PhD in Curriculum and Instruction

Admission to the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction

In addition to admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, admission to the doctoral program requires the following:

  • A master’s degree from an accredited college or university

  • Previous academic work necessary to successfully complete a doctoral program in the area of study

  • Evidence of research and writing ability such as a master’s thesis, proctored writing sample, a written research report, one or more reprints of publications, a paper presented to a professional society, or similar evidence of competence

  • A statement of purpose that describes why you wish to pursue this doctoral program and includes information on previous study, educational experience, professional accomplishments, immediate and future professional goals, a proposed time schedule for completing the degree, and any other information that you believe is relevant for admission into this doctoral degree program

  • Three letters of recommendation regarding  your potential for doing doctoral level work. Letters should be recommendations from professionals who are knowledgeable about your ability to engage in graduate work in this doctoral degree program

What to Submit with Your Application 

  • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education

  • A sample of academic writing (e.g. report, thesis, project, or academic paper)

  • Statement of purpose

  • Three letters of recommendation 

Degree Requirements By Concentration

 Curriculum and Instruction

For the Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction degree, students must complete the following program requirements:

  • A minimum of 60 semester credit hours of approved doctoral level (7000/8000 level) course work

  • Professional Seminar I and II (CI 8700, 8710) with a C or better in first 3 semesters or 18 credit hours (whichever comes later, not counting summer) before continuing with other courses 

  • 15 credit hours of research tools including courses in quantitative research, qualitative research, and independent research

  • 18 credit hours of specialization in curriculum and instruction

  • 6 credit hours in a supporting area

  • A written comprehensive program examination

  • An oral comprehensive program examination after passing the written examination

  • 15 credit hours of dissertation research

  • An oral presentation and defense of a dissertation research proposal

  • An oral presentation and defense of the completed dissertation research in a public forum

  • A written document of the completed dissertation research in approved style and format

All coursework and requirements of the doctoral degree must be taken within a seven-year period immediately preceding the date the degree is awarded.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

COURSEWORK PHASE

  • A doctoral program committee is required before the completion of 18 credit hours. The doctoral program committee has a minimum of three members who are selected from the membership of the graduate faculty of the University. The doctoral program committee is responsible for assisting the student in the development of a plan of study and assuring competence by overseeing the comprehensive program written examination and the comprehensive program oral examination.

Program Examinations
  • A written comprehensive program examination 
  • An oral comprehensive program examination after successful completion of the written examination

DISSERTATION RESEARCH PHASE

  • A doctoral dissertation committee is required immediately after the completion of the required coursework, comprehensive program written examination, and comprehensive program oral examination. The dissertation committee has a minimum of four graduate faculty members including one who is not in the discipline major. The dissertation committee is responsible for guiding dissertation research and approving the dissertation concept, research proposal, and the completed dissertation research, both the written dissertation and oral dissertation defense. Students must work closely with the committee throughout the dissertation process. 

  • All research with human subjects must be approved by the Institutional Research Board before beginning any phase of the research study. Student must complete IRB training as defined by the University's Human Research Protection Program.

  • A public defense of the dissertation is required.

  • The final written dissertation must be approved by the dissertation committee and formatted according the guidelines of the college and the College of Graduate Study. Electronic submission of the dissertation to OhioLINK ​is mandatory.

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 Special Education

For the Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction degree, students must complete the following program requirements:

  • A minimum of 60 semester credit hours of approved doctoral level (7000/8000 level) course work

  • Professional Seminar I and II (CI 8700, 8710) with a C or better in first 3 semesters or 18 credit hours (whichever comes later, not counting summer) before continuing with other courses 

  • 15 credit hours in research tools including quantitative research, qualitative research, and independent research

  • 12 credit hours of specialization in special education

  • 12 credit hours in the supporting area, including program development and electives

  • A written comprehensive program examination

  • An oral comprehensive program examination after passing the written examination

  • 15 credit hours of dissertation research

  • An oral presentation and defense of a dissertation research proposal

  • An oral presentation and defense of the completed dissertation research in a public forum

  • A written document of the completed dissertation research in approved style and format

All coursework and requirements of the doctoral degree must be taken within a seven-year period immediately preceding the date the degree is awarded.

ADDITIONAL pROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

COURSEWORK PHASE

  • A doctoral program committee is required before the completion of 18 credit hours. The doctoral program committee has a minimum of three members who are selected from the membership of the graduate faculty of the University. The doctoral program committee is responsible for assisting the student in the development of a plan of study and assuring competence by overseeing the comprehensive program written examination and the comprehensive program oral examination.

Program Examinations
  • A written comprehensive program examination 
  • An oral comprehensive program examination after successful completion of the written examination

DISSERTATION RESEARCH PHASE

  • A doctoral dissertation committee is required immediately after the completion of the required coursework, the comprehensive program written examination, and the comprehensive program oral examination. The dissertation committee has a minimum of four graduate faculty members including one who is not in the discipline major. The dissertation committee is responsible for guiding dissertation research and approving the dissertation concept, research proposal, and the completed dissertation research, both the written dissertation and oral dissertation defense. Students must work closely with the committee throughout the dissertation process. 

  • All research with human subjects must be approved by the Institutional Research Board before beginning any phase of the research study. Student must complete IRB training as defined by the University's Human Research Protection Program.

  • A public defense of the dissertation is required.

