What we teach, how we teach, and why—these questions have their roots in the philosophical underpinnings of education and have important implications for future practice and policy. In this program, students explore those issues from various perspectives that may focus upon ethics, epistemology, aesthetics, social and political philosophy, and the works of historically important educational thinkers. In addition to education course work, students are required  to take relevant classes from outside disciplines, including philosophy, religious studies, history, and philosophy of science.  The program requires 90 semester hours of coursework.

Graduates typically attain professional roles in university teaching and research, but you may also pursue a career in development and consulting for governmental and private-sector organizations.

Degree Requirements (90 cr.)

Major Requirements (36 cr.)

Core Requirements (6 cr.)

• H504 History of American Education (3 cr.)
• H530 Philosophy of Education (3 cr.)

Philosophy of Education and Other Foundations (12-15 cr.)

12-15 credit hours of education courses with an H- prefix, selected in consultation with the advisory committee

Philosophy (9-12 cr.)

9-12 credit hours of courses in philosophy, history and philosophy of science, political science, religious studies, or other relevant departments, selected in consultation with the advisory committee

NOTE: The course work for the philosophy of education/foundations and philosophy requirements must total 24 credit hours in order that the completed course work in the major totals the required 36 credit hours.

Inquiry in the Major (6 cr.)

Directed research:

• H590 Independent study (for pre-dissertation research) (3 cr.)

Linkage course; one course selected with permission of the advisory committee from:

• H590 Independent study (3 credits for final dissertation proposal preparation) (3 cr.)
• H750 Topical Inquiry Seminar in History of Education (3 cr.)

Inquiry Requirements (9 cr.)

• Y521 Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry

Select two courses from the following (in consultation with the advisory committee):

• H510 Foundations of Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• H601 Historical Inquiry in Education (3 cr.)
• Y502 Intermediate Statistics Applied to Education (3 cr.)
• Y611 Qualitative Inquiry in Education (3 cr.)
• Y750 Topical Seminar in Educational Inquiry Methodology (3 cr.)

Or in specific cases other courses from the School of Education's approved list of inquiry courses with permission of the advisory committee. A list of approved inquiry courses may be found at https://education.indiana.edu/students/graduates/approved-core-inquiry-courses.html.

Minor Requirements (12 cr.)

The minor must have integrity in its own right and must complement the major. The minor field must demonstrate wholeness within itself and contribute to the student's overall doctoral program. Minors are normally formulated within a single program area. However, an interdisciplinary or individualized minor is also possible. Interdisciplinary or individualized minors require a written description of the minor's underlying theme along with a rationale for each course's contribution to that theme through the Minor Justification form. This form should be submitted and approved by the Graduate Studies Office prior to enrolling in the minor courses.  Major area courses may not be used in the minor.

Elective Requirements

Courses in fields relevant to philosophy of education selected in consultation with the advisory committee to bring overall hours to 75.

Dissertation Requirements (15 cr.)

• H795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
• H799 Doctoral Thesis in History of Philosophy of Education (12 cr.)