of selected electives from across areas of inquiry, and required research preparation. Students must meet specific university, department, and program requirements. Within this framework, individual programs of study can vary widely from student to student depending upon the student's own interests and goals.

The Ph.D. in Education provides students with preparation for research, teaching, and leadership in a variety of settings. Graduates hold positions at all levels of schooling, from colleges and universities to K­-12 schools. Former students are also involved in work as policy makers, community agency directors, consultants, and research analysts.

Program information: Contact the Education Department by phone: (603) 862-­2310 or e­mail: education.department@unh.edu.

Admission

Students admitted to the program must have completed a master's degree in education or a related field. Entering students are generally expected to have some experience working in areas related to education, broadly conceptualized. To apply, candidates must submit a Graduate School application and transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.

In addition to the personal statement required on the Graduate School application, candidates must submit an essay on an educational issue. This essay should discuss one issue in the field of education that is of interest to the candidate and that illustrates the applicant's early ideas about an area of focus. The essay should explore the opportunities and challenges this issue poses and explain why the applicant finds it personally compelling (1,000 to 1,500 words in length).

Prior to completing and submitting the application, candidates are welcome to contact the Director Graduate Programs in Educational Studies, who directs the Ph.D. in Education program, to arrange a conversation to discuss their interests and fit with current research of faculty in the Education Department.  Contact the Education Department by phone: (603) 862-­2310 or e­mail: education.department@unh.edu.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree must meet admission requirements, develop and complete an approved program of study in consultation with their guidance committee, complete required coursework, undergo an annual assessment review by the Doctoral Advisory Committee, develop and submit a passing qualifying paper, establish a dissertation committee, develop an approved dissertation proposal to advance to candidacy, write and present the dissertation, and pass the final oral examination.

Students typically complete 52 to 64 hours in graduate coursework following their matriculation. These hours do not include EDUC 999 Doctoral Research.

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Additional required electives chosen in consultation with student's Guidance Committee. Students complete a minimum of five courses (20 credits) within, or directly related to, their chosen area of inquiry.

Integrative Coursework

Select two advanced inquiry education courses (e.g., EDUC 979 Applied Multilevel Modeling), courses in a different specialization, or courses taken in another department (e.g., psychology, sociology, economics, family studies).

Qualifying Paper

As a step toward Ph.D. candidacy, students must satisfactorily complete a qualifying paper as well as all other program requirements. After completing most of their coursework, and under advice of the student’s guidance committee, students may formally undertake the qualifying paper. The student formally proposes a qualifying paper concept to the guidance committee and undertakes writing the paper once the proposal is approved. The paper is evaluated by the student's guidance committee. The qualifying paper is used to evaluate the student's general knowledge in relevant areas of inquiry, and their fitness for engaging in research, particularly in the subject proposed for the dissertation.

Dissertation

To complete the degree, the student must present and defend a dissertation of original research and publishable quality.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate general knowledge of the field of educational research, including types of research questions and methods of inquiry used in the field.
• Students will learn to critique and design qualitative and quantitative educational research, and they will be able to identify and craft good argumentation in educational scholarship.
• Students will demonstrate expertise in at least one form of data analysis or a non-empirical form of inquiry (e.g., historical, philosophical, literary).
• Students will gain expertise in one or more substantive areas of inquiry in educational research.

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Deadlines

Deadlines: Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: Recommended Deadline 12/15; Final Deadline 1/15. Applications received after the recommended deadline will be reviewed only if space available.
• Spring: N/A
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: RI VT

Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1) reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives, and 2) your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field. A second essay is required. It must discuss one issue in the field of education that is of interest to you. Explore the opportunities and challenges this issue poses and explain why you find it personally compelling. It should be 1000 to 1500 words in length.

Statements must be included with your submitted application.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.