Ph.D. in OLPD
Comparative and International Development Education
This Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) track program prepares you to conduct research and provide sophisticated consultation into how schools and educational systems across the world reflect varied cultural, economic, and political contexts, and how forces like globalization, internationalization, and intercultural and educational exchanges influence individual and community learning and experiences.
Your contributions to research will help policymakers, scholars, and school systems all over the world to understand more deeply how education can aid in the creation of equitable and just communities through the design of policies and programs that support authentic learning and development.
A unique feature of this program is its cohort approach to doctoral education. Students in both the on-campus program and in the blended Leadership in Intercultural and International Education (LIIE) cohort form life-long professional relationships with their peers through common courses designed to build community and establish supportive networks. Although the curriculum allows students to select many of their own classes, our graduates consistently note the beneficial nature of the common core courses for their professional development.
Doctoral students in Comparative and International Development Education gain the capacity to:
- Articulate and analyze historical and contemporary challenges in education across international and intercultural contexts.
- Design meaningful, relevant research projects; collect, analyze, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data; and provide clear and actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.
- Develop and teach courses in comparative, international, and intercultural education; research methods; and allied fields (e.g., applied linguistics, inclusive education, leadership, and teacher education).
- Become faculty members in top internationally-oriented academic programs across the nation and globe who apply theory to practice and use practice to build theory in addressing some of our most challenging educational issues and problems.
- Become leaders in international development, international education, and intercultural education institutions who use their expertise to improve policy, school organization, classroom practices, and formal and informal learning in international and intercultural contexts.
Here are some career paths taken by recent PhD alumni:
- Professor in the areas of education, education policy, and sociology
- Associate provost for international programs
- Chief of party, US Agency for International Development
- Fellow in the Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution
- Grants manager at The Ford Foundation
About our students
"In thinking of what it will take to develop African countries for the 21st century and beyond, the most effective solution, I see, is quality education. Specifically, quality higher education is key due to its ability to produce a pool of working professionals while supporting the development of growing industries. My role as a scholar is to observe and critically analyze how institutions might benefit, or be harmed, by the effects of an increasingly globalized higher education system."
Coursework
- 72 credits (48 coursework / 24 thesis) completed in 3-5 years for full time students
Departmental core (16 credits)
Professional socialization seminar
- OLPD 8011—Doctoral Research Seminar I (1 cr) [Take Fall term of first year]
Research courses
- OLPD 8015—Inquiry Strategies in Educational and Organizational Research (3 cr) [Take Spring term of first year]
- Quantitative methods course (3 cr inside or outside of department; with approval of advisor)
- Qualitative methods course (3 cr inside or outside of department; with approval of advisor)
- Additional methods course (6 cr; with approval of advisor)
Program core
Includes the OLPD 8121 series, specialization courses for one of the two CIDE specializations, and CIDE electives; courses not specifically listed below should have advisor approval.
Doctoral seminars in CIDE
Take 9 credits; 3 credits in each of 3 semesters starting in the spring term of the first year.
- OLPD 8121-section 002—Doctoral Seminar: CIDE I (3 cr)
- OLPD 8121-section 003—Doctoral Seminar: CIDE II (3 cr)
- OLPD 8121-section 004—Doctoral Seminar: CIDE III (3 cr)
Specialization courses
Take 6 credits in a specialization; at least one course must be at 8xxx level.
Specialization: Comparative and International Development Education
- OLPD 5103—Comparative Education (3 cr)
- OLPD 5104—Strategies for International Development of Education Systems (3 cr)
- OLPD 5121—Educational Reform in International Context (3 cr)
- OLPD 5702-Global Higher Edcuation (3 cr)
- OLPD 8101—International Education and Development (3 cr)
- OLPD 8103—Comparative Education (3 cr)
Specialization: Intercultural/international education
- OLPD 5048—Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership (3 cr)
- OLPD 5124—Critical Issues in International Education and Educational Exchange (3 cr)
- OLPD 5132—Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application (3 cr)
- OLPD 8102-Dynamics of Intercultural Communication (3 cr)
- OLPD 8087—Seminar [various topics]
Electives
Take at least 5 credits from the following list. Any specialization core course not being used as core class can become an elective.
- OLPD 5044—Introduction to the Economics of Education (3 cr)
- OLPD 5056—Case Studies for Policy Research (3 cr)
- OLPD 5061—Ethnographic Research Methods (3 cr)
- OLPD 5080—Special Topics [various]
- OLPD 5107—Gender, Education, and International Development (3 cr)
- OLPD 5128—Anthropology of Education (3 cr)
- OLPD 8022—Education and Globalization: Anthropological Perspectives (3 cr)
- OLPD 8087—Seminar [various topics]
- OLPD 8102-Dynamics of Intercultural Communication (3 cr)
- OLPD 8104—Innovative Systems Thinking in Education and Culture (3 cr)
- OLPD 8302—Educational Policy Perspectives (3 cr)
Additional coursework (12 or more credits)
Minimum of 12 credits required. These credits can be used to meet the requirement that a minimum of 12 credits be taken outside the CIDE track or for a minor. Courses not specifically listed should have advisor approval.
Thesis credits (24 credits)
All Ph.D. students are required to register for 24 semester thesis credits after completing the preliminary oral exam. The 24 credits must be taken over two or more terms.
- OLPD 8888—Thesis Credits: Doctoral
How to apply
December 1 for a Fall semester start. Fall semester start only.
Applicants may only apply to one OLPD track.
Applications are not complete until ALL required materials and fees have been received. If anything is missing, your application may not be considered until the next review date the following year. It is strongly recommended to apply at least two weeks before any submission deadlines.
Applications are processed by the Graduate School. A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department's admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials.
Online application and instructions
Admission requirements
Degree: Master's degree or equivalent
GPA: Undergraduate 3.0; Graduate 3.5
Note: Applicants should not submit GRE scores, as they will not be considered in the review process.
TOEFL/IELTS Scores (Not required for U.S. students):
- TOEFL: Internet based = 79 or above
(21 writing/19 reading) - IELTS = 6.5
Readmission
If a graduate student in an OLPD program has become inactive they must follow the readmission procedures.
Tuition and funding
Questions?
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