Doctor of Philosophy in Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education is a multi-disciplinary research-focused degree anchored in the educational complexities of access, success, and equity that is designed to prepare candidates globally to assume roles as faculty and researchers in one of five concentrations: Counselor Education, Literacy Education, Higher & Postsecondary Education, Special Education, and Urban & Diverse Learning Environments. The unique underpinning of this program is the intersection of two primary research foci: (1) a commitment to redressing systemic and persistent barriers to quality education and (2) a dedication to using rigorous empirical research with area schools, districts, colleges, and other educational partners to improve equity in educational outcomes. The Doctor of Philosophy offers its candidates opportunities to engage in research, college level teaching, and clinical experiences that respond to the regions and the nation’s persistent challenges with educational access and equity in traditionally underserved communities.

The Doctor of Philosophy at Rowan University requires the completion of 72 graduate semester hours (s.h.) made up of 21 s.h. of core courses, 15 s.h. of research courses, 15 s.h. of concentration specific courses, and 21 s.h. of dissertation.

Concentrations

The doctoral program offers five (5) concentrations:

1. Counselor Education: The Counselor Education concentration is designed specifically for those who wish to pursue careers as counselor educators at the university level, or as supervisors in schools or clinical settings. The program is committed to promoting the counseling profession and evidenced-based practices and initiatives through advanced curricular experiences that address systemic and persistent barriers for P-20 students.
2. Higher & Postsecondary Education: The Higher & Postsecondary Education concentration of the Ph.D. in Education prepares students to conduct research on higher education organizations, students, and policy. Our graduates will pursue careers as academic faculty, researchers, senior college and university administrators, and policy analysts. Our curriculum provides a strong theoretical foundation in organizational theory, public policy, and issues of social justice in postsecondary institutions.
3. Language & Literacy Education: The Language & Literacy Education Ph.D. concentration is designed to prepare individuals for roles in research, policy, and teaching in higher education. The courses examine influential theories and research that address the developmental, cognitive, motivational, multimodal, literary, linguistic, sociocultural and sociopolitical foundations of language and literacy. The program is strongly framed by a critical stance that emphasizes the transformative potential of language and literacy. Candidates for the literacy education doctorate conduct research examining major issues around the interaction of theory, research, and practice in their role in promoting access, equity and success across a range of educational contexts.
4. Special Education: Students in the Special Education concentration examine critical issues in the field of special education and disability studies in education (DSE). The program encourages progressive thinking about traditional segregated special education practices, and changing educational structures to be fully inclusive for all students and families. At Rowan University, students and faculty engage in progressive research that promotes the development of inclusive schools and educational policy.
5. Urban & Diverse Learning Environments: The Urban & Diverse Learning Environments concentration is designed to prepare future researchers, educators, community organizers, policymakers, and youth-focused change agents to understand and disrupt the contradictions that underpin educational and broader socioeconomic disparities. Our faculty actively engage in studying and challenging the social, political, and economic forces that bear on what is often labeled as “urban schooling,” and shape the contradictions faced by youth, families, teachers, and educational leaders in these diverse learning environments that so often can be characterized by both oppression and resilience.