SSE Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
The Social Studies Education Graduate Program at The University of Texas at Austin offers a program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in social studies education. This program provides coursework leading to an advanced degree for individuals who are interested in social studies teaching, service, research, and/or leadership. Individuals who seek a degree in social studies education have the opportunity to develop a rich theoretical background and acquire research skills related to the teaching and learning of the social studies.
Total minimum hours: 60 hours (including Dissertation)
General Requirements (Minimum 21 hours)
Foundation Requirements (9 hours required)
- EDC 380F Sociocultural Foundations
- EDC 381F Introduction to Teaching and Teacher Education
- EDC 383F Curriculum Theory
Research Methodology Requirements (12 hours minimum)
To be taken in sequence:
Step 1 (3 hours)
- EDC 381R Introduction to Systems of Human Inquiry
Prerequisite to Step 2(EDC 385R):
- EDC 382R Fundamentals of Statistics
Other course choices for this requirement include: EDP 371, EDP 380E or an advisor approved statistics course brought in from other institution
Step 2 (6 hours in any order)
- EDC 385R Introduction to Quantitative Research
- EDC 386R Introduction to Qualitative Research
Step 3 (3 hours, one course topic from either category or an advisor approved advanced research course)
- EDC 387R Advanced Quantitative Research
OR - EDC 388R Advanced Qualitative Research
Directed Research (Minimum 12 hours)
EDC 396T Directed Research in Curriculum & Instruction (6 hours minimum)
Two additional courses that include a substantial research component approved by advisor.
Please Note: EDC 396T can be taken more than once for credit.
Specialization Requirements (Minimum 15 hours)
Students with an emphasis on Social Studies Education will take additional related courses (15 hours), selected with the assistance and approval of the area program adviser. To help meet their personal career goals, students are encouraged to select courses from other clusters in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Among the courses that might be selected to fulfill this requirement are the following:
- EDC 382E Teaching Elementary School Subjects: Social Studies
- EDC 382S Teaching Secondary School Subjects: Social Studies
- EDC 385G Current Issues Teaching the Social Studies
- EDC 385G History of the Social Studies
- EDC 390T Archeology Education for Social Studies
- EDC 390T Humanities and literacies in Social Studies Education
- EDC 390T Improving Social Studies Education
- EDC 390T Institutes in Instruction: Critical Issues in Social Education
Other courses may satisfy the specialization requirement with the permission of the program advisor.
Courses Outside the Department (Minimum 6 hours)
Coursework from sections General Requirements, Directed Research, and Special Requirements may fulfill this requirement (thus hours in this section may already be counted as credit towards total hours).
Dissertation (Minimum 6 hours and two consecutive semesters of dissertation)
Students are required to continuously register for dissertation once they have advanced to candidacy. Curriculum and Instruction students are required to register for 6 hours of dissertation credit* during each fall and spring semester during which they are working on their dissertation research.
*EDC 699R and 699W
The first semester in candidacy is 699R; for all semesters after the first one in candidacy you must register for 699W.
Please Note:
- International students and students receiving fellowship, assistantship, or other financial aid, may be required to take 9 hours of dissertation credit each semester.
- For information about the entire C&I doctoral program process, download the Doctoral Checklist (pdf).
Degree Plan
Download the SSE doctoral degree plan (pdf)