Our Ph.D. Program offers five Emphasis Areas, listed below, for students to focus their research on. Alternatively, students with interests across two or more of these emphasis areas may work with their faculty advisors to select an appropriate combination of course work that draws from more than one emphasis. In addition to Core Courses, all students are required to complete at least 32 units of emphasis area course work. Each student and his or her faculty advisor proceed within the framework of one of the emphases listed below to select 32 units of emphasis area course work and complete other degree requirements. Visit our Course Requirements page for a complete listing. 

In addition to the Ph.D., students have the option to apply for a Designated Emphasis Program that offers an option for further studies in a sub-field of interest.  See the Designated Emphasis post at right for provide further information.

Learn more about each of our Emphasis Areas:

Language, Literacy & Culture

Learning & Mind Sciences

Mathematics Education

School Organization & Education Policy

Science and Agricultural Education