The PhD in Educational Studies at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is for students who wish to contribute to the field’s understanding of teaching and learning through research. The program will prepare you to drive innovation through research, scholarship, and professional development. You’ll gain a strong foundation in research methods and in the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of current educational research.
You’ll engage in coursework, research, and teaching throughout the program, and you will work with faculty across BU Wheelock, leveraging their expertise across disciplines. You will also have the opportunity to work with one of the many partnerships that BU Wheelock has with local school districts, education agencies, local and state policymakers, foundations, and others.
Boston University’s PhD in Educational Studies is typically a full-time program that can be completed in five years. This flexible program offers the option to take some courses online.
Program Concentrations
The PhD in Educational Studies program at Boston University enables students to develop skills and expertise in a core specialty, such as educational policy studies, language & literacy education, math & science education, or special education. Coursework in the Educational Studies PhD program is specific to each concentration, allowing you to focus on the subjects that align with your background and interests. The PhD 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, Boston University, and the profession.
“I’ve learned to trust myself and embrace the process of being a PhD student. Throughout this journey, I’ve discovered just how much I’m capable of, especially when supported by mentors who guide and challenge me along the way.”
The PhD in Educational Studies: Educational Policy Studies at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is designed for students who intend to engage in applied research that answers policy-relevant questions such as school choice, early education, or social policy in formal and informal learning environments across the lifespan. In addition to coursework and teaching apprenticeships, doctoral students will work on research projects that answers policy questions with issues of diversity and social justice in mind.
The PhD in Educational Studies: Language & Literacy Education at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is designed for students who intend to engage in research that contributes to evolving understandings of language and literacy education in formal and informal learning environments and across the lifespan. The program includes three primary specializations: ASL & Deaf studies, language education, and literacy education.
Students in the PhD in Educational Studies: Mathematics & Science Education at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development work with mathematics and science education faculty studying the nature of mathematical and scientific practice, the design of learning environments, and how to support teacher learning.
Through coursework and apprenticeships, students develop a strong understanding of theory and research in mathematics education and science education; learn how to design, conduct, and critique research studies, and engage in writing and presenting research. The PhD in Educational Studies: Mathematics & Science Education provides strong coursework in research and theories of learning, teaching and teacher education, and curriculum in mathematics and science, while offering flexibility for students to pursue courses of study that advance their particular research and career goals.
Students in the PhD in Educational Studies: Special Education at BU Wheelock study with top researchers in special education, who hold particular expertise in interdisciplinary systems serving students with disabilities. In addition to coursework and teaching apprenticeships, doctoral students will work on rigorous, interdisciplinary research, to understand how educational systems interact with policy systems, mental health systems, and family systems, to shape the experiences and outcomes of students with disabilities and their families.
Career Outcomes for a PhD in Educational Studies
No matter which specialization you choose, Boston University’s PhD in Educational Studies, program will expand and deepen your ability to pursue teaching, research, and policy-making positions in public or private institutions of higher education.
- Faculty at top-tier research institutions
- Teaching focused positions in higher education
- Leader in education-focused industries
- Education-focused data scientist
Featured PhD Faculty
The faculty listed below are reviewing applications for the PhD in Educational Studies in the current admissions cycle (for matriculation in Fall 2026). Students should apply to their specialization of interest if they are interested in working with one or more of these faculty members.
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Elizabeth Bettini
Associate Professor
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Michael Alan Chang
Assistant Professor
Assistant Director, Earl Center for Learning & Innovation -
Olivia Chi
Assistant Professor
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Joshua Goodman
Associate Professor
Program Director, MA in Educational Policy Studies -
Davena Jackson
Assistant Professor
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Kathy Kim
Program Director, Language Education
Assistant Professor -
Jo R. King
Assistant Professor
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Jerry Whitmore, Jr.
Assistant Professor
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Marcus A. Winters
Chair, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Professor
Faculty Director, Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Additional PhD Faculty
These faculty typically mentor doctoral students in Educational Studies but are not taking applicants for the current cycle (for matriculation in Fall 2026).
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Naomi Caselli
Director, BU AI & Education Initiative
Director, BU Deaf Center
Associate Professor -
Dina C. Castro
Director, Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being
Bahamdan Professor in Early Childhood Well-Being -
Stephanie Curenton
Director, Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED)
Professor -
Leslie Dietiker
Associate Dean, Research
Associate Professor -
Christina L. Dobbs
Program Director, English Education for Equity & Justice
Associate Professor -
Hank Fien
Director, Wheelock Institute for the Science of Education
Director, National Center on Improving Literacy
Nancy H. Roberts Professor of Educational Innovation -
Elena Forzani
Program Director, Literacy Education
Program Director, Reading & Literacies Education
Assistant Professor -
Katherine Frankel
Chair, Language & Literacy Education Department
Associate Professor -
Jennifer Greif Green
Professor
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Anthony Abraham Jack
Faculty Director, Newbury Center
Associate Professor -
Nathan Jones
Associate Professor
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Yasuko Kanno
Professor
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Amy M. Lieberman
Director, Doctoral Studies
Associate Professor -
Eve Manz
Associate Professor
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Nancy J. Nelson
Assistant Professor
Deputy Director, National Center on Improving Literacy and Lead for Literacy Center -
Zachary Rossetti
Associate Professor
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Meghan Shaughnessy
Assistant Professor
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Beth Warren
Sylvia Earl Professor
Director, Earl Center for Learning & Innovation
Admissions & Dates
Fall 2026
Aug 15, 2025
Application Opens
Fall 2026
Nov 15, 2025
Application Deadline
Learn more about the PhD in Educational Studies
For questions about the admissions and application process, please reach out to Graduate Admissions. Questions about the PhD in Educational Studies curriculum can be directed to Program Director Amy Lieberman.