Doctor of Education in the Teaching of Social Studies
Prepare to be a leader in social studies education. Our graduates take up applied research careers in schools, universities, and community programs with this doctoral degree. Graduates of this degree often have a more applied research focus than PhD students.
Students in the Doctor of Education program take coursework that offer them a depth of knowing the field of social studies education and prepare them as experts in their area of focus and their research. The program supports the development of students’ scholarly identities. Throughout the program, students consider where and how they situate themselves in the field as a researcher of/in contemporary social studies issues. They also do the things that scholars do – engage in research with faculty, present at conferences, publish papers, mentor students, explore college teaching, and find their intellectual community. Students select courses at Teachers College, Columbia University, and in the Doctoral Consortium in NYC to develop a focus area of study – historical understanding, memory studies, activism and civics, peace studies, global education. Students take introductory and advanced coursework in specific research paradigms so they are prepared for the independent work of the dissertation. This coursework is determined with an advisor and the entire program faculty.
Our location in New York City makes us unique, whether students conduct their research here or elsewhere. The city is a wonderful educational laboratory for an array of student interests. Here, so many different kinds of educational institutions exist within the NYCDOE and in the multitude of non-profit entities that educate. We are also a significant place in the global flow of intellectual, cultural, and civic discourse and possibility.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2025 cycle.
Doctor of Education
- Points/Credits: 75
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | December 1, 2024 | December 1, 2024 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Academic Writing Sample |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
The Doctor of Education degree in Social Studies requires 75 points of graduate study and a dissertation. The Ed.D. program in Social Studies leads to a professional degree designed to meet the needs of individuals preparing for careers of leadership and applied research in schools, universities, and community educational programs.
Courses in the major field (15 points minimum):
Required courses:
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A&HW 5011 Contemporary Literature in Social Studies Research and Education I
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A&HW 5021 Contemporary Literature in Social Studies Research and Education II
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A&HW 6011 The Citizen and Society
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A&HW 6521 History Of Inequality and Social Justice.
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A course from Philosophy and Education
Research courses, seminars, and individual work (23 points minimum):
Required courses:
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A&HW 5503 Research paper in social studies (done in conjunction with the fourth round of doctoral seminar)
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A&HW 6503 Doctoral seminar in social studies (taken four times consecutively during the first two years of the program)
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A&HW 7503 Dissertation seminar in social studies (taken at the time of presentation of the doctoral proposal)
Other offerings:
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A&HW 6030 Research in social studies education
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A&HW 6203 Advanced fieldwork in social studies
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A&HW 6903 Research and independent study in social studies
Students are encouraged to take courses in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies selected in consultation with an advisor.
Broad and basic areas of professional scholarship (15 points minimum):
In consultation with an advisor, students will select at least one course in each of the following areas: the nature of education; the nature of persons and the learning process; curriculum, schooling, and leadership; and methods of evaluation. Other coursework in this area should be tailored to the individual student’s needs; consult an advisor.
Content courses in the major field (21 points minimum):
Soon after beginning this program, students should select an area of emphasis. These courses should be selected for their applicability to the student’s area of dissertation research. Coursework in the area of emphasis normally includes attention to the subject matters themselves as well as to questions related to educational programs in those subject matters.
Further requirements:
In addition to the dissertation, there are other requirements. Students should consult an advisor in the Program and read the Doctoral Students Handbook for Social Studies.