Curriculum & Instruction, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction
Two doctoral degree programs are offered. The Ph.D. program prepares degree candidates for careers involving research and scholarship, including those in colleges and universities where research is generally combined with teacher education. The Ed.D. program prepares scholarly practitioners for leadership positions in teacher training institutions, state education agencies, and public school districts.
Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed by a student attending full-time in a calendar year, while the M.S. or M.A. often takes longer. The Ed.M. with licensure typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require five years of full-time study.
Admission
Interested applicants should start at the College of Education Graduate Programs website. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: an academic statement, a personal statement, updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program. Note: The master's degree with teacher licensure program only admits students for the fall term.
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction's TOEFL requirement for full status admission is greater than 102; the minimum score for limited status is 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the internet-based test, and 213 on the computer-based test. International applicants must also submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances. Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid. In addition, individual academic programs may require a higher score, or evidence of spoken English language proficiency; contact your proposed program of study office for the minimum TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS requirement for admission. For additional details, refer to the Graduate College Handbook English Proficiency Requirements for Admission.
Faculty Research Interests
For information about specific faculty research interests, current grants, and publications, please visit the Faculty Finder.
Facilities and Resources
Departmental resources consist of cooperation with Children's Research Center, Center for Small Urban Communities, as well as other resources in the College. Students who are interested in second language acquisition can become a part of the SLATE program. The department is connected to the University of Illinois Writing Project and the following journals: International Journal of Education & the Arts, Journal of Curriculum Studies, and American Educational Research Journal. The department also has available resources and some workshops provided during the academic year. Program areas (including CREATE, DELTA, Language & Literacy, and MSE) offer discipline-specific resources.
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding. The Council on Teacher Education entitles candidates seeking a Professional Educator License and provides accreditation of professional education programs. Each student completing a degree program is assigned a graduate adviser, who is available to assist the student with planning the program of study and determining degree requirements, courses and timelines for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at the GradMAP pages website.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note: Graduate students employed as Staff by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Award or Scholarship.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers many programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). A list of programs and additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Students may select a concentration in Digital Learning, Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education, or Writing Studies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of at least 64 hours beyond the master’s degree including: | ||
| Major Subject Coursework (minimum) | 32 | |
| CI 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 4-20 |
| Independent Study (min/max applied toward degree) | 0-12 | |
| Research Coursework | 16-20 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree Required for Admission to Ph.D. | |
| Residency | 2 consecutive full-time (12 hours) semesters of study on campus |
| Early Research Requirement | |
| Qualifying Exams | |
| Human Subjects Approval | |
| Preliminary Exam | |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense | |
| Dissertation Deposit | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction
- Students will develop a deep knowledge of a content area connected to curriculum and instruction.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, analyze data, and author academic papers.
- Students will read, interpret, and critique scholarship in their academic field and across multiple fields.
- Students will understand issues related to school and society including existing inequities.
- Students will connect research with instructional practices that support learning.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Interim Head of the Department: Michaelene Ostrosky
Director of Graduate Studies: Emma Mercier
Graduate admissions information: Mitzi Koeberlein
Curriculum & Instruction website
Curriculum & Instruction faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
Graduate Student Services Office email
College of Education
College of Education website
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