Admission Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
College of Education (MC 147)
1040 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7133

Campus Location: 3252 EPASW
Telephone: (312) 413-2414
Program Code: 20FS1592PHD
E-mail: psphd@uic.edu
Fax: (312) 996-8134
Web Site: http://education.uic.edu/ps-phd/
Dean of the College of Education: Victoria Chou
Director of Graduate Studies: Mark Smylie

The College of Education offers course work which leads to the Doctor of Philosophy in Policy Studies in Urban Education with concentrations in (1) Educational Organization and Leadership and (2) Social Foundations of Education.

Interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women's Studies and Violence Studies are available to students in this program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Applicants must submit transcripts from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and from all postbaccalaureate work. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study and for all postbaccalaureate course work.
• Tests Required GRE General.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based). Note: Total score is higher than the sum of the subscores. OR
  • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required from faculty members or others familiar with the applicant’s previous academic training, academic and research ability, and experience.
• Personal Statement Required. The statement must address the applicant’s goals for graduate study and career development. Recommended minimum length of 750 words.
• Other Requirements The College of Education application form must be submitted. This program requires two packets of admission materials. One set of transcripts and the official University application should be sent to the Admissions Office. Submit the following materials in one package to the College of Education: a copy of the official UIC application, the College of Education application, a second set of transcripts, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, and the personal statement.
• Deadlines The application deadline for this program is January 1. Admission is restricted to the summer and fall terms.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy

• Minimum Semester Hours Required Educational Organization and Leadership: 111–116 from the baccalaureate, 79–84 from the master’s. Social Foundations of Education: 100 from the baccalaureate, 68 from the master’s.

• Course Work Required Course Hours: Educational Organization and Leadership—Minimum beyond the master’s 16 hours in concentration specific courses; 24 hours in research methods; 23 to 28 hours of education electives and related field courses. Social Foundations of Education—Minimum beyond the master’s 24 hours in concentration-specific courses; 16 hours in research methods; 12 hours of education electives and related field courses.

• Required Concentration-Specific Courses for Educational Organization and Leadership: EDPS 510, 571, 579, 589.

• Required Concentration-Specific Courses for Social Foundations of Education: EDPS 505, 510, and four courses taken from the following: EDPS 500, 502, 503, 555, 563, 565, 566, 567, 570, 571, 572, 582, 583, 588.

• Required Research Methods Courses for Educational Organization and Leadership: ED 500, EPSY 503; EDPS 512, 587, 544; and at least one additional methods course selected with faculty advisor.

• Required Research Methods Courses for Social Foundations: ED 502, 503; EDPS 512, 544.

• Related Field Courses for Educational Organization and Leadership: Three courses taken outside the College of Education in one related discipline or field of study (e.g., business and management, economics, political science, sociology) to add depth to knowledge and research methods (9–12 hours); selected with the faculty advisor.

• Related Field Courses for Social Foundations: None.

• Electives for Educational Organization and Leadership: Each student will support the concentration with 14–16 elective hours (4 courses) from the College of Education, selected with the faculty advisor.

• Electives for Social Foundations: Each student will support the concentration with 12 elective hours (3 courses), selected with the faculty advisor to meet one or more of three criteria: expand breadth of study; deepen depth of study; enrich study of research methodology.

• Examinations Comprehensive Written Qualifying Examination: Required. Successful completion of the comprehensive exam qualifies students to enter the dissertation proposal stage of the program. The examination focuses on program curriculum, the student’s area of concentration, and research methods. No student with a cumulative GPA below 3.00/4.00 will be permitted to take the qualifying examination. Students who fail to pass all components after the second attempt will be recommended by the program faculty to the Graduate College for dismissal from the program.

• Preliminary Examination: Required. The preliminary examination is taken at the completion of all course work. The examination is primarily oral but may contain a written component. The primary purpose of the preliminary examination is review and approval of the dissertation proposal and admission of the student to degree candidacy.

• Dissertation Required. Students must earn at least 16 semester hours in EDPS 599.

• Other Requirements All students must complete a training course sponsored by the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research on the ethics of conducting research with human subjects. Students are required to submit an annual report of their academic and professional progress.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Violence Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Violence Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Violence Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section or the Jane Addams College of Social Work section for more information.