3101 Education Building
757-683-3284
Angela Eckhoff, Graduate Program Director
The Doctor of Philosophy, Education, Curriculum and Instruction Concentration, with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction prepares scholarly leaders to identify and examine the problems and possibilities associated with curriculum and instruction in schools and other institutions within a multicultural democratic society. The program focuses on curricular issues as a field of inquiry and develops students’ abilities to address the questions that influence curriculum theory, design, development, delivery, assessment, and evaluation.
Program graduates go on to become leaders in our nation’s schools, colleges, universities, and related agencies such as business, government, and research institutions. Our curriculum is solidly grounded in interpreting and producing research and scholarship, with particular attention paid to the philosophical, theoretical, historical, socio-cultural, ethical and political constructs and issues that affect curriculum and instruction.
We welcome students with interests in all institutional settings serving students across their lifespan (early childhood through adulthood). As part of their study, students in curriculum and instruction may pursue an area of specialization in:
- childhood studies;
- curriculum studies;
- elementary education;
- history and social studies education;
- instructional technology;
- literacy, language, and culture;
- mathematics education;
- multicultural education;
- science education;
- STEM education; or
- secondary education.
Admission
Admission to the Ph.D. programs in the Department of Teaching & Learning is competitive. Applicants should have a completed master’s degree in an appropriate discipline from a regionally accredited university. Degrees that are equivalent to a master’s degree such as L.L.B., J.D., and D.D.S., will be considered. A number of criteria are considered including graduate and undergraduate GPAs, GRE scores, writing ability, a personal interview, and the match between student interests and faculty expertise. Meeting the minimum requirements established by the department does not ensure admission to the program. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.25 are recommended.
Application requirements for the Ph.D. - Education - Curriculum and Instruction Concentration are as follows:
- A completed online application from the Office of Graduate Admissions;
- A completed master’s degree in an appropriate discipline from a regionally accredited university;
- Three letters of reference from sources including employment supervisors and/or university faculty members capable of commenting on the applicant’s current readiness for advanced graduate study;
- Statement of intent for study in the PhD program in Curriculum and Instruction (limit 1,000 words). In this statement, address the following questions:
- Describe your understanding of and your interest in the Curriculum and Instruction program.
- How will the Curriculum and Instruction program help you achieve your long-term professional goals?
- Submission of a professional curriculum vitae. Three years of teaching experience are preferred;
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses and degrees completed;
- Academic writing sample - Choose and submit one of the following options:
- Previous academic writing sample (e.g., thesis, major paper, culminating project from previous graduate work), or
- Develop a brief (four double-spaced paces response to the following prompt using a minimum of three academic sources): Identify and analyze an issue related to education in your local context.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 600 (written) or 250 (computer based).
Applications must be complete and submitted to the ODU Office of Graduate Admissions by October 15 for spring admissions, and March 1 for Summer and Fall admissions (dates subject to change). Note: If you wish to apply for Financial Aid, deadlines for application are as much as six months earlier. Contact the Financial Aid office at 757-683-3683. Financial aid is awarded only to regularly admitted graduate students.
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction Admissions and Continuance Committee. Selected applicants will be invited to campus to participate in various activities including an on-campus interview, writing sample, and a class visit.
Curriculum Requirements
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| |
| Program Evaluation, Research and Planning | |
| Introduction to Research Methods in Education | |
| Applied Research Methods in Education | |
| |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics and Data Analysis | |
| FOUN 812 | Research Design and Analysis | 3 |
| TLCI 814 | Qualitative Research Design in Education | 3 |
| 9 |
| Applied Linear Models in Educational Research | |
| Analysis of Variance Applied to Educational Research |
| Educational Measurement and Assessment | |
| Formative Assessment of Student Learning |
| Advanced Qualitative Research | |
| Program Evaluation in Education |
| |
| TLCI 802 | Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Education | 3 |
| TLCI 803 | Theoretical Perspectives in Curriculum and Instruction | 3 |
| TLCI 888 | Seminar in the Multicultural Environment | 3 |
| TLCI 805 | Critical Issues in Curriculum Research | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Dissertation | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 |
Due to changing University requirements, national accreditation standards, and Commonwealth licensure regulations, the programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in the catalog. Students are encouraged to obtain current program information from their advisors and the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies website: https://www.odu.edu/eps.
Additional Requirements
Prerequisite Coursework
Prospective students should also have prior course work in statistics, and curriculum and instruction. If this requirement is not met, then additional course work will be added to the student’s graduate program of study.
All students admitted into the Ph.D. program must complete the following prerequisite courses unless they have previously completed equivalent graduate level coursework or expertise.
- Introduction to Research in Education (FOUN 611) or Applied Research Methods in Education (FOUN 612) or equivalent); FOUN 611 is recommended.
- Statistics Applied to Research in Education (FOUN 722 or equivalent).
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Concentration is comprised of courses totaling a minimum of 60 academic credit hours beyond the master’s degree. The curriculum includes a 15-hour research/foundations block, a 12 hour "common core" taken by all Ph.D. students in Curriculum and Instruction regardless of interest area, a 21-hour concentration core consisting of courses that reflect the student's interest area, and a 12-hour dissertation block. The dissertation will often require more than 12 credit hours depending on the length of time necessary for completion. Students entering the program may also need to complete introductory research methods statistics courses (FOUN 611 [recommended], FOUN 612 or equivalent), and Statistics Applied to Research in Education (FOUN 722 or equivalent), i
f they have not had such courses or cannot demonstrate competency at a satisfactory level. Students who come into the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree in an academic field that is unrelated to curriculum and instruction and/or who have not completed courses to develop competency in specified areas may need to complete these courses in addition to the required courses. Students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) modules during the first twelve graduate credit hours at Old Dominion University. For more information review the instructions at: https://www.odu.edu/impact/responsible-conduct-of-training.
Program Continuance, Completion and Exit
It is the expectation that Curriculum and Instruction faculty will prepare Ph.D. candidates to become competent professionals with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to assume positions as researchers, teacher leaders, advocates, and scholars. On an annual basis, the Curriculum & Instruction Ph.D. Admissions and Continuance Committee and each student’s advisor will formally convene to discuss the continuance of each student in the doctoral degree program.
To complete the program, students must fully comply with the curriculum below, and all requirements noted elsewhere in the University catalog for graduate students and within the Ph.D. in Education Handbook. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain these materials and adhere to program requirements.
