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School of Education - George Mason University

The PhD in Education Program is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Students may opt to specialize in Mathematics Education Leadership (MEL) or incorporate coursework within a self-defined interdisciplinary program of study.

Have questions? Attend an information session or contact the specialization representative, Jennifer Suh.

About the Specialization

The MEL specialization prepares individuals for leadership, research, and university teaching positions in mathematics education. This specialization focuses on research, curriculum, technology, and professional development for mathematics teaching, learning, and leadership. Many students receive secondary specializations in instructional technology, teacher education, or education policy with opportunities to collaborate with faculty and fellow doctoral students in ongoing research, grants development, and professional networking activities.

What Will You Learn?

The specialization features coursework and applied internships that enable you to learn:

  • Theory and research in mathematics education
  • Foundational knowledge about mathematics education
  • Research methodologies to address a variety of mathematics education topics
  • Specialized knowledge in mathematics education related to your area of interest

Our Graduates

Monique Williams, PhD 2021

  • Dissertation Title: Quantifying Relevance: The Development and Validation of an Initial Scale to Measure Secondary Students’ Perceptions of the Relevance of Mathematics Content
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Toya Frank

Sarah DeLeeuw, PhD 2020

  • Dissertation Title: Using a Systems Perspective of Value Creation to Analyze, Critique, and Extend Frameworks for Teacher Professional Development
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Margaret Hjalmarson & Dr. Jennifer Suh

Daria Gerasimova, PhD 2020

  • Dissertation Title: Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Multidimensional, Instruction-Specific Student Engagement in Undergraduate Mathematics
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Angela Miller & Dr. Margaret Hjalmarson

Katherine Bolluyt-Meints, PhD 2019

  • Dissertation Title: Emergence and Sustainability of Teachers' Productive Disposition through Professional Development Experiences Viewed through an Andragogical Lens
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh

Terrie Galanti, PhD 2019

  • Dissertation Title: Hyper-acceleration of Algebra I: Narrating Opportunity to Learn from a Situative Perspective
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Toya Frank

Kimberly Leong, PhD 2019

  • Dissertation Title: Elementary Mathematics Specialist Coaches' Construction of a Hypothetical Learning Trajectory for Rational Number Equipartitioning
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh & Dr. Margret Hjalmarson

Kimberly Morrow-Leong, PhD 2019

  • Dissertation Title: Elementary Mathematics Specialist Coaches' Construction of a Hypothetical Learning Trajectory for Rational Number Equipartitioning
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh & Dr. Margret Hjalmarson

Kathleen Matson, PhD 2018

  • Dissertation Title: Teachers' Perspectives on How They Learn Mathematical Modeling
  • Dissertation Chair: Dr. Jennifer Suh

Details

Each student in the PhD in Education Program is mentored by faculty in the development of their own personalized program of study that fosters their ability to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of significant theories, developments, and practices in one's chosen area of study
  • Understand, utilize, and interpret basic principles, ethical practice, and methodologies of educational research design and data analysis
  • Effectively communicate both orally and in writing to a variety of professional audiences

Supported professional experiences and internships beyond required coursework support mastery of these competencies, including:

  • Attending and/or presenting your scholarly work at professional conferences to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners
  • University teaching and/or co-teaching experiences in professional areas of expertise
  • Supervising pre-service teachers
  • Writing, editing, and reviewing for scholarly journals
  • Research apprenticeships and assistantships
  • Supported independent research in an area of professional interest
  • Internships unique to the individual’s area of study
  • Building a professional portfolio

The PhD in Education is awarded after the successful completion of:

  • Coursework
  • A comprehensive portfolio assessment
  • A written dissertation
  • An oral dissertation defense

Why This Program?

Are you ready to expand your impact in the field of education?

A PhD in Education from GMU can help you reach that goal! Our accomplished faculty can help you leverage your existing expertise in the field of education and deepen your toolkit of professional knowledge and skills that will take your career to the next level of influence. 
 
Our graduates have attained consequential professional positions such as:

  • Academic faculty at post-secondary institutions
  • Leadership and research positions in federal and state government, post-secondary institutions, research organizations, and non-government agencies
  • Analysts and consultants with private companies, political advocacy groups, education or research think tanks, and professional associations
  • School, district, and statewide leadership positions in major preK-12 school districts, technical assistance centers, and other informal educational agencies
  • Curriculum and instructional materials developers

Our flexible student-centered program structure allows each student to design a personalized, interdisciplinary program of study that helps them to become outstanding educational researchers, practitioners, and leaders in their respective fields. Our faculty have strengths in:

Theoretical & Applied Research

  • Choose from a wide range of advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods coursework options
  • Have the opportunity to gain research experience on projects funded by federal agencies, including the Institute for Education Sciences and the National Science Foundation 

Advanced Teacher Preparation

  • Choose from a wide range of teaching and teacher preparation coursework and internship options, including opportunities to co-teach university courses with faculty and supervise teacher internships
  • Receive advanced training in online teaching and learning

Education Leadership & Policy

  • Choose from a wide range of coursework and internship opportunities in leadership and policy fields, both national and international
  • Have unique opportunities for experiential learning due to proximity to Washington DC and several of the largest school systems in the country

Movement & Sport Sciences

  • Choose an intensive Kinesiology program with opportunities for experiential learning in state-of-the-art movement labs.
  • Or, create a custom program of study in fields related to movement and sport sciences, including teaching in physical education and sport management

How Can I Learn More?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions and Answer Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Attend an Information Session

The PhD in Education Program periodically conducts information sessions to acquaint applicants with our program and the admissions process. Information sessions include an overview of the PhD in Education Program followed by breakout sessions with faculty who can answer questions about professional specialization areas. Scheduled sessions are listed at the top of this page.