The Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction is the degree most often desired by classroom teachers/SLMS who want to continue their education but remain in the classroom or school library media center,individuals who want to teach curriculum and instruction (including specialties such as library science) in higher education, and/or individuals in supervisory positions in school divisions who wish to continue their education in curriculum and instruction. With a solid grounding in assessment, evaluation, and quantitative and qualitative research, the rigorous course of study provides an opportunity for students to develop a strong background in curriculum and instruction while providing the flexibility to pursue individual interests.The curriculum described below contains elements that will, if completed successfully, provide research expertise, curriculum and instruction skills and experience, and the ability to serve the nation's schools, colleges and universities and contribute to global education.

Admission

For admission to this program, individuals should have a completed master's degree in an appropriate discipline from a regionally accredited university. Degrees that are equivalent to a master's degree such as L.L.B., J.D., and D.D.S. are also acceptable.Prospective students should also have prior course work in statistics, and curriculum and instruction.If this assumption is not met, then additional course work will be added to the candidate's graduate program of study.Please see prerequisites on the curriculum description for specifics.

Application requirements for the PhD in Education Concentration Curriculum and Instruction are as follows:

• A completed application form which is available online or from the Office of Graduate Admissions.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses and degrees completed.
• Official report scores from the Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) taken within the last five years. GRE scores expire after five years; however, candidates who have completed the exam prior to five years before the application deadline may submit those scores for consideration if they are provided from an official source such as a transcript or form provided by the Educational Testing Service. Old Dominion University reserves the right to determine what is an "official source."
• Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL) of at least 600 (written) or 250 (computer based).
• Applicants must submit a 1000 word statement of their academic and professional goals with an emphasis on how the Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction will contribute to the achievement of the stated goals.
• Three letters of reference from sources capable of commenting on the applicant's readiness for advanced graduate study. It is recommended that these letters come from employment supervisors and/or university faculty members.

Admission to the Ph.D. programs in the Department of Educational Curriculum and Instruction is competitive. A number of criteria are considered including graduate and undergraduate GPA scores, GRE scores, writing ability, a personal interview, and the match between student interests and faculty expertise. Meeting the minimum requirements established by the department does not ensure admission to the program.  Students applying to the PhD programs in the department should have a minimum score of 500 on the verbal reasoning, 500 on the quantitative reasoning and 4.5 on the analytical writing component of the GRE.  A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.25 are recommended.

Program Completion and Exit

In order to complete the program students must fully comply with the curriculum, all requirements noted elsewhere in the University catalog for graduate students, and within the PhD in Education Handbook. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain these materials and complete required portions.

Contact

Dr. Charlene Fleener
cfleener@odu.edu
757-683-3284