  • The final written dissertation must be approved by the dissertation committee and formatted according the guidelines of the college and the College of Graduate Study. Electronic submission of the dissertation to OhioLINK ​is mandatory.

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Plan of study By Concentration

 Curriculum and Instruction

Below is a guide for developing a Plan of Study for the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Students should review their degree audit and work with their faculty advisor to identify specific courses to fulfill program requirements. 

Professional Seminars
Select the following:6
Doctoral Pro-Seminar I: Introduction to Scholarship in Curriculum and Instruction
Doctoral Pro-Seminar II: Themes in theory and research in Curriculum and Instruction
Research Tools12
Select ALL of the following sets:
Quantitative Research Course
Select one of the following:
Quantitative Methods I
OR
Quantitative Methods II
Qualitative Research Course
Select both of the following:
Qualitative Research I: Introduction And Basic Methods
Introduction to Research and Measurement (RESM) and Graduate Studies
Independent Research Course
Select the following:
Independent Research In Curriculum And Instruction
Research Tools Elective
Select ONE of the following: 3
Quantitative Methods II
Multivariate Statistics
Structural Equation Modeling
Nonparametric Statistics
Measurement I
Applied Measurement Research
Mixed Methods Research: Theory & Application
Research Design
Qualitative Research II: Design And Analysis
Methods Of Survey Research
Program Evaluation
Methods of Normative Theory Construction
Methods of Conceptual Analysis and Textual Interpretation
Statistical Analysis by Computer
Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction18
Select the following:
Curriculum Trends And Issues
Teacher Learning and Education
Meaning And Development Of Play Behavior
Language And Concept Development
Advanced Educational Psychology
Major Educational Theorists
Supporting Area6
(choose one area)
Special Education Supporting Area
(choose TWO of the following)
Assessment and Planning in Transition Education and Services
Policy and Leadership in Special Education
Fundamentals Of Grant Writing
Early Childhood Supporting Areas
(choose TWO of the following)
Pre-K/Primary Curriculum
Theory And Research In Early Childhood
Team Models And Community Networking In Early Intervention
Management Of The Learning Environment In Early Childhood Special Education
Curriculum Models And Intervention Strategies In Early Childhood Special Education
Educational Psychology Supporting Area
(choose TWO of the following)
Self and Identity
School Violence Theory, Prevention, and Intervention
Seminar In Educational Psychology
Parenting: Theory And Research
Theory and Social Foundations Supporting Area
(choose TWO of the following)
Modern Educational Controversies
Foundations of Peace Education
School-State Relations
Social Justice in American Society
Literacy Supporting Area
(choose TWO of the following)
Trends In Literacy Acquisition
Content Area Literacy
Diagnosis Of Reading Disability
Program Examinations
Approval of Written Exam(s)
Approval of Oral Exam(s)
Dissertation Research
Select the following:15
Dissertation In Curriculum And Instruction
Approval of Research Proposal
Approval of Oral Presentation of Dissertation Research
Approval of Dissertation Final Document
Total Hours60

 Special Education

Guide for Developing a Plan of Study

Below is a guide for developing a Plan of Study for the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Students should review their degree audit and work with their faculty advisor to identify specific courses to fulfill program requirements. 

Professional Seminars6
Select the following:
Doctoral Pro-Seminar I: Introduction to Scholarship in Curriculum and Instruction
Doctoral Pro-Seminar II: Themes in theory and research in Curriculum and Instruction
Research Tools15
Select all the following sets:
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Courses
Select the following:
Quantitative Methods I
Qualitative Research I: Introduction And Basic Methods
Introduction to Research and Measurement (RESM) and Graduate Studies
Measurement I
Independent Research Course
Select one of the following:
Independent Research In Curriculum And Instruction
Independent Research In Special Education
Specialization in Special Education12
Select the following:
Policy and Leadership in Special Education
Adaptive Development and Support Systems in Special Education
Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education
Collaborative Research in Advanced Special Education
Supporting Area12
Program Development
Select the following
Fundamentals Of Grant Writing
Program Evaluation
Electives
Select two of the following:
Trends In Literacy Acquisition
Diagnosis Of Reading Disability
Meaning And Development Of Play Behavior
Advanced Educational Psychology
Parenting: Theory And Research
Diversity Leadership in Higher Education
Historical Foundations of Higher Education
Mixed Methods Research: Theory & Application
Research Design
Qualitative Research II: Design And Analysis
Methods Of Survey Research
Partnerships in Transition Planning
Issues and Research in Transition and Post-Secondary Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
Modern Educational Controversies
Program Examinations
Approval of Written Exam(s)
Approval of Oral Exam(s)
Dissertation Research15
Select one of the following:
Dissertation In Curriculum And Instruction
Doctoral Dissertation In Curriculum & Instruction
Approval of Research Proposal
Approval of Oral Presentation of Dissertation Research
Approval of Dissertation Final Document
Total Hours60
  • PLO 1: Students will be able to critically analyze research and theory in the field of curriculum studies.
  • PLO 2: Students will be able to conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research to address critical research questions.
  • PLO 3: Students will develop a conceptual and theoretical base in their area of specialization (special education, early childhood education, etc.)
  • PLO 4: Students will develop skills necessary to construct and disseminate knowledge in their field.
  • PLO 5: Students will complete a dissertation study successfully.