Degrees Offered » Ph.D.

The Ph.D program is designed to prepare scholars of philosophy and education who are strongly interested in an academic career of teaching, research, and writing. Most such positions are housed in a department or college of education. Up to 30 of the required points can be met through prior graduate study.

In broad terms the Ed.D. and Ph.D. share these goals:

• that students master the humanistic skills of close reading and interpretation of texts, the philosophical skills of analysis and criticism of arguments, and the pedagogical skills of careful listening and of rendering one's ideas clear and accessible.
• that students become conversant with the history of philosophy, and familiar with the literatures in philosophy of education, the social foundations of education, and other areas of educational research
• that students learn how to discern and to articulate the philosophical dimensions of educational problems and the educational significance of humanistic texts

Summary of Requirements for the Ph.D.

1. Complete 75 points of course work.
2. Demonstrate reading competency in one foreign language (usually French, German, Greek, or Latin).
3. Complete the doctoral certification process.
4. Propose, write, and defend a doctoral dissertation under the guidance of a committee of composed of five members of the faculty, including one Columbia University professor outside of Teachers College

Note: A minor field is required for the Ed.D. degree, but all doctoral students can pursue a minor field should they wish. Teachers College, Columbia University has a formal structure through which students can earn a "Concentration in Educational Policy." The concentration requires 12 points of course credit centered around issues in education and public policy, and satisfactory completion of a field-based internship. Students with previous graduate credit and experience in the realm of policy formulation and/or implementation can seek exemption from these requirements