Curriculum and Instruction (PhD)
Admission Requirements
Program Application requirements:
- Completed application submitted at https://apply.graduate.louisville.edu/apply/
- Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School directly. Transcripts issued to the student are considered unofficial.
- International transcripts must be evaluated per the grad school requirements: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international/evaluation
- Personal Statement
- The personal statement should address interest in doctoral study, intentions regarding full-time or part-time study, and identification of at least one faculty member who may be a good fit to serve as the Ph.D. advisor. Address motivation for enrollment in the program and how it aligns with your career goals. Identify strengths and experiences, as well as explain commitment to education.
- Applicants should contact program faculty in EMSTED and SECP with whom they are interested in working in order to learn about the program and assess fit.
- Research Interest(s) Writing Sample
- The writing sample should be an academic essay (no more than 4 pages, double-spaced, not including references) that provides a clear statement about initial research interest(s) and goals and information about an educational problem or issue that drives the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree.
- Current resume
- Three (3) letters of recommendations (can be academic or professional, personal recommendations not acceptable)
International Applicants:
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International applicants must submit additional application items and meet additional admission requirements. Information on the internation application and admission requirements can be found here: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application (including all checklist items) to be holistically reviewed.
- Master’s degree in a related field from a institutionally accredited institution.
- P – 12 classroom teaching experience, depending on career plans.
- Many Curriculum and Instruction Ph.D. graduates hold faculty positions in Departments of Teacher Education for which P – 12 classroom teaching experience is a typical requirement for job applicants.
Application Deadlines
There are three annual admission deadlines. Depending on specific individual goals and situations, different deadlines may be more relevant for you.
Fall semester start, full-time status with interest in Graduate Assistantship funding possibilities: November 1
Part-time doctoral student work or full-time without Graduate Assistantship interest:
- October 1 - Spring semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)
- February 15 - Summer semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)
- May 1 - Fall and Late Summer semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)
Members of the Curriculum and Instruction PhD admissions committee evaluate all applications after the appropriate admission deadline. Admission decisions are made by the professional judgment of the admissions committee according to established criteria. Admission to the program is competitive and preference is given to applicants who have strong academic records, experiences, and abilities that show demonstrated excellence in professional performance and research potential. All applicants will be notified in writing regarding their admission; typically this notification occurs approximately three weeks after the admissions deadline.
To be considered for admission, all materials must be submitted prior to the admission committee's review. If materials are incomplete, applicants will be notified and may submit again during the next review.
Degree Requirements
Master's Degree Prerequisite + 60 Credit Hours PhD Coursework Minimum
The student and program committee must develop courses, programs, and experiences that clearly identify and address the following areas: research, teaching and teacher education, stewardship of the profession and knowledge of discipline. These areas of emphasis must have descriptive competencies that the student should attain and the committee can assess.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Components | ||
| EDAP 711 | Doctoral Professional Seminar: First Year | 3 |
| or EDSP 711 | Doctoral Professional Seminar: First Year | |
| Area of Emphasis | ||
| 30 credit hours selected with Program Committee approval | 30 | |
| Research Methodology | ||
| LEAD 601 | Applied Statistics (see note) 1 | 3 |
| LEAD 704 | Qualitative Field Research Methods | 3 |
| Research Electives | ||
| Field survey research, additional qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies, etc. 2, 3 | 6 | |
| Doctoral/Dissertation Research | ||
| EDAP 795 | Doctoral Research | 15 |
| or EDSP 795 | Doctoral Research | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 60 | |
