Core Courses

The doctoral program consists of five groups of required courses:

1. In the first year: Proseminar 1, 2, 3 (EDUC 325A, B, C) in Autumn, Spring and Winter.
2. Autumn Quarter of the first year: EDUC 400A (formerly EDUC 200C), Introduction to Statistical Methods in Education.
3. By the end of the second year: Research Methods Core:
   1. One research methods course chosen by the student in consultation with their advisor (course must be at least 3 units, be at or above the 200 level, and have a research methods focus)
   2. EDUC 400B (formerly EDUC 250B), Statistical Analysis in Education: Regression
   3. EDUC 450A (formerly EDUC 250C), Qualitative Analysis in Education
4. Advanced Research Methods
5. Area requirements or Area Core courses specific to a student’s Area and emphasis (e.g., Higher Education Administration).

With the exception of EDUC 325A, B and C, a student may use the same course to satisfy more than one of the above areas. For example, 400B counts toward Core requirements, and could possibly count toward an Area-specific requirement as well (see Area Course Requirements section below).

Research Methods Core

Doctoral students are required to complete a Research Methods Core within their first two years of the program.

Students who take 400B are responsible for having mastered the content of EDUC 400A. Students should consult with their advisors at the beginning of their first year about whether they need to take EDUC 400A to be adequately prepared for 400B.

Students are encouraged to complete the Research Methods Core as soon as possible because their Qualifying Paper, due at the end of the second year or sixth quarter, will depend upon methodology skills and expertise acquired in these courses.

Students who are interested in further methods course offerings may wish to explore the GSE Qualitative Course Guide and the GSE Quantitative Course Guide.

Area Requirements or Area Core Courses

Each of the School’s three program Areas (CTE, DAPS, and the subplans within SHIPS), as well as the cross-area specializations (LSTD and RILE) require specific courses, dependent upon a student’s emphasis or concentration. See the applicable Area sections in this Handbook for more details.