Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Education
Admissions Information
Doctor of Philosophy
- Points/Credits: 75
- Entry Terms: Fall Only
Application Deadlines
- Spring: N/A
- Summer/Fall (Priority): December 1
- Summer/Fall (Final): December 1
Supplemental Application Requirements/Comments
- 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)
- $65 Application Fee
- Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
- GRE General Test (Optional for students applying for 2023)
- Academic Writing Sample (Optional)
- The Ph.D. program in Economics and Education is engaged in a cooperative funding agreement with the Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education. The Postsecondary Education Applied Research (PEAR) Fellowship supports students with research interests in postsecondary education. The application for PEAR is embedded in the Teachers College application for admission and you will receive notification of the decisions on both your admission to the program as well as the PEAR Fellowship simultaneously. Please visit https://www.tc.columbia.edu/pear-fellowship/ for eligibility requirements of the PEAR Fellowship. Note: The Department of Education requires that all Fellowship awardees be United States citizens or Permanent Residents.
Additional Degree Information
Requirements from the TC Catalog
This 75-point program is intended for individuals who want to acquire advanced training in the theory, methods, and practices in the economics of education. It is a highly selective program to prepare individuals for leadership roles in teaching, research, or administrative settings.
The coursework for this program consists of three parts: core courses, courses in research methods, and courses in a specialized area of study, such as higher education, early childhood education, field experimentation, or a regional focus. Students work on their dissertation under the guidance of faculty advisors within the program; additional members of the dissertation committee may be drawn from other TC departments, and at least one committee member must be from Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. All degrees are conferred by Columbia University. https://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy-and- social-analysis/economics-and-education/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy- in-economics-and-education-econ/
Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective. All applications to enter the program are evaluated on an individual and holistic basis. However, the curriculum of the program assumes that students have some previous coursework in economics and statistics, possess intellectual maturity, and demonstrate an interest in education policy and practice. Compelling applications for admission demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for success and also clearly explain how the Economics and Education curriculum fits with the applicant’s past experiences and future goals.