The PhD program curriculum ​involves ​both ​formal ​coursework ​and ​professional ​research and ​development ​activities ​in ​the ​education ​field. ​Students ​work ​closely ​with ​faculty members ​and ​collaboratively ​engage ​to ​focus ​on ​solving ​significant ​educational ​problems, often ​receiving ​course ​credit ​for ​independent ​studies ​in ​problem-based ​research ​activities. The ​result ​is ​a ​broad ​knowledge ​base ​and ​specialized ​content ​knowledge ​that ​includes multiple ​perspectives ​on ​educational ​leadership ​and ​policy.

Our ​highest ​priority ​is ​to ​provide ​an ​atmosphere ​of ​scholarship ​and ​engagement ​for ​our ​PhD students. ​Research ​preparation ​is ​a ​foundation ​of ​the ​PhD ​degree ​program ​and ​presentation of ​papers, ​publications, ​and ​participation ​in ​conferences ​are ​the ​priorities.

As ​a ​result, ​students ​are ​encouraged ​to ​secure ​funding ​so ​that ​these ​activities ​may ​become the ​focus ​of ​their ​involvement ​while ​at ​Drexel University. ​Teaching ​assistantships ​and ​fellowships, which ​include ​tuition ​remission ​and/or ​stipends ​(full ​and ​partial), ​may ​be ​available ​in ​the School ​of ​Education.

There are many reasons why a student should pursue a PhD in Education from Drexel University’s School of Education. Benefits include:

• Learning in a cohort with other students. This allows students to build professional relationships and collaborate in their courses.
• Students have a supervising professor with similar research interests who acts as a mentor during their time in the program.
• The opportunity to join faculty on research grants and projects.
• Opportunities to apply and present research at leading professional conferences and summits.
• Students in the PhD in education program learn the latest methods in education research to help them conduct sound research for their dissertation.

The​ ​PhD​ ​in​ ​Education​ ​is​ ​a​ ​rigorous​ ​program​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​prepare​ ​students​ ​for careers​ ​as​ ​educational​ ​researchers,​ ​scholars​ ​and​ ​teachers.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​involves intensive​ ​coursework​ ​in​ ​education​ ​and​ ​educational​ ​research.

Career paths for graduates include:

• Tenure-track Professor at a College or University
• Education Secretary in a Government administration or Department of Education
• Education Researcher for a government agency or non-profit organization
• Director of Education at a non-profit organization

Graduates​ ​of​ ​the​ ​PhD​ ​in Education program​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​demonstrate​ ​mastery​ ​of​ ​subject material,​ ​including​ ​prior,​ ​current,​ ​and​ ​emerging​ ​research​ ​and​ ​theories​ ​in​ ​the student’s​ ​area​ ​of​ ​specialization​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​significant​ ​issues​ ​and​ ​topics​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field​ ​of education,​ ​broadly-construed.

Drexel University PhD in Education students come from all around the world. Students in the PhD program typically pursue careers as education researchers and tenured professors at institutions of higher learning. However, a PhD degree in Education can be a steppingstone to advancement in virtually any career. Students who wish to become well-respected scholars and thought leaders in their area of research will do well in the PhD program.

The PhD in Education offered by Drexel University's School of Education is available as a full-time or part-time program. At Drexel, we aim to provide maximum flexibility to allow students to achieve their educational goals at a pace that fits their busy lives.

Full-Time PhD in Education

Students accepted into the full-time PhD in Education program receive generous benefits that include tuition remission, a monetary stipend and health insurance benefits. Drexel accepts about 6-8 students per year into the full-time program. Full-time students apply for research or teaching assistantship positions within the School of Education.

Part-Time PhD in Education

The part-time PhD in Education program is designed for working adults who wish to earn their PhD without giving up their current job. Students take two courses each term and complete their degree in four years. Students take online electives during the summer term and complete a fellowship program. On-campus courses are held in the evenings after the traditional work hours and students have access to the same facilities and resources as full-time students including the Hagerty Library and support from School of Education faculty and advisors. Students in the part-time program are not eligible for the same tuition, stipend, and health benefits available to full-time students. If you are interested in the part-time program but unsure if you can afford it, we encourage you to explore financial aid, grants, scholarship options available to students on the Drexel Central website.

The PhD in Education program can be completed in 4-5 years, depending on which program the student is enrolled in. Students in the full-time fully funded fellowship program can complete their courses and dissertation research in 4 years. Students in the part-time program follow a 5-year plan of study.

