Curriculum and Instruction, Ph.D.

Overview
Learning Outcomes
Requirements
Roadmap
Contact Info

Saint Louis University's doctoral program in curriculum and instruction is designed for individuals who work in educational settings — including schools, nonprofits and community organizations — and who wish to deepen their knowledge of teaching and learning.

SLU students choose a research focus that is informed by their work as practitioners and that addresses problems of practice in education. With an emphasis on issues of social justice and educational equity, the program prepares students to produce original research and advocate for educational change.

Curriculum Overview

This doctoral program emphasizes the tools of research and the interplay of theory and practice in educational contexts. The degree requires the completion of 36 credits of coursework, 12 credits of dissertation research, a comprehensive written examination, an oral examination/proposal defense, and a public presentation and defense of the dissertation. Up to six credits of graduate-level research coursework may be considered for transfer.

Careers

Possible career paths for graduates with advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction include faculty positions in colleges and universities, positions in research institutes and organizations, curriculum coordinators/teacher leaders, teacher educators, educational outreach coordinators, nonprofit specialists, education advocates, and adult educators.

Admission Requirements

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Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Transcript(s)
Three letters of recommendation
GRE or other applicable graduate entry exam scores
Résumé
Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

Along with the general admission requirements above, the following must be provided by prospective international students:

Demonstration of English Language Proficiency.
Proof of financial support that must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University.
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University.
Academic records, in English translation, for postsecondary studies outside the United States. These must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.

Review Process

A committee reviews each application holistically.

Application Deadlines

Domestic students should apply for the fall semester by June 15, for the spring semester by Nov. 1, and for the summer semester by April 1.
International students should apply by May 1 for the fall semester, Oct.1 for the spring semester, and Feb. 1 for the summer semester.

Tuition

Tuition Per Credit
Tuition	Cost Per Credit
Graduate Tuition	$1,400

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantships, apply by Jan. 15.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Graduates will be able to critically analyze educational issues and their impact on learners and communities, with an emphasis on marginalized groups.
Graduates will be able to evaluate various theoretical and conceptual frameworks that are employed in the design of education research.
Graduates will be able to apply theories and methods to conduct educational research that extends the knowledge base in education and equity.
Graduates will be able to effectively communicate research findings to scholarly and broader audiences.
Graduates will be able to engage in practice that challenges and reduces the impact of inequity (racial, gender, class, ability, etc.,) in educational contexts.

SLU's Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction is a 48-credit (36 credits of coursework plus 12 credits of dissertation research) degree program beyond the master's degree.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Curriculum and Instruction		6
Select six credits of the following:
EDI 6460	Curriculum Theory
or EDF 6650	Seminar: History of American Education
EPE 5050
EDI 6950	Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams
Content Electives		12
Select 12 credits of the following:
EDF 5300	Advanced Educational Psychology
EDF 5600	Foundations of Urban Education
EDF 5700	Advanced Growth and Development
EDF 6600	Socio-Cultural History of American Education
EDF 6650	Seminar: History of American Education
EDF 6700	Reimagining Schools for Equity, Justice, & Healing
EDF 6870	Seminar: Current Educational Problems
EDI 5040	Using Children's YA Literature to Promote Conversations about Equity and Justice
EDI 5390	Teaching Reading: Contemporary Issues & Practices
EDI 5590	Disciplinary Literacy Assessment & Intervention
EDI 5601	Literacy, Language, Culture and Power
EDI 5650	Racial Literacy and Antiracist Praxis
EDI 5800	Talking and Learning in Classrooms
EDI 5810	Curriculum and Instruction Summer Institute
EDI 5900	Developing and Implementing a Culturally Responsive Curriculum through Instruction and Assessment
EDI 5920
EDI 6030	Developing Writers and Thinkers: Advanced Methods of Teaching Writing
EDI 6450	Curriculum Development
EDI 6550	Principles of Assessment for Education Settings
EDR 5500	Evaluation of Education Programs
EDR 5800	Collaborative Action Research for Change
EDR 6350	Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs
EDSP 5100	Comparative Theories and Practice to Address Challenging Behaviors
EDSP 5200	Mental Health Literacy
EDSP 5240	Classroom Organization and Management (Early Childhood, ECSE, Elementary, Special Education)
EDSP 5310	Advanced Studies in Psych/Educ the Exceptional Child
EDSP 5350	Differentiated Instruction: Theories and Practice
EDSP 5400	Teaching Everyone: Identifying Supports for Educational Access
EDSP 6110	Special Education Administration
EPE 5050
EPE 5250	Contemporary Issues in Education Policy
EPE 6250	Economics of Education
EPE 6650	Applied Research and Reporting
SOC 5850	Policy Evaluation and Assessment
SOC 6250	Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy
Research Courses
Required Research Courses		12
Advanced Research Courses		6
Dissertation Research
EDR 6990	Dissertation Research	12
Total Credits		48

Required Research Courses

Students are required to successfully complete the following four research courses. Up to six credits may be considered for transfer based on students’ prior coursework.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
EDR 5000	General Research Methods for Education	3
EDR 5100	Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed	3
EDR 5400	Qualitative Research in Education	3
EDR 6700	Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Education Research	3

Advanced Research Electives

Students choose six credits of research electives from either the qualitative or quantitative focus (see lists below).

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Qualitative Research Focus (choose two courses from the following:)
EDR 5500	Evaluation of Education Programs
EDR 6400	Advanced Qual Research for Ed
EDI 5800	Talking and Learning in Classrooms
Quantitative Research Focus (choose two courses from the following:)
EDR 6060	Research Design and Analysis
EDR 6100	Intermediate Applied Statistics for Education
EDR 6500	Multilevel Regression Models
EDR 6600	Designing Mixed Methods Research

Non-course Requirements

Students must pass a comprehensive written examination upon completion of all required and elective courses.
Students must pass an oral examination/proposal defense.
Students must pass a public presentation and defense of their dissertation.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall		Credits
EDI 5050	Proseminar on Ed Research	3
EDI 6460	Curriculum Theory	3
EDR 5000	General Research Methods for Education	3
	Credits	9
Spring
EDR 5400	Qualitative Research in Education	3
EDR 5100	Intro to Inferential Stats: Ed	3
Content elective OR research elective (see requirements page)		3
	Credits	9
Year Two
Fall
EDR 6400	Advanced Qual Research for Ed	3
EDR 6980	Graduate Independent Study in Education Research	3
Content elective OR research elective (see requirements page)		3
	Credits	9
Spring
EDF 6600	Socio-Cultural History of American Education	3
EDR 6700	Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Education Research	3
Content elective OR research elective (see requirements page)		3
	Credits	9
Summer
EDI 6950	Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams	0
	Credits	0
Year Three
Fall
EDR 6990	Dissertation Research (Please register in your advisor’s section number.)	6
	Credits	6
Spring
EDR 6990	Dissertation Research (Please register in your advisor’s section number.)	6
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	48

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Saint Louis University School of Education
314-977-3292
slued@slu.edu

Curriculum and Instruction, Ph.D.

Required Research Courses

Advanced Research Electives

Non-course Requirements

Continuation Standards

Next Steps to SLU