ED-PHD - Education (PhD)

The Graduate School of Education offers the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in all program area committees. The university confers the degree upon recommendation by the Graduate School of Education faculty and the University Committee on Graduate Studies. The PhD requires a minimum of 135 units of coursework and research completed at Stanford beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students may transfer up to 45 units of graduate coursework. Students must consult with the Doctoral Programs Officer if they intend to transfer prior coursework. Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better in courses applicable to the degree.

Students should note that admission to the doctoral program does not constitute admission to candidacy for the degree. Students must qualify and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year of study. They should obtain information about procedures and requirements during their first year from the Doctoral Programs Officer.

PhD students must complete a minor in another discipline taught outside the school, hold an acceptable master’s degree outside the field of education, or complete an approved individually designed distributed minor that combines relevant advanced work taken in several disciplines outside the school.

Upon admission, the admitting area committee assigns an initial advisor from its faculty who works with the student to establish an appropriate and individualized course of study, a relevant minor, and project research plans. Other faculty members may also be consulted in this process.

The following doctoral specializations, with their sponsoring area and concentration, are offered:

• Anthropology of Education (SHIPS)

• Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS)

• Economics of Education (SHIPS)

• Education Data Science (SHIPS)

• Educational Linguistics (SHIPS)

• Educational Policy (SHIPS)

• Elementary Education (CTE)

• Higher Education (SHIPS)

• History/Social Science Education (CTE)

• History of Education (SHIPS)

• International Comparative Education (SHIPS)

• Learning Sciences and Technology Design (CTE, DAPS, SHIPS)

• Literacy, Language, and English Education (CTE)

• Mathematics Education (CTE)

• Organization Studies (SHIPS)

• Philosophy of Education (SHIPS)

• Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (CTE, DAPS, SHIPS)

• Science Education (CTE)

• Sociology of Education (SHIPS)

• Teacher Education (CTE)