Degree Title and Name:  Doctor of Philosophy in Social Studies Education

Program Name and Number:  Social Studies Education – PH6224

Department/Unit:  Department of Teacher Education

Delivery Mode:  Athens Campus

Term(s) of Entry:  Fall, Summer

Program Overview:  The Ph.D. program in Social Studies Education is built on a common foundation of learning theory, the social and cultural contexts of school education, curriculum and instruction theory, the moral and ethical dimensions of leadership, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. It is expected that all students completing a doctoral degree in Social Studies Education will demonstrate knowledge and skills in a common core of competencies plus an area of specialization and successfully complete a dissertation. For each individual scholar, coursework serves as the basis for investigating a significant educational issue that will advance the field of Social Studies Education and prepare him or her for future research. Every student in the Ph.D. program in Social Studies Education has the opportunity to construct a highly individualized program based on his or her career goals. Specializations are available based on the expertise of doctoral faculty. This program can be completed full- or part-time. For a full-time student, program degree completion in four years is typical.

Program Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the program, doctoral candidates will:

• Demonstrate a strong foundation in the social studies subject matter.
• Gain an understanding of how PK-16 students learn and engage with social studies.
• Become familiar with research methodologies appropriate to the study of social studies education.
• Learn to use equitable and inclusive teaching and assessment practices that are responsive to diverse learners and incorporate appropriate use of technology.
• Become knowledgeable about the body of literature central to social studies education, professional preparation standards for social studies teachers, and K-12 social studies learning standards. 
• Develop skills in teaching social studies methods courses for K-12 teachers or facilitating professional development for K-12 teachers.
• Develop an awareness of local and global issues relate to social studies education.
• Gain experience and knowledge in analyzing, evaluating, synthesizing research theories in social studies education, and applying them and supporting others in applying them in K-16 contexts.
• Conduct independent research in social studies education that relies on quantitative and/or qualitative research design and methodology suitable for professional publication and presentations.
• Develop awareness of current trends and issues in education broadly, and social studies education specifically, that leads to advocacy for learners and teachers.
• Be prepared to accept a university faculty position or other leadership role in the field of Social Studies Education.

Opportunities for Graduates:  A key strength of the program is its ability to provide individualized programs of study for scholars with a wide variety of interests who seek to serve as leaders in various facets of education. The Center for Clinical Practice, Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, Institute for Democracy in Education, the Child Development Center, the OHIO Center for Equity in Mathematics and Science (OCEMS), the Stevens Literacy Center support the overall program and provide opportunities to participate and gain experience in research, professional development, outreach activities, and teacher education.

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/education/teacher-ed/social-studies

Graduation Requirements:   The Social Studies doctoral program requires a minimum of 54 semester hours beyond the master’s degree plus dissertation (minimum of 10 additional semester hours). It is expected that all students completing a doctoral degree with a specialization in Curriculum & Instruction will complete a common core of doctoral course work as detailed below. Teaching & Learning and Research may exceed the minimum number of courses listed below. The following requirements must be satisfied to graduate.

Minimum Total Credits: 68 semester credit hours plus dissertation

Students completing the program full-time (12 hours per semester), typically complete the program in 4 years and are typically in residence at the Athens campus of Ohio University at least 2 years.

• Teaching & Learning Core: minimum 16 semester hours
  • EDTE 7150. (3 hours). Theories of Curriculum Change
  • EDTE 7160. (3 hours). Theories of Instructional Change
  • EDTE 7920. (6 hours). Curriculum and Instruction Practicum
  • EDTE 8000. (3 hours). Advanced Dynamics of Human Learning
  • EDTE 8900. (1 hour). First-Year Doctoral Seminar
• Research Core: minimum 19 semester hours
  • EDRE 7200. (4 hours). Educational Statistics
  • EDRE 7330. (4 hours). Research Design in Education
  • EDRE 7500. (4 hours). Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Education
  • EDTE 8040. (3 hours). Writing for Professional Publication in Education
  • One additional graduate-level research course chosen in consultation with student’s doctoral committee
• Specialization: minimum 20 semester hours
  • In consultation with the chair of your doctoral committee, a minimum of five graduate courses must be satisfactorily completed from among the courses listed below:
  • EDTE 5510/L. (4 hours). Programs and Practices in Elementary Social Studies Practicum
  • EDTE 6980/L. (4 hours). Teaching Social Studies in Junior and Senior High
  • EDTE 7500 (4 hours). Inquiry and Value Clarification in Social Studies
  • EDTE 8500 (4 hours). Seminar in Social Studies Education: Curriculum
  • EDTE 8510 (4 hours).Seminar in Social Studies Education: Program Analysis

• Cognate:  minimum 9 semester hours
  • In consultation with the chair of your doctoral committee, a minimum of two graduate courses must be earned in one of the content areas listed below.
    • Economics
    • Geography
    • History
    • Political Science
  • In consultation with the chair of your doctoral committee, an EDCS course, 6000 level or above
• Dissertation:  minimum 10 semester hours
  • It is expected that all candidates completing a doctoral degree in the Department of Teacher Education will propose, conduct, and prepare a comprehensive written report of an individually designed research study addressing a significant educational issue that will advance the field of mathematics education and will prepare the scholar for future research.

Culminating Experience: Students will complete a written and oral comprehensive exam and a dissertation.

Admission Requirements:

Applications for a Ph.D. program in the Department of Teacher Education are required to include:

1. Current curriculum vita/resume.
2. Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
3. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
4. Three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should come from both college professors or advisors and employers or professional colleagues.
5. Goal statement. The goal statement should explain why you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in your chosen program at Ohio University and how it will serve your future career goals.
6. Academic writing sample. This could be a published paper, a paper submitted for a course, a master’s project thesis, or you may wish to construct a new paper
7. International Applicants. To demonstrate English language proficiency, international applicants or applicants whose first language is not English must submit one of two tests completed within the previous 5 years: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This is required even if the applicant has previously attended a U.S. institution or has (or will have) a master’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution. The Department of Teacher Education will NOT waive the English proficiency requirements outlined below under any circumstances:

Unconditional Admission WITH Eligibility for Funding

• TOEFL iBT – 80 Composite, all Section Scores = 17
• IELTS – 6.5 Composite, all Bands 6.5

Unconditional Admission WITHOUT Funding Eligibility

• – 70 Composite, Writing 17, all other Section Scores of 15
• – 6.0 Composite, all Bands 6.0

All applications will be reviewed holistically, but prospective Ph.D. students are generally expected to have:

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.
• Master’s grade point average of at least 3.40 (4.00 point scale)
• Score of at least 300 (verbal and quantitative combined) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• Experience relevant to the individual’s doctoral program or mathematics education specialization area. This might include PK-12 or post-secondary teaching experience, advanced content preparation, inservice professional development or professional development leadership experience, curriculum/standards development and design, etc.

International Students:  This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.