Educational Policy and Evaluation, PhD
School, Teacher, edulp, edupltpe, government, principal, teachers college
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is changing their name, effective Fall 2025. The new name is Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
At one of the top-ranked colleges of education in the world, you can prepare to be a leader in thought and action while working closely with internationally recognized faculty.
In the Doctor of Philosophy program in educational policy and evaluation, scholars are prepared to conduct rigorous, high-impact and transdisciplinary research on education policies that affect conditions in pre-K--20 and other educational environments.
Doctoral students in the educational policy and evaluation program engage in systematic analyses of education policies and practices in a variety of settings, including schools, universities, research centers, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
The program emphasizes intensive training in the theory, methods and implementation of education policy, with a focus on research and evaluation. Students pursue an area of specialization supported by faculty expertise.
Educational policy and evaluation students work closely with nationally and internationally recognized faculty members on collaborative and independent research projects that advance education, including scholarly articles, policy briefs, reports and engagement in education policy. The program also provides opportunities to influence the field through internships in applied settings and experiences in scholarly publishing.
- College/school:
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (21 credit hours)
COE 502 Introduction to Data Analysis (3)
COE 503 Introduction to Qualitative Research (3)
EPA 701 Proseminar in Education Policy I (3)
EPA 702 Proseminar in Education Policy II (3)
EPA 704 Proseminar in Evaluation and Evaluation Research (6)
EPA 752 Research Design (3)
Electives (45 credit hours)
Research (6 credit hours)
Advanced research methods (6)
Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
EPA 799 Dissertation (12) or
DCI 799 Dissertation (12) or
SPE 799 Dissertation (12)
Additional Curriculum Information
Of the 84 credit hours required for the degree, 54 must be earned at ASU, and 24 of the ASU credit hours must be earned in research and dissertation courses. The coursework includes classes in evaluation, policy analysis, research methods and an area of specialization.
Students who enter the doctoral program with a master's degree in a related discipline may count up to 30 credit hours from the master's degree toward the 84 credit hours. In addition, with program and Graduate College approval, a student may use up to 12 additional credit hours toward the doctorate if documentation is provided showing that those credit hours were not part of the master's degree.
Of the 45 credit hours for electives, 15 should be earned in the areas of specialization.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
Applicants must have earned a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or an international equivalent as determined by Graduate Admission Services.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation
- personal statement
- academic writing sample
- curriculum vitae
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can speak to the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program.
The personal statement should describe the applicant's interests and reason for seeking this degree.
The academic writing sample should be a substantive piece of writing created for an academic or professional audience.
Graduates gain the knowledge and skills to pursue careers as education researchers who advance the collective understanding of education policy for pre-K--20 and other education environments.
Career examples include:
- policy analyst
- professor
- program evaluator
- researcher
Educational Leadership & Innovation, Division
|
ED 118
doctoraleducation@asu.edu
480-965-5555
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
