Anthropology and Education EdD

Doctor of Education in Anthropology and Education


The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are for students who plan to engage in scholarly writing and research, applied research and evaluation, or teaching and administrative responsibilities at colleges, universities, professional schools of education and medicine, research institutes, or state, federal, and international agencies and bureaus.

A minimum of 75 points of acceptable graduate credit is required for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), a minimum of 45 points must be completed through Teachers College registration. Forty-two points of major courses are required. These courses prepare students with the requisite knowledge of epistemological, theoretical, methodological, ethnographic, and substantive areas of anthropology. They aim to develop competency in the discipline, while addressing the specific intellectual interests of the student. Fifteen points in research methods and statistical courses are also required.

An objective understanding of education and educational institutions, of persons and the learning process, and the various forms of measurement and evaluation in cognate areas prepares program graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary for researching and working in a variety of formal and non-formal educational settings through 18 points of broad and basic areas.

This leaves 15 points of electives to increase competence in comparative, regional or international studies, or to enhance technical skills used in conjunction with but outside the major course of study. At least three of these courses (8–9 points) must be taken in fields foundational to anthropology (economics, history, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, sociology).

Certification Requirements

Certification is the means of indicating that the student is regarded as having attained the expected competencies of the program. An overall grade average of B+ is expected. In addition, students must complete a set of written examinations on topics relevant to Anthropology and Education and to Applied Anthropology.

Dissertation Requirements

After passing the written certification examination, the candidate prepares a dissertation proposal to be defended in oral examination. One or two years of anthropological field research is required for the collection of original field data based on the dissertation research proposal.

For more detailed information about requirements, please see the Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree Requirements section of the Anthropology Student Handbook.

Please review the full Anthropology Program Handbook for further program details.

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A graduate student smiles while she makes a point in a discussion with her peers at TC.

Admission Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Doctor of Education

  • Points/Credits: 75
  • Entry Terms: Summer, Fall
  • Enrollment Formats: Full-Time, Part-Time

Application Deadlines

Entry Term AvailablePriority DeadlinesFinal DeadlinesExtended Deadlines
SpringN/AN/AN/A
SummerDecember 1, 2024December 1, 2024N/A
FallDecember 1, 2024December 1, 2024N/A

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

 Requirement
 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)
 $75 Application Fee
 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
 GRE General Test is optional

For admission-related inquiries, please contact ITSadmission@tc.columbia.edu.

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2023-2024)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.

View Full Catalog Listing

The Doctor of Education degree is for students who plan to engage in scholarly writing and research, applied research and evaluation, or teaching and administrative responsibilities at colleges, universities, professional schools of education and medicine, research institutes, or state, federal, and international agencies and bureaus.

A minimum of 90 points of acceptable graduate credit is required for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). A minimum of 45 points must be completed through Teachers College registration. Forty-two points of major courses are required. These courses prepare students with the requisite knowledge of epistemological, theoretical, methodological, ethnographic, and substantive areas of anthropology. They aim to develop competency in the discipline, while addressing the specific intellectual interests of the student. Fifteen points in research methods and statistical courses are also required.

An objective understanding of education and educational institutions, of persons and the learning process, and the various forms of measurement and evaluation in cognate areas prepares program graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary for researching and working in a variety of formal and non-formal educational settings through 18 points of broad and basic areas.

This leaves 15 points of electives to increase competence in comparative, regional or international studies, or to enhance technical skills used in conjunction with but outside the major course of study. At least three of these courses (8–9 points) must be taken in fields foundational to anthropology (economics, history, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, sociology).

Certification Requirements

Certification is the means of indicating that the student is regarded as having attained the expected competencies of the program. An overall grade average of B+ is expected. In addition, students must complete a set of written examinations on topics relevant to Anthropology and Education and to Applied Anthropology.

Dissertation Requirements

After passing the written certification examination, the candidate prepares a dissertation proposal to be defended in oral examination. One or two years of anthropological field research is required for the collection of original field data based on the dissertation research proposal.

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