Ph.D. Programs

ATTENTION NEW APPLICANTS: The GRE is NO LONGER REQUIRED for applications to the Ph.D. in Education or Ph.D. in Higher Education programs.

Ph.D. programs at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE) are administered in conjunction with the School of Graduate Studies. Students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. program at the GSE must apply to the School of Graduate Studies.

Ph.D. in Education

The Ph.D. in Education prepares you to become a researcher in academia, government, and the private sector. Our program prepares you to:

• create new knowledge about educational processes and policies;
• lead development of research-based instructional, professional, and outreach programs; and
• promote effective and equitable educational practices for all learners.

Graduates of the 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. The Ph.D. in Education offers two concentrations: Theory, Organization, and Policy (TOP) and Learning, Cognition, Instruction, and Development (LCID). If you are interested in applying or would like to learn more detailed information about the two concentrations and related specializations, please explore each of these pages.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Education program, please refer to the Ph.D. in Education student handbook.

Program Goals as of 2022-2023
(Last updated: 7/18/2022)

Knowledge/Understanding 

• Students will understand and think critically about a wide range of the central theories on learning. These include what types of environments support learning; what the goals of education are and should be; how policy and social structures influence learning opportunities; how education can support goals related to social justice; and how the role of education continues to evolve in our society. In particular, students should be aware of the different disciplines upon which these theories draw, understand that these disciplinary lenses fundamentally influence how education and educational research is perceived, and be able to use these theories and lenses to interpret and synthesize bodies of research. 
• Students will develop deep understanding and expertise in a particular domain. They should have a broad and deep knowledge of the literature in the field and an understanding and appreciation of the range of research methods that have been used to advance the field. 

Communication/Community Building 

• Students will successfully communicate and disseminate their research. They should present their work in the GSE (brown bags, research poster sessions) as well as at regional, national and international conferences. They should publish their work in scholarly outlets as well as report their research, if appropriate, in ways that will be valuable to practitioners and policymakers. They should also successfully communicate their dissertation research. 
• Students will participate in their respective scholarly and professional communities, including service within the GSE as well as service to professional organizations, including scholarly reviews, serving on committees, etc.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 

• Students will understand and think critically about a wide range of the central theories on learning. These include what types of environments support learning; what the goals of education are and should be; how policy and social structures influence learning opportunities; how education can support goals related to social justice; and how the role of education continues to evolve in our society. In particular, students should be aware of the different disciplines upon which these theories draw, understand that these disciplinary lenses fundamentally influence how education and educational research is perceived, and be able to use these theories and lenses to interpret and synthesize bodies of research. 

Research/Professional Practice 

• Students will successfully communicate and disseminate their research. They should present their work in the GSE (brown bags, research poster sessions) as well as at regional, national and international conferences. They should publish their work in scholarly outlets as well as report their research, if appropriate, in ways that will be valuable to practitioners and policymakers. They should also successfully communicate their dissertation research. 
• Students will develop expertise in teaching university-level courses. This is considered to be an especially important goal because it is expected that many graduates will obtain employment at academic institutions where teaching will be part of their responsibilities. All students are expected to be observed by a faculty member as well as to complete a teaching portfolio. 

Assessment 

• Students will evaluate, identify, and use models and approaches that will be effective in the successful design and implementation of assessment within their educational contexts. 

Professional Development/Self-Reflection 

• Students will capitalize on opportunities for continuous professional learning and development, including reflective self-inquiry, in order to make significant contributions to the chosen area of study/discipline.  

Ph.D. in Higher Education

The Ph.D. in Higher Education prepares higher education researchers who will take their scholarship, knowledge, and research skills into a range of higher education settings such as universities and colleges, state or federal governing and coordinating boards, independent research and policy organizations, and foundations. They are expected to provide leadership, insight, and expertise in the institutional or related higher education settings in which they work and go on to influence educational practice in the United States and abroad through original research efforts. If you are interested in applying or would like more detailed information about the Ph.D. in Higher Education, please explore the Ph.D. in Higher Education page.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Higher Education program, please refer to the Ph.D. in Higher Education student handbook.

For a listing of useful student resources within the university, visit Information for Current Students.