Teaching and Teacher Education
Education, PhD
Specialization in Teaching and Teacher Education
Introduction
The purpose of this specialization is to prepare the next generation of teacher educators for a changing demography. The program has a specific focus that ties the study of teachers, teaching practices, teacher education, education reform, and education policy together into a coherent whole for understanding and generating new knowledge on the educators of educators who will lead the efforts of an equal education for all children.
Program Information
Students who study in this specialization will be prepared to assume leadership, teaching and research roles in:
- Preservice teacher education, in either university or alternate route programs;
- School district offices of continuing teacher professional development; and
- School-based teacher education.
The program focuses on the research on teaching from a generalist perspective as well as providing opportunities to study teaching in a chosen subject matter area, e.g. English, history, special education, etc. In addition, the program focuses on research, development, and evaluation of teacher education for both preservice teachers and the continuing professional development of practicing teachers.
Program Length
The PhD in Education program requires a minimum of 85 credits of study beyond the baccalaureate degree or a minimum of 55 credits beyond the master's degree. Students have five years to complete all course work and the portfolio, and five additional years are allowed to complete the dissertation.
Program Structure
The program requires a minimum of 85 credits of study beyond the baccalaureate degree or a minimum of 55 credits beyond the master's degree. However, an individual's program typically requires 10 more credits depending on the person's goals, program requirements, and previous preparation. Students have five years to complete all course work and the portfolio reviews. Five additional years are allowed to complete the dissertation. Most students complete the entire program in five or six years.
Course Work
General Culture (8 credits)
Completion of the general culture studies provides students with broad concepts to pursue the specifics of their professional specialization. To accomplish these goals, all students enroll in two required core courses. In addition, all students enroll in a 1-credit seminar, during each of the first two semesters for a total of 8 credits. The general culture classes are taken in a cohort. The first semester, all entering students take EDUC 800 and EDUC 805.
- EDUC 800: Ways of Knowing (3 credit hours) (1st semester)
- EDUC 802: Leadership Seminar (3 credit hours) (3rd semester)
- EDUC 805: Research and Scholarship in Education (2 credit hours) (1st semester)
Research Methods (12 credits)
- EDRS 810 Problems and Methods in Education Research [3 credits]
- EDRS 811 Quantitative Methods in Education [3 credits]
- EDRS 812 Qualitative Methods in Education [3 credits]
- Research elective [3 credits]Choose one:
- EDRS 820 Evaluation Methods for Educational Programs and Curricula
- EDRS 821 Advanced Applications of Quantitative Methods
- EDRS 822 Advanced Applications of Qualitative Methods
- EDRS 823 Advanced Research Methods in Single Subject/Case Design
Professional Specialization (21 credits)
These courses differ according to a student's major specialization but always include three hours of internship credit.
- EDUC 850: The Study of Teaching (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 851: Research on Teacher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 853: World Perspectives of Teacher Education (3 credit hours)
- EDIT 747: Technology and Teacher Development (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 874: The Achievement Gap (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 876: Teacher Development and Education Policy (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 994: Advanced Internship in Education (3 credit hours)
- EDUC 895: Seminar in Emerging Issues of Education (3 credit hours)
Teaching and Teacher Education as a Secondary Specialization
Teaching and Teacher Education as a secondary specialization: This program can serve as the secondary specialization for students who choose a specialization in another program area, but who desire to move toward a career educating teachers, either in a university or a school division. In consultation with the student’s program committee, twelve credits selected from those above would satisfy the College’s secondary specialization.
Secondary specialization for students whose Specialization is Teaching and Teacher Education: There is no recommended minor for students in this specialization. The identification of the minor the students will create will be the result of consultation among the student and the members of her/his program committee.
Secondary Concentration Area (12 credits)
Students have a number of options for secondary concentrations including concentrations within the Graduate School of Education, within other George Mason University departments, interdisciplinary concentrations, or using the master's degree as part of the secondary concentration requirements.
Dissertation (12 credits)
- EDUC 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal [3 credits]
- EDUC 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research [9 credits]
Portfolio
Students complete an educational portfolio as part of the requirement of the Ph.D. program. The portfolio is an organized, selective collection of documents designed to facilitate a student's academic and professional development, and to provide a basis for evaluation degree progress. The portfolio represents the scope and depth of a student's goals, plans, and accomplishments in coursework, independent study, research, internships, and other advanced learning activities. The portfolio thus provides both a vehicle for self-reflection and a comprehensive record of a doctoral student's experiences and ongoing progress toward academic and professional goals.