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 social studies. Many of our alumni go on to be teacher educators, professors at notable institutions, and administrators in education.
Semester Start: Fall
Deadline to Apply: December 1
GRE Required? No
Location: On Campus
Schedule: Flexible
Length of Program: 60 months, 60 hours
Faculty
Focuses on historical and contemporary issues and discourses concerning African American students in schools and society.
Researches civic education, early childhood/elementary education, and teacher education to examine the role of relationships, community, and justice to make classrooms democratic and equitable spaces.
Dr. Salinas is a member of the Social Studies Education program area and is an affiliate faculty member in the Bilingual/Bicultural and the Cultural Studies in Education program areas. Her focus in the social studies includes critical historical inqu...
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
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 the 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 advisor. 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 Subject- 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 Humanities and Literacy in Social Education
- EDC 390T Improving Social Studies Education
- EDC 390T Institutes in Instruction: Critical Issues in Social Education
- EDC 396 Seminar: Social Studies Education
- EDC 384: Research in Elementary Social Studies
- EDC 385G: Perspectives on Democratic and Citizenship Education
- EDC382E: Social Studies Education: Issues and Research in the Field
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). Students may also choose courses from other departments within the College of Education including:
- Kinesiology and Health Education
- Educational Leadership and Policy
- Educational Psychology
- Special Education
Or from another college with the University of Texas at Austin.
Dissertation (Minimum 6 hours)
Students are required to continuously register for at least three credits of dissertation once they have advanced to candidacy.
You must register in X99W (399, 699 or 999W) in each semester of candidacy until you graduate.
Please Note: Students receiving fellowships, assistantships, or other financial aid, may be required to take 9 hours of dissertation credit each semester.
Additional Resources
Program Area Coordinator, Advisor
Katherina Payne
Tell us a bit about yourself and what programs you are interested in. We’ll be in touch with information soon!