The ​PhD ​program ​coursework ​combines ​formal ​coursework ​and ​informal ​experiences. ​The program ​is ​designed ​to ​immerse ​the ​student ​in ​educational ​content, ​inquiry ​and methodology, ​encouraging ​the ​ability ​to ​ask ​critical ​questions ​and ​design ​procedures ​to conduct ​research.

The ​program ​requires ​the ​successful ​completion ​of ​74 ​credits, ​distributed ​among ​the following ​areas:

• Foundation in Education Courses (15.0 credits)
• Research Courses (26.0 credits)
• Core Focus Courses in PK-20+ Education (15.0 credits)
• Electives (9.0 credits)
• Dissertation Research (9.0 credits minimum)

Research ​preparation ​is ​the ​foundation ​of ​the ​PhD ​program. ​Students ​begin ​research activities ​during ​the ​first ​year ​of ​the ​program ​and ​continue ​to ​develop ​their ​skills ​by conducting ​various ​research ​projects ​with ​School ​of ​Education ​faculty. ​Activities ​in ​this ​vein include ​presenting ​research ​findings ​at ​conferences, ​writing ​research ​papers ​and dissertation ​work.

For ​course ​descriptions, ​please ​see ​the Drexel ​University ​Course ​Catalog.

Graduates of the PhD program will:

• Demonstrate mastery of subject material, including prior, current, and emerging research and theories in the student’s area of specialization as well as significant issues and topics in the field of education, broadly-construed. This mastery includes:
  • Interpreting relevant literature and relate to critical questions in education, both local and global
  • Synthesizing existing research and constructing literature-based arguments
  • Identifying, describing, and justifying relevant “gaps” in the literature
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct scholarly inquiry in a responsible and ethical manner
• Produce and defend original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in the student’s area of specialization
• Disseminate this research, either through peer-reviewed conferences or publications
• Become an academic leader in the student’s area of specialization through the development of new ideas, theories and best practices grounded in global and local contexts

Applicants for the PhD in Education program must have a master’s degree in a subject related to the area in which they intend to study and a GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. GRE scores are not required.

Applicants must also provide the following:

• A completed application
• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate study
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Personal Statement: Within the School of Education PhD program, justice and equity are central to our program and course structure. Tell us what motivates you to highlight, focus on, and use equity and justice to study various areas of education (e.g., education leadership and policy, STEM education, teacher education, arts-based education, informal education, etc). Describe experiences, research questions or dilemmas that have motivated you to pursue further study in the School of Education. Applicants should also identify a School of Education faculty member (or two) with whom their research agenda most aligns. Your personal statement should be between 1500-2500 words.
• Three letters of recommendation. Letters should speak to your academic abilities and performance, as well as your experiences and/or potential for engaging in education research. Priority will be considered for those applicants who include letters of recommendation from School of Education faculty members (note: this letter of recommendation is in addition to the required three letters of recommendation addressing prior academic performance and future potential).
• Writing Sample:
  • Where the personal statement is about your motivations, this should be a sample of your scholarly writing about a topic that is grounded and situated in issues of equity and justice, citing references from relevant literature. The writing sample could be a paper that you have written for a prior course; a research paper you have written for publication (1st or 2nd authored papers); or a proposal for research that you are interested in studying.
• The School of Education admissions committee will review each application, and, prior to acceptance, a virtual interview may be required.

Is it possible to get a fully funded PhD?

Yes, students accepted into the full-time PhD in Education program will have their tuition covered by the School of Education. Additionally, students in the fully funded program complete a 20-hour per week fellowship within school. In exchange, students receive a monetary stipend and health insurance benefits.

Can you get a PhD while working?

The part-time PhD in Education program is ideal for those who have a full-time career. Students complete in-person courses in the evening. Online electives may also be available.

Can you skip a master’s degree and get a PhD?

A master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.25 is required for admission into Drexel’s PhD in Education program.

Is a PhD worth it in education?

A PhD in Education is a great steppingstone to a rewarding career in education. Students with a PhD can obtain careers as professors at leading colleges and universities. They can also stand out in the job market for many other positions in education and research settings.

Those interested in applying for the PhD in Education program can get started by filling out the graduate admissions application.

For ​more ​information ​about ​the PhD ​in ​Education program ​and ​funding ​options, ​please send an email to enroll@drexel.edu.