PhD in Educational Studies
The PhD degree program in Educational Studies at Boston University is designed for students who wish to contribute to the field’s understanding of teaching and learning through research.
The program will expand and deepen the knowledge and skills of enrolled graduate students in ways that will support their progress in pursuing teaching, research, and policymaking positions in public or private institutions of higher education. To do this, the program provides a deliberate course of study, including coursework in a specific content area, research, and active immersion in the community of student and faculty scholars within the program and throughout the college, the University, and the profession.
Doctoral students enrolled in the PhD in Educational Studies pursue one of four specializations:
- Educational Policy Studies
- Language and Literacy Education
- Mathematics and Science Education
- Special Education
Students work closely with Wheelock faculty as research, teaching, and/or graduate assistants as they work to augment their knowledge and skills through their coursework, residency, and research.
The minimum unit requirement for the PhD is 66 units.
Learning Outcomes
PhD students in Educational Studies will:
- Demonstrate both deep knowledge and understanding of a specific area in their field and the ability to use the knowledge to seek and find solutions to important educational problems.
- Demonstrate the research capacities (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) needed to conduct original research while also demonstrating sufficient familiarity with other research methodologies to be able to critically read relevant literature in the field.
- Through research and scholarship, expand the theoretical and empirical knowledge base in their field to inform researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
- Contribute to their field as highly effective teachers in a variety of educational contexts (e.g., colleges, universities, conferences, community meetings).
- Contribute to their field through service to educational and civic organizations that inform or implement policy, research, and practice.
Coursework and Other Requirements
Pro-Seminars (8 units across two terms; completed in Year 1)
Students take a two-term pro-seminar (WED ED 800 and WED ED 801; each 4 units) designed to develop a common conceptual understanding of Schools, Educational Institutions, Communities, Educational Foundations, and Systems and Theories of Learning and Teaching, with Social Justice as a unifying theme throughout.
Research and Teaching Apprenticeships
- Each term, PhD students are required to engage in some combination of research and teaching apprenticeships up to 20 hours per week.
- When engaging as a Teaching Fellow or Instructor of Record, students register for WED CT 700 Teaching Apprenticeship; 0 units.
- When engaging in a research apprenticeship, students register for WED RS 799 Doctoral Research Apprenticeship; 0 units.
Research Courses (minimum: 20 units)
- WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods or equivalent (required)
- WED RS 653 Quantitative Research Methods or equivalent (required)
Three additional courses; options include the following, as well as other courses across Boston University and at consortium partners:
- CAS PS 711 Statistics in Psychology (I and II)
- WED LS 726 Discourse Analysis
- WED LS 801 Design-Based Research as Educational Inquiry, Part I
- WED LS 802 Design-Based Research as Educational Inquiry, Part II
- WED RS 654 Educational Inquiry and Proposal Writing
- WED RS 655 Mixed Methods Research
- WED RS 750 Advanced Research Seminar
- WED RS 752 Seminar in Qualitative Research
- WED RS 754 Causal Design in Education Research
Specialization Courses (minimum: 28 units)
Specialization courses are determined jointly between the student and doctoral advisor. Examples of options in each specialization area are listed below:
| Language and Literacy Education | Mathematics and Science Education |
Seven specialization courses will be chosen by the student in consultation with their advisor, based on the student’s interests. Examples of specialization courses:
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Students must take the core set of three required courses and will select four additional courses in consultation with their advisor, based on their interests and career goals.
Required Core Courses for the PhD in Mathematics and Science Education
Additional Course Options BU, Boston College, and Tufts University have developed a consortium for doctoral STEM education and maintain a website where course offerings across the institutions are published each term. Therefore, BU Wheelock doctoral students are able to choose from a rich variety of courses relevant to the STEM disciplines and develop relationships with graduate students across all three institutions.
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| Special Education | Educational Policy Studies |
Specialization courses are determined jointly between the student and doctoral advisor; wide-ranging options are available. Some examples include:
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Examples of specialization courses:
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Qualifying Tasks
- One qualifying task comprises completion of an empirical study and associated research article intended for publication; topic and format to be determined in collaboration with the student’s advisor. Work will be evaluated by the student’s Qualifying Committee, and will be presented at a Doctoral Student Research Symposium.
- For the second qualifying task, the student and advisor will choose between two options. Work will be evaluated by the student’s Qualifying Committee.
- Completion of a literature review in an area of the student’s field of study where there is a problem/challenge/gap in the literature.
- Completion of a second empirical study and associated research article.
Dissertation Proposal
- Preparation of written proposal for dissertation research
- Oral defense of proposal to Dissertation Committee
Dissertation Advisement and Oral Defense (WED XX 999) (minimum: 10 units)
- Dissertation may take one of two forms: traditional or alternative format with three publishable articles
- Oral defense of dissertation findings to Dissertation Committee
Residency Requirement
Every doctoral candidate must spend a minimum of two consecutive terms in residence at Boston University. Residence is defined as registration for a minimum of 12 unit hours at the University during each of two consecutive terms. (Summer terms may be considered one term.) The residency requirement may be met by holding a research or teaching assistant position and registering for a minimum of 8 unit hours for two consecutive terms. For additional information, students should contact their academic advisors.
