Frequently Asked Questions
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
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 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.
Course modalities vary by CEHD program. Please see individual program pages for offerings.
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.