The Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) program offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree to qualified students interested in issues related to educational research with a C&I focus. Upon completion of the program, students will have gained insight into what it means to transition from doctoral student to disciplined scholar.
Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.
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- Scott Courtney | scourtn5@kent.edu | 330-672-2580
Chia-Ling Kuo (Educational Technology concentration) | ckuo@kent.edu |
330-672-0599
- Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction provides targeted education in curriculum and instruction studies. This program offers career benefits for students looking to specialize in curriculum and instruction.
More About This Program
Eight concentrations are available within the C&I Ph.D. program. Students must select a concentration when they apply to the program. A link to the prospectus for each concentration is provided below under our quick links.
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Graduate Assistantships
Students in the master's and doctoral graduate programs may apply for graduate assistantships (although master’s assistantships are rarely awarded). A graduate assistant typically supports instruction, research, or administrative duties beneficial both to the appointee's professional development and to the School of TLC. To apply, please submit the Graduate Assistantship Application (linked from the Graduate Student Services Forms page) to the School’s Business Manager, Sherry Ernsberger: sernsber@kent.edu.
Important additional information:
- Admission to a graduate program does not come with funding, financial aid, or the guarantee of a graduate assistantship. Admissions and funding are two different processes.
- You must be fully admitted to the graduate program and have applied for an assistantship by March 31st to qualify for full consideration for a graduate assistantship within the Curriculum & Instruction Program. It is to your advantage to apply early; once funds have been expended, no further assistantships will be awarded.
- Assistantships are typically awarded for the academic year (starting in August and ending in May).
- Offers of assistantships are based on both the qualifications of the applicants, and the positions and funds available within the School during a given year. We receive applications from many more qualified applicants than we are able to support with our limited resources. Because of this, you might not receive an assistantship even if you have been fully admitted to the graduate program and submit your assistantship application correctly and on time.
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Application Process
Once an applicant's file is complete, the Admissions office forwards it to the C&I Program for review by C&I faculty members. Interviews with two or three C&I faculty members are also completed. These interviews may be conducted in-person, online, or by phone.
Admission decisions are made throughout the year on a rolling basis. Please be advised that while applications to the C&I Ph.D. are accepted all year, to ensure an application is reviewed for admission, an applicant should have submitted all required admissions paperwork and completed all interviews before the application deadline (see Admissions tab, below).
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Two Phases of the Doctoral Program
Advisory Phase
Once admitted into a C&I Doctoral program, students will be assigned an initial advisor or advisors from the C&I faculty in order to initiate the advisory phase.
Within the first three semesters of their course work, a student must organize an academic advisory committee. The advisory committee may or may not include the initial advisor(s). A student will then work with their advisory committee to complete a doctoral study prospectus (i.e., the plan of academic work during the advisory phase).
In addition to completing coursework requirements, students must also develop and implement a residency plan. The plan should include professional activities normally associated with life in an educational research institution and academic community setting (e.g., attendance and presentations at professional conferences, professional writing and publications, teaching undergraduate courses, workshops, attendance at doctoral defenses). Students may complete these activities collaboratively with faculty members or fellow doctoral students.
Upon completion of the coursework and other requirements listed on the student's prospectus and residency plan, the student engages in written and oral comprehensive examinations that cover academic work accomplished during the advisory phase. After the comprehensive examinations have been successfully completed, the student enters into Candidacy, better known as the dissertation phase of the doctoral program. At this point, the student's advisory phase committee is dissolved. The student is then responsible for organizing a dissertation committee.
Candidacy Phase
The Ph.D. candidate organizes their dissertation committee. This committee contains a minimum of three C&I faculty members and one faculty member from a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Ph.D. program other than Curriculum and Instruction (C&I).
The student works with the established committee to successfully write and defend a dissertation proposal. The student then proceeds through the dissertation process. The committee supervises the research progress and evaluates the final product. Once the student has successfully defended the dissertation, they receive the Ph.D.
Program Information for Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.
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Program Description
Full Description
The Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction prepares scholars for successful careers in college and university settings and produces curriculum leaders for schools and other educational institutions. The program is relevant for qualified students interested in issues related to educational research with a curriculum and instruction focus. Upon completion of the program, students will have gained insight into what it means to transition from doctoral student to disciplined scholar.
The major comprises the following concentrations:
- Adapted/Physical Education
- Curriculum and Teaching Studies
- Educational Technology
- Early Childhood Education
- Literacy
- Mathematics Education
- Science Education
- Social Studies Education
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Admissions
for Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 graduate GPA is recommended)
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Application essay
- Two letters of recommendation
- Interview
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
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International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Application Deadline: July 15
- Spring Semester
- Application Deadline: November 15
- Summer Term
- Application Deadline: April 15 (domestic students only)
Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Practice research-based leadership.
