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Doctoral programs.
The goal of the GSE PhD in Education is to prepare the next generation of leading education researchers. The cornerstone of the doctoral experience at the Stanford Graduate School of Education is the research apprenticeship that all students undertake, typically under the guidance of their academic advisor, but often with other Stanford faculty as well.
In this apprenticeship model, doctoral students are provided with a multi-year funding package that consists of opportunities each quarter to serve as teaching and research assistants for faculty members' courses and research projects. By this means, and in combination with the courses they take as part of their program, students are prepared over an approximately five-year period to excel as university teachers and education researchers.
The doctoral degree in Education at the GSE includes doctoral program requirements as well as a specialization, as listed below, overseen by a faculty committee from one of the GSE's three academic areas.
Doctoral programs by academic area
Curriculum studies and teacher education (cte).
- Elementary Education
- History/Social Science Education
- Learning Sciences and Technology Design
- Literacy, Language, and English Education
- Mathematics Education
- Science, Engineering and Technology Education
- Race, Inequality, and Language in Education
- Teacher Education
Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS)
- Developmental and Psychological Sciences
Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies in Education (SHIPS)
- Anthropology of Education
- Economics of Education
- Education Data Science
- Educational Linguistics
- Educational Policy
- Higher Education
- History of Education
- International Comparative Education
- Organizational Studies
- Philosophy of Education
- Sociology of Education
Cross-area specializations
Learning sciences and technology design (lstd).
LSTD allows doctoral students to study learning sciences and technology design within the context of their primary program of study (DAPS, CTE, or SHIPS).
Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE)
RILE trains students to become national leaders in conducting research on how race, inequality, and language intersect to make both ineffective and effective educational opportunities. RILE allows students to specialize within their program of study (DAPS, CTE, or SHIPS).
Other academic opportunities
- Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies
- PhD Minor in Education
- Stanford Doctoral Training Program in Leadership for System-wide Inclusive Education (LSIE)
- Certificate Program in Partnership Research in Education
- Public Scholarship Collaborative
“I came to Stanford to work with faculty who value learning in informal settings and who are working to understand and design for it.”
Doctoral graduates were employed within four months of graduation
of those employed worked in organizations or roles related to education
For more information about GSE admissions and to see upcoming events and appointments:
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PhD in Education
Welcome to the graduate group in education phd program.
Our Ph.D. program critically engages students in contemporary issues that impact education research, policy and practice. Emphasizing collaboration, the program is an interdisciplinary graduate group that draws its faculty from diverse fields of education, humanities, social science, physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and medicine, and engages with key campus centers and programs, such as the M.I.N.D. Institute and the Poverty Center.
Designed to foster scholarly engagement and impact the practice of education, students may select from 5 areas of emphasis:
- Language, Literacy and Culture
- Learning and Mind Sciences
- Science and Agricultural Education
- School Organization and Educational Policy
Graduates of our program gain deep knowledge of educational theory and practice related to strengthening schools and other educational settings. Our close proximity to California’s state capital of Sacramento also affords students a rich set of opportunities and networks for influencing education policy.
To learn more about applying to our program, visit our Admissions & Financial Aid – PhD Program page. You are also welcome to attend one of our virtual Ph.D. Information Sessions listed below. You will need to register for the event to receive the Zoom link to attend.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 3:00-4:00pm (PST) ( Registration Link )
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 5:00-6:00pm (PST) ( Registration Link )
Monday, November 4, 2024 3:00-4:00pm (PST) ( Registration Link )
PhD Student Antoinette Banks Wins $1 Million Black Ambition Prize
Award is for parent-facing app that uses predictive AI to optimize IEP plans
Kaozong Mouavangsou
MA ’16, PhD ’22
The Ph.D. in Education is an interdisciplinary doctoral program that combines advances in the social sciences, sciences, arts, and humanities with deep expertise in educational research, policy, and practice to train students for careers as academics, researchers, policymakers, and leaders who will improve educational outcomes in the United States and around the world. Ph.D. candidates will collaborate with faculty from across Harvard graduate and professional schools and conduct groundbreaking research — forging new fields of inquiry that will transform education practice and policy. Candidates for the Ph.D. in Education choose from among three concentrations: Culture, Institutions, and Society; Education Policy and Program Evaluation; or Human Development, Learning and Teaching.
All Ph.D.s are granted through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
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