Degrees Offered

• Master of Science in Education
• Educational Specialist
• Doctor of Philosophy

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)

This degree program is designed for teachers seeking advanced academic qualifications, for those attempting to meet the requirements for the provisional certificate in school services personnel and in administration and supervision, and for those wishing to undertake a degree program at the beginning graduate level. In addition, an MS in Education program also maybe used by entering graduate students whose ultimate goal is the PhD degree.

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Educational Studies offer both thesis and non-thesis options for the MS in Education degree. Both programs require a minimum of 15 graduate-level credit hours in education at Purdue. The nonthesis options stipulates a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses, with most programs specifying 33 or more hours. The thesis options normally requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate courses plus six credit hours of graduate thesis work. Students desiring to pursue the PhD degree are strongly encouraged to select a thesis-option master's program.

The program of study that will be followed for the degree depends upon the field of study selected by the student. Each student should plan his or her programs with the help of a temporary advisor, major professor, or chair of the departmental graduate committee before beginning his or her studies. All teachers seeking professional certification should check with their advisor and the Office of Professional Preparation and Licensure. Graduate students also should consult the departmental graduate advising handbook for additional requirements that may apply.

Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)

This degree is awarded only at the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. The program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate preparation in addition to the 30 credit hours earned in a typical master's degree, with one primary area and two or more related areas. One related area must be outside of the primary area. Candidates must satisfactorily complete an approved research project. At least 15 credit hours for this degree must be earned on the West Lafayette campus. Admission to the program requires prior completion of a master's degree. The degree is a terminal degree and is not intended as an intermediate step between the master's and doctoral degrees. Details of the program may be obtained from the faculty offering the program. Graduate students also should consult the departmental graduate advising handbook for additional requirements that may apply.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Educational Studies offer programs of graduate study leading to the PhD degree. The doctoral program is research-oriented and requires a dissertation. The number of credit hours of coursework is subject to approval by the student's advisory committee and the departmental graduate committee, but it typically will consist of a minimum of 45 to 50 credit hours of graduate courses plus 10 to 15 credit hours of dissertation research work. Thus, the doctoral plan of study reflects a total of 60 hours of graduate credits beyond a completed master's degree.

The primary area of study will include both foundational and specialized education courses. Each program ordinarily will include 9 to 15 credit hours of graduate work selected from foundational and research competency areas in education. All doctoral programs must include advanced graduate courses in statistics and one advanced course in basic research methodology. In addition to the development of competence in these fields, the student is expected to gain a mastery of an area of specialization. Typical areas of specialization include agricultural education, literacy and language education, counseling, curriculum and supervision, educational administration, educational psychology, English education, gifted education, consumer and family sciences education, instructional development, mathematics education, science education, social studies education, special education, and more.

The related areas must be in fields closely related to the area of specialization. At least one of the related areas must be in another department, and both may be outside the College of Education if the field of specialization and the student's background make such a program desirable.

Individuals desiring to pursue graduate study toward the PhD degree are encouraged to confer with faculty members in their fields of special interest within the department or with the chair of the departmental graduate committee. Graduate students also should consult the departmental graduate advising handbook for additional requirements that may apply.