Program Description

The general education track in Curriculum & Instruction is designed for students who are interested in becoming a generalist and do not want to specialize in any one of the three currently offered specialization areas of the Ph.D. in C&I degree program (i.e., Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CSTE), Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies (LDLS), or STEM Education). In this degree plan, the 24.0 hours of specialization electives are open to the student (as long as they are 5000 level (or above) and taken at the TTU Lubbock campus either in-person, hybrid, or online); students may acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills in different theories, educational foundations, research methodologies, blended and personalized learning, or a specific content area of interest.

Degrees Offered

Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction

Offered: face-to-face* or online

Online / Synchronous Expectations of the Ph.D. in C&I program

The Ph.D. in C&I program can be completed completely online, but there are courses and degree milestones that require mandatory synchronous meetings via virtual meetings and video conferencing software.

• Coursework: Most C&I doctoral online classes have synchronous meetings via Zoom to maximize the effectiveness of teaching and learning; those classes may or may not require attendance at synchronous sessions as a part of the course grade. If such courses have mandatory synchronous meetings, they are noted at the time of registration (so you will know before signing up).
• Degree Milestones: Applicants should be aware that live, synchronous interaction is not only part of the coursework but also required to complete their qualifying exam (oral), proposal defense, and final dissertation defense. These milestones may be completed remotely and online, but not asynchronously.

Career Opportunities With This Degree

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction will find the following career opportunities in various fields. They include but are not limited to:

• Faculty in higher education
• Educational program officers and policy analysts in government agencies
• Instructional specialists and leaders in school districts or schools
• Educational researchers and consultants in private or non-profit organizations

Application Materials

The Ph.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction requires a completed master's degree in the field of education or cognate areas of study from an accredited higher education institution in the United States or equivalent higher education institution in another country.

College Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the Graduate School application. Information on submitting official transcripts will be provided to you by the Graduate School. Grade reports or unofficial transcripts from university web portals will not be accepted. Please redact the Social Security Number anywhere it appears on your transcript. If documents are written in a language other than English, a copy of a complete and official English translation must be provided with the original language records.

Required Supplemental Application Materials

Curriculum Vitae (CV), Research Statement, Three Letters of Recommendation. Download the list of required supplemental application materials.

Application Process

Please visit the Graduate Application Process for more information on how to apply.

Semester in which the program can be started

Fall enrollment only.

Estimated Hours to Completion

63 hours of coursework.

Financial Aid

Scholarships and assistantships for doctoral students are available through the office of graduate education and research in the College of Education.

Tuition & Fees

Use the Student Business Services Tuition Estimator to estimate your costs.

Contacts