Doctoral Requirements

Units

Doctoral candidates satisfactorily complete a minimum of 135 units of graduate course work and research while in residence at Stanford.

The Minor

Doctoral candidates minor in a discipline relevant to the field of education such as anthropology, economics, philosophy, psychology, or sociology. A prior Master's degree in a relevant field can often be used to satisfy this requirement. Such approval is granted if the student's Area Committee, after consulting with faculty in the relevant department, is convinced that the Master's degree meets the objective of providing the student with scholarly and methodological skills equivalent to those required of a PhD in that field. Typically, professional Master's degrees, such as those in business and nursing, do not satisfy this requirement.

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no universal foreign language requirement in the Stanford School of Education, although any advisor or program area committee may impose such a requirement when it is appropriate.

The Core

The School of Education requires all first-year doctoral students to enroll in a set of foundation courses in the first two years of their program. In the first year, all students enroll in EDUC 250A: Inquiry and Measurement in Education (Autumn Quarter) followed by EDUC 311X: First-Year Doctoral Seminar-Introduction to Research in the Winter and Spring Quarters.

Every doctoral student is expected to complete the methodology core by the end of the second year of studies. EDUC 250A is the first of a series of courses in this core which is taken in the first year, followed by EDUC 250B: Statistical Analysis in Educational Research, and EDUC 250C: Qualitative Analysis in Education.

In addition, doctoral students develop competence in each of the following four dimensions of education during the course of their studies:

• Curriculum, instruction, administration, and special services.
• Behavioral and social sciences. Courses in organizational theory, psychological foundations of learning, and social processes familiarize students with basic concepts in the behavioral and social sciences applicable to understanding and resolving educational problems.
• Normative studies. Students should understand the ideological, historical, and philosophical contexts from which educational values and aims arise in order to develop effective educational policies for the future.
• Inquiry skills. Historiography, ethnography, statistical analysis, and computer programming are a few of the tools students will use to complete their dissertation research. The methodology core courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Specific course requirements for each of these four dimensions differ within each program area. Often the requirements may be satisfied by courses taken in other academic departments at Stanford.

Progression Toward the Degree

Advising

At the time of admission, each student is assigned an academic advisor from among the members of the program area committee under which the student will work, and on the basis of shared professional interests.

The student and advisor plan a program of study and experience that is appropriate to the student's background and career interests. The faculty and Doctoral Programs Officer can assist students with their general program requirements. Advanced students are also a valuable resource.

Timetable

The following is a general timetable for the student's progress toward the PhD. Students are encouraged to complete their studies in four years.

First and Second-Year Reviews

During their third and sixth quarters at Stanford, students undergo two qualifying procedures under the aegis of their program area committee: the first- and second-year reviews. The purpose is to assess the student's preparation for dissertation research, to identify remaining training needs, and to determine the student's qualification for candidacy.

Candidacy

Admission to candidacy is an acknowledgement of a student's potential to complete the requirements for the doctoral degree. Following the second-year reviews, if the faculty determine that the student is qualified to apply for candidacy, the student must file formal application for admission to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal

All PhD candidates are required to develop a dissertation proposal, detailing the intended research and the rationale behind it. The development of the proposal is guided by the faculty advisor and at least one (but usually two) other faculty members. Once it is endorsed by them, the proposal is considered for approval by the program area committee. After approval is granted, work on the dissertation can proceed with three faculty members, selected collaboratively by the student and the faculty advisor, who serve on the dissertation reading committee.

Dissertation

During the final stage of the program the student is occupied with independent research and the writing of the dissertation. All candidates for the doctoral degree must pass an oral dissertation defense conducted by at least five members of the University faculty.

Please consult the Doctoral Degree Handbook for complete information on the requirements for all of the doctoral programs.