- Function as responsible, informed researchers in a specific curriculum and instruction area of study and professional practice.
- Establish a disciplined life of inquiry.
- Conduct research informed by multicultural education literature.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements CI 87000 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN TEACHING 3 CI 87001 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CURRICULUM 3 CI 87002 FORMS OF INQUIRY IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 3 RMS 75510 STATISTICS I FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 3 RMS 85515 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS 3 RMS 85516 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 3 RMS 85517 ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 1 3 or RMS 85518 ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Educational Foundations Course 2 3 Culminating Requirement CI 80089 RESIDENCY I 3 CI 80090 RESIDENCY II 3 CI 80199 DISSERTATION I 3 30 Concentrations Choose from the following: 12 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 72 - 1
Students may complete another specialized research methods course with approval.
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Course must be approved by student's prospectus committee.
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Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for CI 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter CI 80299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.
Adapted/Physical Education Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 CI 75592PRACTICUM IN ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CI 77096INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION CI 85025CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SPORT PEDAGOGY - AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE CI 85037ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CI 85044PEDAGOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT CI 85055CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN SPORT PEDAGOGY Other doctoral-level course, with advisor approvalMinimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Curriculum and Teaching Studies Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 CI 71130MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES CI 77002CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP CI 77003TEACHER EDUCATION CI 77005INTERCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING CI 77010CURRICULUM EVALUATION Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Educational Technology Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements ETEC 77420 RESEARCH ISSUES IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 3 ETEC 77491 SEMINAR: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY 3 ETEC 87450 LEARNING WITH EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES 3 Educational Technology (ETEC) Doctoral-Level Elective (70000 or 80000 level) 3 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Early Childhood Education Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 ECED 70152APPLICATION OF SELECTED THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN ECED 70158RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM ECED 70163CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ECED 70170WRITING FOR PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ECED 80298RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Literacy Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements CI 87340 RESEARCH IN READING 3 CI 87342 SEMINAR IN READING AND LANGUAGE 3 CI 87343 RESEARCH IN TEACHING OF WRITING 3 CI 87398 RESEARCH IN READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS 3 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Mathematics Education Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements CI 77225 RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION 3 CI 87791 DOCTORAL SEMINAR IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION 3 Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 6 CI 77095SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION CI 77224TEACHING MATHEMATICS USING COMPUTERS AND CALCULATORS CI 77226IMPROVING MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Science Education Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements CI 71133 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN ELEMENTARY SCIENCE 3 CI 71134 RESEARCH TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION 3 CI 71140 CULTURE AND MULTICULTURALISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION 3 CI 71141 NATURE OF SCIENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION 3 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Social Studies Education Concentration Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Concentration Requirements Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 12 CI 71124EDUCATING THE GOOD CITIZEN CI 71125ISSUES AND TRENDS IN SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION CI 71126RESEARCH IN SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING AND LEARNING CI 71127TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL STUDIES CI 77095SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12 Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA - 3.000 - Students may be required to take an introductory course on fundamentals of curriculum and other additional coursework, as well as research activities that support their scholarly interests in the context of doctoral socialization.
Comprehensive Examination Requirements
The course phase of study culminates with a written and oral comprehensive examination that is created and evaluated by each doctoral student’s prospectus committee. Students choose one of the following options for the written component:
- Eight-hour in-class written examination
- Take-home written examination
- Written examination and portfolio (this option must be selected when submitting the plan of study)
Once doctoral students have passed the comprehensive examination, they organize a dissertation committee, which supervises their dissertation research project.
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Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.
Those who complete the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Â鶹ÊÓƵ can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the curriculum and instruction industry.
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Education teachers, postsecondary
4.8%
about as fast as the average
77,300
number of jobs
$65,440
potential earnings
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Instructional coordinators
5.9%
faster than the average
192,900
number of jobs
$66,970
potential earnings
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Additional Careers
- University Professor
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Request Information
Other Scheduling Resources
- C&I Core Courses Schedule - Available on request: Please email kmurph15@kent.edu
- Research, Measurement & Statistics (RMS) 4-Year Schedule - Available on request: Please email kmurph15@kent.edu
- (viewable only)
- EHHS Graduate Student Handbook
- EHHS Graduate Student Services Forms page - Includes Advisory Phase Form for the initial phase of the Ph.D. program
Please note: For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please log into Flashline and go to Student - Courses and Registration - Look Up and Register for Courses.