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The Curriculum & Instruction area of emphasis is guided by the general framework found in the Doctoral Program in Education Application Handbook. The manual provides general information about doctoral concentrations offered in the College of Education. This page will provide you with specific information that is unique to the C&I Program.

• Undergraduate and Graduate GPA 3.00 (university requirements)
• Preference for applicants who hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in an area appropriately related to education. High achieving applicants who possess only a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution will be considered. Emphasis of prior degree area(s) should be appropriately related to education.
• Program application form (included in COEHD doctoral application manual)
• Complete vita/resume
• Sample of scholarly writing
• Essay of intent - should include qualifications for completing a doctoral degree and reasons for pursuing the degree
• International Studies: TOEFL score of 550 (unless you have a college degree from a U.S. institution)
• Three letters of recommendation from professionals qualified to judge potential for success in doctoral work
• Preferred: at least three years teaching or commensurate experience

All questions regarding application and admission may be directed to Dr. Jennifer Mahon, at jmahon@unr.edu.

Admissions Deadlines: July 1 for Fall and Oct. 1 for Spring

 All materials are submitted through the University's application portal. Once you create your account, go back to MyÁùºÏ±¦µä to log in and start your application. 

If you miss the application deadline, but would like to enroll in courses prior to an admission decision, you may still apply to take courses through the Graduate School under Graduate Special student status. However, please note, this does not guarantee you acceptance to the program, and the courses may not count towards the Ph.D. unless you have consulted with a C&I faculty member.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program requires a minimum of 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, which includes a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation. Of the remaining 72 credits, a maximum of 24 credits (with grades of B or better) may be applied from a master's degree program or previous post-baccalaureate graduate studies program toward the doctoral degree. These credits must be approved by your chair, the College of Education Doctoral Director of Graduate Study, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Credit for completion of a thesis or special project may not be included. There is no limit on the number of units transferred when student earns master’s en route to Ph.D.

At least 30 credits of 700-level courses beyond the bachelor's degree, exclusive of dissertation credits, are required for the Ph.D. degree. Degree requirements must be completed within 8 years of admission to the program.

24 credits: Research and required core

• Doctoral Seminar in Education

Required Research Courses:

• One Quantitative research course
• One Qualitative research course
• Additional research courses (may be chosen from courses above, others from below with approval of advisor):
  • Program Development and Evaluation
  • Survey Research in Education
  • Research Applications in Education
  • Mixed Methods Research in Education
  • Special topics research course such as Single Subject Design
  • Others from outside COE (with approval)
• Lower level courses such as EDRS 640 and EDRS 700 or equivalents are prerequisites
• Course names and requirements are subject to change. Please visit the for the most current information.

36 credits(dependent upon number of dissertation credits carried): Area of emphasis

Coursework is determined by the Advisory/Examining Committee in close consultation with the student. Credits brought in from Master’s degree may apply to area of emphasis.

Minimum of 12 credits: Dissertation

The dissertation is the culminating experience for the doctoral degree. It represents an independent research project that makes a contribution to the field of study.

Coursework earned as part of a master’s degree can count toward the area of emphasis, as well as toward the research or cognate areas, depending on relevance. Decisions about prior coursework are approved by your chair and your Advisory/Examining Committee.

Our program goal is for all students to complete the doctoral degree within 5-6 years. Research has shown that students who work on this trajectory have the highest chance of ultimately completing their doctoral studies. The best way to meet this objective is full-time studies; however, we have students in our program who are part-time students. You will be advised to work closely with your initial advisor and ultimately your chair to develop a timeline and program of study that meets your career goal and is most likely to result in completion.