Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at KU

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas emphasizes research and is intended for students who seek a faculty position at a research-intensive university. The focus is on developing expertise in a specific area of study and building research skills to support a line or research over the length of a career in academia. With an expectation of excellence, the knowledge gained in KU's graduate courses will help students become even more effective professionals in the field of education. Full-time faculty who are prominent scholars & expert practitioners.

Concentration Areas

All doctoral students must complete a program that provides a broad understanding of curriculum and instruction as well as a concentration in one of the following areas: culturally responsive pedagogy, foreign language education, gifted and talented education, language arts/English education, literacy education, mathematics education, science education, social studies education, or teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

Career Outcomes in Curriculum & Instruction

Students pursue the Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at KU with varying career goals in mind. Ph.D. students should expect to engage in “co-curricular” activities above and beyond the specific degree requirements appropriate to their career aspirations. These include presenting research at conferences and engaging in internships with policy organizations. The program prepares graduates who are qualified to conduct theoretically grounded, original research on crucial issues in curriculum and instruction. Potential position titles after graduation could include:

• Professor,
• Policy maker,
• Policy analyst,
• Political activist,
• Lobbyist,
• Researcher.

The Ph.D. program does not lead to initial nor advanced educator licensure in the state of Kansas.