Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Educational Leadership and Research (PEDLR) or Curriculum and Instruction (PEDCI)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in the School of Education are offered through two degrees. The first degree is in educational leadership and research. Specializations include: educational leadership, higher education administration, educational research methodology, and educational technology. [Please note: Admissions to the PhD with a specialization in educational technology are currently suspended.] The second degree is in curriculum and instruction. Specializations include: language arts/children’s literature, curriculum studies, early childhood education, English education, foreign language education, gifted education, mathematics education, reading /literacy, science education, social studies education, and special education.

The school-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

The degree requires the successful completion of a dissertation as its final requirement. 90 hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned including 9-18 hours of credit for the dissertation.

The curricular requirements for Educational Leadership include:

A core area of 20 hours which includes 14 hours of research, and six hours in a school core.
24 hours in the primary area of P-12 Leadership specialization.
Nine hours of dissertation research.
Admitted students are anticipated to have a master’s degree; students who do not have a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 37 hours in addition to the 53 hours required for the PhD.

The student must pass a General exam consisting of written questions and a comprehensive oral exam; write a dissertation proposal and pass an oral defense of the proposal; and write a dissertation, and pass an oral defense of the dissertation.

The curricular requirements for higher education administration include:

A core area of 19 hours which includes 11 of research, and six hours in a school core.
24 hours in the primary area of higher education.
Nine hours of dissertation research.
Admitted students are anticipated to have a master’s degree; students who do not have a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 38 hours in addition to the 52 hours required for the PhD.

The curricular requirements for educational research methodology include:

A school core area of six hours.
14 hours in educational leadership and research program courses.
12 hours in the primary area of educational research methodology.
12 hours in an allied field.
Three hours of advanced research practicum.
Nine hours of dissertation research.
Admitted students are anticipated to have a master’s degree; students who do not have a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 34 hours in addition to the 56 hours required for the PhD.

The curricular requirements for educational technology include:

A core of 19 hours, which includes six hours in a school core.
18 hours in the primary area of educational technology.
Three hours in technology applications and issues.
Three hours in learning theory.
Three hours in curriculum related issues.
Nine hours of dissertation research.
Admitted students are anticipated to have a master’s degree; students who do not have a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 35 hours in addition to the 56 required for the PhD.

The curricular requirements for the PhD in curriculum and instruction include:

50 hours in the area of specialization (e.g., language arts/children’s literature, curriculum studies, early childhood education, English education, foreign language education, gifted education, mathematics education, reading /literacy , science education, social studies education, and special education), which includes six hours in a school core.
A minimum of nine hours in research methods.
12-18 hours of dissertation research.
Admitted students are anticipated to have a master’s degree; students who do not have a master’s degree must complete a 90-hour curriculum required for the PhD.