{"id":78887,"date":"2020-01-24T12:11:27","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T17:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/?page_id=78887"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:33:12","slug":"phd-in-educational-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wheelock\/programs\/phd-in-educational-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD in Educational Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sidebar\">\n<h3>Contact<\/h3>\n<p>For contact information, please visit the Wheelock College of Education &amp; Human Development <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/academics\/graduate\/doctor-of-philosophy\/doctor-of-philosophy-in-educational-studies\/\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The PhD degree program in Educational Studies at Boston University is designed for students who wish to contribute to the field\u2019s understanding of teaching and learning through research.<\/p>\n<p>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.<span>\u00a0<\/span>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.<\/p>\n<p>Doctoral students enrolled in the PhD in Educational Studies pursue one of four specializations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Educational Policy Studies<\/li>\n<li>Language and Literacy Education<\/li>\n<li>Mathematics and Science Education<\/li>\n<li>Special Education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Students work closely with BU Wheelock faculty as research, teaching, and\/or graduate assistants as they work to augment their knowledge and skills through their coursework, residency, and research.<\/p>\n<p>The minimum unit requirement for the PhD is 66 units.<\/p>\n<h2>Learning Outcomes<span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PhD students in Educational Studies will:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Expand the theoretical and empirical knowledge base in their field to inform researchers, practitioners, and policymakers through research and scholarship.<\/li>\n<li>Contribute to their field as highly effective teachers in a variety of educational contexts (e.g., colleges, universities, conferences, community meetings).<\/li>\n<li>Contribute to their field through service to educational and civic organizations that inform or implement policy, research, and practice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Coursework and Other Requirements<\/h2>\n<h3>Pro-Seminars (8 units across two terms; completed in Year 1)<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>Research and Teaching Apprenticeships<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Each term, PhD students are required to engage in some combination of research and teaching apprenticeships up to 20 hours per week.<\/li>\n<li>When engaging as a Teaching Fellow or Instructor of Record, students register for WED CT 700 Teaching Apprenticeship (0 units).<\/li>\n<li>When engaging in a research apprenticeship, students register for WED RS 799 Doctoral Research Apprenticeship (0 units).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Research Courses (minimum: 20 units)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods or equivalent (required)<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 653 Quantitative Research Methods or equivalent (required)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Three additional courses; options include the following, as well as other courses across Boston University and at consortium partners:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CAS PS 711 Statistics in Psychology (I and II)<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 726 Discourse Analysis: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 801 Design-Based Research as Educational Inquiry, Part I<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 802 Design-Based Research as Educational Inquiry, Part II<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 654 Educational Inquiry and Proposal Writing<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 655 Mixed Methods Research<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 750 Advanced Research Seminar<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 752 Seminar in Qualitative Research<\/li>\n<li>WED RS 754 Causal Design in Education Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Specialization Courses<span>\u00a0<\/span>(minimum: 28 units)<\/h3>\n<p>Specialization courses are determined jointly between the student and doctoral advisor. Examples of options in each specialization area are listed below:<\/p>\n<table width=\"546\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"258\"><strong>Language and Literacy Education <\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"288\"><strong>Mathematics and Science Education <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"258\">Seven specialization courses will be chosen by the student in consultation with their advisor, based on the student&#8217;s interests. Examples of specialization courses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>WED BI 620 Educational Issues in Bilingualism (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED DE 572 Social Psychology and the Deaf World (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED DE 576 Bilingual ASL\/English Development, Assessment, and Planning for Deaf Children (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED DE 672 Sign Language Structure (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED EN 711 Critical Literacy as a Lens: Exploring Theories, Processes, and Strategies<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 658 Second Language Acquisition (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 725 Discourse, Narrative, and Literacy (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 750 Culture, Language &amp; Cognition (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED LS 902 Seminar in Early Literacy (4 units)<\/li>\n<li>WED LW 781 Processes of Writing<\/li>\n<li>WED TL 622 Assessment for Language Teaching and Research (4 units)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"288\">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.<\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Required Core Courses for the PhD in <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mathematics and Science Education<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>WED ME 701 Epistemologies and Theories of <span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">Learning in Mathematics and Science Education<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED ME 702 Teaching and Teacher Education in Mathematics and Science Education<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED ME 703 Curriculum Research and Theory in Mathematics and Science Education<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Additional Course Options<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BU, Boston College, and Tufts University have developed a consortium for doctoral STEM education and maintain <a href=\"http:\/\/bostonconsortiumstemeducation.weebly.com\">a website<\/a> 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.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED CE 801 Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED CT 770 Seminar on Teaching<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED ME\/SC 530 Equitable Pedagogies in STEM Education<\/span><\/li>\n<li>WED ME\/SC 851 Seminar Topics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"258\"><strong>Special Education <\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"288\"><strong>Educational Policy Studies <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"258\">Specialization courses are determined jointly between the student and doctoral advisor; wide-ranging options are available. Some examples include<span>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">CAS PS 847 Atypical Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">GMS AN 713 Autism: Clinical and Neuroscience Perspectives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">SAR OT 714 Developmental D<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">isabilities II: Values, Policy, and Change<\/span><\/li>\n<li>WED SE 744 School Administration and Special Needs<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED SE 751 Assessment in Special Education<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"288\">Examples of specialization courses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>WED AP 701 Doctoral Colloquium (2 units)<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED AP 702 Research Colloquium in Educational Leadership and Development <\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">(2 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED AP 761 Organizational Analysis (4 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">WED AP 771 Advanced Policy Seminar (4 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span>\u00a0<\/span>Qualifying Tasks<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>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\u2019s advisor. Work will be evaluated by the student\u2019s Qualifying Committee and will be presented at a Doctoral Student Research Symposium.<\/li>\n<li>For the second qualifying task, the student and advisor will choose between two options. Work will be evaluated by the student&#8217;s Qualifying Committee.\n<ul>\n<li>Completion of a literature review in an area of the student\u2019s field of study where there is a problem\/challenge\/gap in the literature.<\/li>\n<li>Completion of a second empirical study and associated research article.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span>\u00a0<\/span>Dissertation Proposal<span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Preparation of written proposal for dissertation research<\/li>\n<li>Oral defense of proposal to Dissertation Committee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Dissertation Advisement and Oral Defense (WED XX 999) (minimum: 10 units)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Dissertation may take one of two forms: traditional or alternative format with three publishable articles<\/li>\n<li>Oral defense of dissertation findings to Dissertation Committee<span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Residency Requirement<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contact For contact information, please visit the Wheelock College of Education &amp; Human Development website. The PhD degree program in Educational Studies at Boston University is designed for students who wish to contribute to the field\u2019s understanding of teaching and learning through research. The program will expand and deepen the knowledge and skills of enrolled [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4502,"featured_media":0,"parent":233,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78887"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4502"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78887"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100396,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/78887\/revisions\/100396"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}