Frequently Asked Questions | School of Education

Please see our PhD in Education website.

We strongly encourage prospective students to attend our information sessions, which are usually offered every other month. The Director will address the admissions process and discuss the program in detail. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask individual questions.

3 years of work experience in an educational setting may be required
Official transcripts from graduate and undergraduate institutions
3 letters of recommendation
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores that are no more than 5 years old
Goal statement of 750-1000 words indicating why you wish to pursue the PhD in Education degree, how it will enhance your professional goals, your competencies, and any research interests you may have
Complete application, application fee, and current resume

Funding deadline December 1st, final deadline February 15th for fall admission
All required materials must be in the admissions office by the admission deadline to ensure proper processing. If you are missing parts of the required application materials, your application is incomplete and will not be considered.

Yes! However, we encourage you to attend our information sessions which are offered every other month. The Director conducts these especially for individuals who are interested in the program and she is very thorough. You may ask individual questions after the presentation.

Campus maps and directions to George Mason campuses
Contact Joan Stahle at 703.993.2011 or jstahle@gmu.edu for additional information

Core Ph.D. courses (EDUC 800, EDRS 810, 811, 812 and advanced research courses EDRS 82x or EDRS 83x) are reserved for admitted Ph.D. students. Non-degree students may be able to take a specialization class with permission of the Instructor. Instructions for taking a non-degree class are:

Complete a non-degree application.
View course offerings.
Get information on specializations.
Once you see a class you are interested in, please write to the instructor for permission to take the class. If they give permission, forward their email to Joan Stahle at jstahle@gmu.edu who will help you with the rest of the process.
After 4-5 days, check your transcript in PatriotWeb to make sure the class appears. You don't have to register yourself - the registrar does that for you. If the class does not show up on your transcript, please contact the registrar's office at 703-993-2441.

The Ph.D. in Education admissions committee conducts a holistic review of all components of each candidate's application. The GRE means for those admitted in 2014-15 are 152 (quantitative), 155 (verbal) and 4.1 (analytical writing). The admissions committee will also consider additional compelling evidence (e.g., goal statement, publications, etc.,), that supports the candidate’s qualifications.

The doctoral program of study in the Ph.D. in Education consists of 66 graduate credits beyond a master's degree. In specific cases, more or fewer credits may be required, depending on student's career goals, prior coursework, and assessed strengths and deficiencies.

Doctoral students may transfer up to 12 hours of graduate credit to their program of study, if (a) the coursework was undertaken no more than six years prior to admittance into the Ph.D. program, (b) the coursework was not applied to any previous degree, and (c) the coursework is deemed applicable to the student's doctoral program by the student's committee.

Once the student has enrolled in the Ph.D. in Education Program, prior written permission of the Ph.D. in Education Program Director is required to take courses at another institution. In some limited cases, with approval of the Ph.D. in Education Committee, more than 12 credits may be transferred (Graduate Transfer of Credit form).

Students who have earned a master's degree in a discipline other than the major area of program specialization may request using the master's degree in lieu of nine hours of the CEHD secondary emphasis area requirement.

Credits used in reduction of credits

Are not subject to time limits
Must have been applied to a previously earned post-bacclaureate degree
Must have received a minimum grade of B
Reduction of Credit form

Around 80% of our students are employed full time. Almost all Ph.D. in Education classes are offered in the evenings at 4:30 or 7:20 from Monday through Thursday.

We do not offer online classes. All of our classes are scheduled at the Fairfax campus.

Special Education PhD Leadership Grants The Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities (KIHd) supports doctoral students by providing multiple pathways and delivery formats and affordable access to programs for developing leadership skills in research, teaching, and service. KIHd is currently offering three doctoral leadership grants in special education. Click here for more details on funding opportunities.
Presidential Scholar Award - One award is given to a new student in the fall semester with the highest GPA and GRE scores. The student is selected; there is no application. The awardee receives a stipend plus tuition benefits for 9 credit hours each semester (excluding summers). There is a 20 hour per week assignment. This award is renewable for up to a total of three years and includes university paid health insurance.
Dean's Scholarship - Each year, three to five highly qualified new doctoral students are identified for receiving a Dean's Scholarship. This scholarship is intended for students who will be enrolled full-time as a student in the Ph.D. in Education program. To be considered, you must have a minimum score of 1200 on the “old” GRE (verbal and quantitative) or 310 on the new GRE, and cannot have full-time employment elsewhere. In exchange, the recipients will receive eighteen credits of remitted tuition for the academic year, access to the University's health care plan, and a stipend of $22,000. Each recipient will also work as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRAs) for 20 hours a week during the academic year.
Holmes Scholar Graduate Fellowship supports unrepresented diverse students. Includes: 3-years of tuition remission for full-time course taking (up to 9 credits per semester, Spring and Fall), health insurance, a stipend for a 20-hour graduate research assistantship ($22,000/year), and funding up to $1200/year for travel to the AACTE conference.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) - there are approximately 15-20 available GRA positions every year. Assistantships includes stipend and tuition waiver. There are part time (10 hours/week) and full time (20 hours/week) appointments. Online application deadline is June 15 for the following academic year.
Graduate Research Scholar (GRS) – 10 and 20 hour positions available. Provides a tuition waiver but no stipend. Online application deadline is June 15 for the following academic year.
Fellowship Award - Eligibility requirements:
- Students taking 9 credit hours
- Students with 20 hour graduate assistantships who are taking 6 credits
- Students taking EDUC 998 and 999 as long as they are taking the # of credits required by the program and have no coursework left to take.
The application must be submitted by June 15 for the following academic year.
Dissertation Research Fellowship - Designed to help pay for expenses associated with gathering data and completing the dissertation. Students must have an approved proposal.

The average length of time is four to six years. Full time students can usually complete the program in four years. The average time for part time students is closer to six years.

Students can apply for funds through Graduate Student Travel Funds. Funding must be requested prior to attending a conference.

Contact Joan Stahle, PhD Program Manager, at jstahle@gmu.edu.