Academic Programs - Middle School Education
PH.D. DEGREE
The Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education currently has four Ph.D. programs that overlap with one another in significant ways. All Ph.D. students are required to take three core doctoral level courses in the Department and all Ph.D. students have the opportunity to work with all professors from across programs. If you are not sure about which program would best meet your needs and goals – or if you are interested in more than one program – please contact Jennifer Hauver James, Graduate Coordinator to discuss your specific interests and the strengths of each program.
This guide supplements regulations of the Graduate School contained in the current bulletin of The University of Georgia Graduate School. Every effort is made to help students stay informed of requirements and deadlines. However, it is the student’s responsibility to meet deadlines and to seek advice regarding degree requirements.
Jennifer Hauver James, Graduate Coordinator
The Ph.D. Program
The doctoral degree program in middle school education is designed for teachers who have a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience with young adolescents and a previous postbaccalaureate degree. Teachers typically choose either the specialist or the doctoral program for their terminal degree work, though teachers with a specialist degree sometimes go on to complete a doctorate. The specialist program is most often selected by individuals who focus their careers primarily on teaching and curriculum leadership at the pre-collegiate level; the doctoral program, by those who aspire to teach and conduct research at the college or university level. Classroom teachers may, however, select the
doctoral program with the intention of staying in or returning to the classroom after completing the degree. The greater the interest in becoming a researcher, the more likely that the choice should be the doctoral program.
In the doctoral program, students are expected to develop research and teaching skills, engage in intensive study of educational issues, and conduct and disseminate original educational research. Unlike master’s or specialist programs, which can typically be completed in a year of full-time or 2 years of part-time study, the doctoral program requires more than 3 years of intensive study and research. The program of study is not simply a list of courses to be completed but a comprehensive set of experiences that the student designs with the support of the major professor and advisory committee, and the dissertation is expected to be a unique contribution to the scholarly literature. A number of doctoral students also work as graduate assistants, which gives them opportunities to develop their skills as teachers of undergraduates and to sharpen their research skills. In addition to becoming college or university faculty, graduates of the program sometimes take leadership positions in school districts, government agencies, or other educational organizations.
Application Process and Criteria
Minimum Criteria
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants should have (a) a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; (b) a master’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.50; (c) a total verbal plus quantitative GRE score of 1000, with a minimum score of 450 on each of the verbal and quantitative subtests (if taken before August 2011), or GRE score of at least 150 verbal and 141 quantitative (if taken after August 2011); and (d) 3 years of teaching experience in the adolescent years.
Applying to the Program
Applications for the Ph.D. program should be submitted online to the Graduate School at
http://www.applyweb.com/apply/ugagrad/. It is advisable to read information about applying to the UGA Graduate School at:
http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/.
All applicants will need to submit the following directly to the graduate school:
- Two official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended;
- Results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within 5 years of the expected semester of matriculation at UGA;
- Names of three references who will write letters of recommendation.
All applicants will need to submit the following directly to Linda Dunbar:
- A personal statement telling the doctoral admissions committee why doctoral education is being pursued, the questions and/or commitments pushing the applicant to further her or his education, why the Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education is the right place to pursue such questions, and the personal and professional goals for obtaining a Ph.D. degree in middle school education;
- A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s ability for scholarly writing and engagement with intellectual ideas;
- A resume or curriculum vitae
International applicants are also required to submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); the scores from TOEFL or IELTS may not be more than 2 years old.
Application Due Dates
February 1st – to begin in Summer or Fall Semester (January 15th to be considered for competitive scholarships)
October 1st – to begin in Spring Semester
**International students should apply 10 months before they expect attend.
