Doctor of Philosophy in Education: Curriculum and Instruction Emphasis

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

  • Identify and summarize key theories and literature bases relevant to exploration of key educational issues.
  • Integrate methods, theories, paradigms, concepts, etc. from both within and beyond one's primary emphasis area.
  • Conduct educational research using investigation techniques appropriate to a topic and theoretical approach.
  • Create effective oral and written presentations focused on educational theory and research.

The PhD program in Education supports academic rigor through a balanced curriculum, including foundational courses, advanced coursework, research seminars, and a comprehensive doctoral dissertation. There are three emphasis areas in this degree program: 1) Curriculum and Instruction; 2) Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations; and 3) Music Education.

General Admissions Requirements for the Education Ph.D.

The general criteria for admission to the Education Ph.D. program are as follows:

  • A grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) covering all college work taken prior to the bachelor's degree, or a grade-point average of at least 3.5 covering all post-baccalaureate work completed to date.
  • Recommendation for provisional or full admission by the doctoral faculty review group within the emphasis area.

The Education Ph.D. program does not consider GRE scores in admissions decisions.

Graduates of schools outside the United States may be considered for admission to the Education Ph.D. program, subject to the following criteria.

  1. They must have completed a course of study at least the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
  2. They must have above-average grades in previous college study.
  3. They are required to establish proof of adequate English proficiency as part of the UMKC admissions process. Applicants from countries in which English might be one of the official languages, but is not necessarily the first language of the majority of the population, must attain a minimum composite score of either 79 on the iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or a score of 6.0 on the IELTS to be considered for admission. The results of the examination must be received in the UMKC International Student Affairs Office before the application deadline. Exceptions to this policy:
    • Non-native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries, provided they have spent a minimum of two years in successful full-time study there and English was the medium of instruction.
    • International transfer students from other institutions in the United States or Canada who have spent a minimum of two years in successful full-time study.

​Specific emphasis areas may have more stringent admissions criteria (e.g., requirement of an earned Master's degree) or additional required admission materials (e.g., writing samples, references, interviews); please see specific emphasis areas' admissions requirements for further information.

General Program of Study Requirements

For each option, students will be required to take at least 36 credit hours in a discipline corresponding to their degree option, including both substantive courses and research methodology courses. At least twelve additional credit hours must be taken in a corollary subject area related to the student’s research and approved by the student’s supervisory committee. Students also take at least twelve dissertation hours in an education field. In total, the Education PhD is comprised of at least 60 credit hours. 

General Comprehensive Examination Requirements

To advance to degree candidacy, Education Ph.D. students are required to pass both written and oral components of a  Comprehensive Examination. The doctoral Comprehensive Examinations must be completed at least seven months before the date of graduation.

The following requirements must have been met before students can take the Comprehensive Examination(s):

  1. Successful completion of all qualifying requirements and full admission to the School of Graduate Studies and the Education Ph.D. program.
  2. Appointment of a research advisor and supervisory committee.
  3. Filing and approval of the Ph.D. plan of study and completion of essentially all coursework or other study required for the degree.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

  • Identify and summarize key theories and literature bases relevant to exploration of key issues in curriculum and instruction.
  • Integrate methods, theories, paradigms, concepts, etc. from both within and beyond curriculum and instruction.
  • Conduct curriculum and instruction research using investigation techniques appropriate to a topic and theoretical approach.
  • Create effective oral and written presentations focused on curriculum and instruction theory and research.

Emphasis Area-Specific Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Education- Curriculum and Instruction Emphasis will be expected to have a Master's degree and a post-baccalaureate GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants typically have prior academic training and experience in curriculum and instruction. 

Prospective students must obtain the agreement of a member of the doctoral faculty in Curriculum and Instruction to serve as research advisor before they can be admitted. Consult the current program website for information about doctoral faculty research expertise. 

The applicant must provide the following supplementary documentation:

  1. Written recommendations from appropriate professors and practitioners in the field (selected by student).
  2. Brief narrative stating research interest

  3. Sample research or scholarly writing

Emphasis Area Program Requirements

The doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction may be preparing for teaching and research in higher education, for a curricular or supervisory position in a public school district or for work in a government agency, private foundation or an educational training role in business and industry. Consequently, a single set of minimum standards cannot possibly fit all programs of study. Instead, sensitivity to individual student needs and goals, as well as regard for the different approaches to doctoral study represented in the several fields within Curriculum and Instruction, require flexibility and diversity in program planning.

Curriculum and Instruction Course Requirements (24 hours minimum)
EDUC-C&I 5618Survey Of Research In Curriculum3
or EDUC-C&I 5620 Seminars In Theories Related To Curriculum
EDUC-C&I 5626Seminar in Multicultural Perspectives In Education3
EDUC-C&I 5570Curriculum And Instruction In Technology3
or EDUC-C&I 5572 Assessing The Role Of Technology In Education
EDUC-C&I elective coursework15
Research Coursework Requirements--May include the following: 1, 212
EDUC-R&P 5608
Introduction To Graduate Research
EDUC-R&P 5505
Statistical Methods I
EDUC-R&P 5555
Statistical Methods II (Taken instead of EDUC-R&P 5605/5606)
EDUC-R&P 5605
& EDUC-R&P 5606
Quantitative Analysis I: Regression And Analysis Of Variance
and Quantitative Analysis II : Multivariate Data Analysis (Must be taken as a sequence; 6 credit hours total)
EDUC-R&P 5612
Applied Quantitative Research in Education
EDUC-R&P 5615
Qualitative Research Theory & Design Educational Setting. Part 1
EDUC-R&P 5616
Qual Data Collection And Analysis In Educational Settings. Part 2 (Requires EDUC-R&P 5615 as a prerequisite)
Other courses may also be used for this requirement with advisor approval.
Corollary Coursework
Coursework taken outside of EDUC-C&I, selected with advisor approval12
Dissertation
EDUC-C&I 5697Dissertation Curriculum And Instruction12
Total Credits60

In no case will a program be drawn up or approved that contains only coursework previously completed. Additional requirements may be set by the student's doctoral supervisory committee on the basis of the individual's program goals, previous academic preparation and relevant prior experiences.