Ph.D. Program and Designated Emphasis
Our Ph.D. in Education program supports graduate students in becoming creative, ethical, and rigorous scholars who engage in research focused on the educational needs of youth from linguistic and cultural groups that have historically not been served well in the nation’s public schools. We are committed to improving educational opportunities, experiences, and outcomes.
Our doctoral program provides a research apprenticeship to examine learning and teaching within the multiple contexts of everyday life, from classrooms, schools, and institutions to diverse families and communities. Graduate students receive a grounding in interdisciplinary theory and research methodologies and critically examine practices in K-12 classrooms and other organizations and institutions that shape the social contexts of schooling for low-income, racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse communities.
Ph.D in Education
Program Requirements
Learning outcomes
- Master and synthesize the fundamental methods, underlying theories, seminal work, critical analysis, and empirical research in education.
- Apply educational research methodologies to current educational questions, issues, and problems.
- Conduct independent and original research in education, and manage a research study or project.
- Show competence in teaching at the university level.
- Communicate educational research to both educational researchers and practitioners through writing and/or presentations.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in executing educational research.
Personalized research and learning opportunities
Our doctoral students pursue diverse dissertation studies and research projects that reflect both the range of our faculty’s research agendas and the creativity of our Ph.D. students. Each student works with a faculty academic advisor to develop an individualized, integrated program of study that includes the advanced coursework in our core program seminars and research apprenticeships, as well as advanced coursework in other departments.
Our program embraces an apprenticeship model, where students develop expertise through active participation in impactful research. Opportunities like teaching assistantships and independent study also help students deepen their understanding in a focal area of research.
Meet our students and alumni
Graduates of our program are qualified to teach and conduct research in tenure-track positions in university and college settings, from research-intensive and regional universities to liberal arts colleges. Graduates are also qualified for scholarly work in non-university-based institutions focused on teacher professional development, curriculum development, and related educational research and development, including governmental agencies or policy and advocacy organizations.
Alumni of our program are making impactful contributions in many places in California, across the United States, and internationally, holding faculty appointments at the University of San Francisco, several of the California State Universities, the University of Hawaii Manoa, the University of Maine, Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and Colgate University in New York. Many also direct educational programs at museums, work as research fellows at national think tanks, and provide leadership in school districts and professional organizations.
Melissa Marini Švigelj: Award-winning research on educational civil rights for incarcerated children
During her time at UC Santa Cruz, doctoral alumna Melissa Marini Švigelj won the people’s choice award in the Grad Slam research communication contest for her work exposing the failings of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act within prison systems. She is now an assistant professor in the Justice Studies Department at James Madison University.
Saúl I. Maldonado: binational advocate for linguistic diversity
Saúl I. Maldonado, now an associate professor at San Diego State University, earned their Ph.D. through UC Santa Cruz’s Education Department and went on to become a leader in multilingual education. Before enrolling at UCSC, Maldonado was a high school English and English language development teacher in Northwest Pasadena and college access program director for Los Angeles Unified schools. During their time at UCSC, they were awarded a prestigious internship with the American Evaluation Association.
Salvador Huitzilopochtli: Studying participatory learning approaches for equitable mathematics education
UCSC doctoral alumnus Salvador Huitzilopochtli is now a fellow at Michigan State University focused on participatory and community-engaged STEM education research with Indigenous communities. He received a 2024 National Academy of Education grant to improve middle-school mathematics instruction by collaborating with teachers to align classroom participation practices with the cultural practices of (heritage) Indigenous students.
Designated emphasis
The Designated Emphasis in Education enables doctoral students in other departments to pursue interests in education and obtain formal certification of competence in the field. Scholars from a wide variety of disciplines—including sociology, psychology, politics, economics, mathematics, and science—often have interests in education, and the designated emphasis provides grounding in theory and research for important issues related to education.
Students within the Education Ph.D. program are also welcome to add a designated emphasis in a different field and should consult our Ph.D. advisor for more information.
Education faculty
Our internationally prominent research faculty draw on perspectives and methods from the humanistic social sciences—such as anthropology, psychology, and sociology—as well as philosophy, linguistics, the learning sciences, and cultural-historical activity theory.
Each member of our faculty has an ongoing research program, and many have working relationships and research projects both with faculty members in other departments and with community and school partners. Graduate students in our program may also establish study and research connections with faculty members from other departments, who can serve on the student’s qualifying exam and dissertation committees.
Application requirements
Our doctoral students bring a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and come from throughout California, across the U.S., and around the world. What they all share is a driving quest to produce research that matters to the lived realities of those who are historically underserved or harmed by public schooling and other institutions and structures. In your application, please let us know who you are and what brings you to want to pursue an Education Ph.D.
We seek applicants with experience working in the field of education, understood broadly to include formal or informal learning environments, youth programs, social change agencies, community-based organizations, and more. Candidates should also have strong academic preparation. We especially encourage applicants who are multilingual, bring a critical understanding of diversity within their own life experiences and background, and have completed a master’s degree.
The department does not offer application fee waivers. See the Graduate Admissions information for more about fee waivers or exemptions from the university. International applicants are not eligible for application fee waivers or exemptions.
Resources for prospective students
Information session
Prospective students can attend a virtual information session via Zoom each fall for information about applying for admission the following year. Please fill out the RSVP form to express interest.
Campus visit day
Email invitations will be sent in late January for this invitation-only visit. A virtual visit for possible admits will be on a Friday in early February. Applications will be reviewed in December and January, and some applicants will be invited for a visit. Some of those invited to the visit will receive admission offers. An important part of the visit includes interviews with department faculty, including possible advisors. Invitees will also hear about the program and campus and meet with some current students.
Admissions decisions
Graduate Admissions makes the official notification for all admissions decisions. All applicants will be notified via email in the applicant’s portal whether or not they have been admitted. Departments do not make official offers, and the information they can give via phone, e-mail, fax, or in person is limited.