Admissions
All of our doctoral programs are designed to develop outstanding educational researchers who have a deep understanding of the scientific, practical and policy issues they study.
Program Eligibility
Applicants must have conferred a master’s degree prior to beginning course work in the PhD program. Three years of work experience in a professional setting may be required.
Admission Requirements
Application Form and Fee
Submitted application form and $75 application fee. Application fees are non-refundable.
Resume
Resume should be updated and free of grammatical errors.
Goals Statement
The goals statement is 750-1000 words and should describe your academic and career goals related to the intended program. We recommend applicants are specific in describing their past experiences related to the intended program as well as personal and professional aspirations. Applicants should address their intended specialization area within the PhD program.
Transcript
Students can upload their unofficial transcripts for application review. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions for specific requirements.
GRE
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Scores must be from an examination taken within the last five years. Official test scores must be received by Mason by the application deadline.
Three Letters of Recommendation
Applicants should follow the instructions included within the online application to submit the recommendation form directly to their recommender. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
Students with International Education Credentials
Additional requirements might be required. Please see the International Graduate Requirements for additional information.
See FAQs for more information.
Program Admission Deadlines
| Fall Admission | Spring Admission |
| January 15th | October 1st |
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.