Ph.D. in Education Program: Learning, Cognition, Instruction, and Development Concentration with Specialization in Special Education

Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Education Program and LCID Concentration can expect to exit with the ability to think critically about a wide range of the central theories on learning, conduct high-quality original research, communicate and share research effectively, and teach at the university level. Through completion of courses required for the Special Education Specialization, students will become familiar with historical, pedagogical, curricular, cognitive, sociological, and political understandings of social studies education. They should exit the program with a broad knowledge of the literature in the field and an appreciation of the range of research methods that have been used to advance it. Completion of the program will require the student to complete a dissertation, including a proposal that describes research questions and the methods used to study them. Then the student carries out the investigation to explore those questions and later presents their findings.

For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.

• 72 Graduate Course Credits
  •       6 Credits – Proseminars
  •     12 Credits – Methodology Requirement Courses
  •       6 Credits – Cognate Courses
  •       6 Credits – Pre-Thesis Research (Independent Study Courses)
  •     18 Credits – Speciality Courses
  •     24 Credits – Dissertation Research

• Qualifying Exam
  • After completing 24 credits of coursework, including 12 toward completion of the Ph.D. in Education requirements, students may take the qualifying exam. This open-book essay exam will assess the student’s knowledge of the subject area, capacity to conduct research, and competence in the specified area of research. The qualifying exam must be passed before the student completes their fourth year in the program.

• Dissertation 
  • Each candidate for the doctorate pursues, under faculty direction, an original investigation of a problem or problems in a field of concentration and presents the results of the investigation in a dissertation. This doctoral work is completed in 24 credits of coursework. Students are expected to complete a proposal that describes research questions and the methods used to study them. Then the student carries out the investigation to explore those questions.

The Ph.D. in Education requires students to complete 48 credits of graduate level coursework and 24 credits of dissertation research. Students will take pre-thesis courses designed to enhance their ability to conduct scholarly research, and can expect to receive support from their faculty advisor and other Ph.D. in Education faculty as appropriate. Prior to enrollment in the pre-thesis courses, students may be required to submit a Pre-thesis Research Form in the program’s learning management tool, Sakai. As part of the Learning, Cognition, Instruction, and Development concentration, students must also earn six of the 18 required specialty course credits through completion of classes outside the faculty advisor’s specialty.

Judith R. Harrison
Matthew J. Mayer
Angela M. O’Donnell
Dake Zhang

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Education Program are expected to influence educational practice in the United States and abroad through original research efforts, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge in education, discovering exemplary educational practices, and contributing to local and national educational policy. GSE graduates most commonly go on to conduct research in higher education, policy organizations, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with education.

• A personal statement that describes why you are interested in studying education at Rutgers. We are especially interested in knowing what your research interests are and with which faculty members you would like to work.
• Academic Writing sample
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Official Undergraduate Transcripts
• Official Graduate Transcripts (if applicable)
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume (optional)

For more information on this program’s admissions requirements, visit the Office of the Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

1. Collect the materials required for admission
2. Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
3. Submit supporting materials online or by mail to the Graduate Admissions Office:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Rutgers. The State University of New Jersey
56 Bevier Rd, ASB Annex I
Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.

Download the the complete guide on how to apply for the Ph.D. Program with LCID Concentration with Specialization in Special Education at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

Tuition: 

For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page.

Financial Aid:

While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships:

Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible.  

To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here.

Download the Syllabus