PhD in Educational Studies - Cultural Foundations

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a Concentration in Cultural Foundations focuses on theoretical and policy issues related to educational practice. The program is concerned with the breadth and depth of what is fundamental to educational practice — its ideology, philosophical assumptions, and moral claims — and is grounded in the study of education and culture with a particular interest in the integration of social analysis, cultural analysis, and praxis. 

Graduates develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for investigating, understanding, and shaping the dynamic relations among students, institutions of higher education, and society.

Program Distinctions

• Graduates of this program serve as prominent faculty in university cultural foundations programs.
• The UNC Greensboro School of Education was named one of the “Top Graduate Schools of Education” by the U.S. News & World Report.

Student Experience

This program prepares students to critically examine the relationship between culture and education and apply their learning across diverse educational contexts.

Students collaborate with faculty on research, present at conferences, write for publication, and engage in campus leadership and service opportunities aligned with their academic and professional goals.

While we emphasize meaningful in-person learning to support connection and community, the program also includes online and hybrid courses. Many students are able to meet program requirements while commuting to campus just once per week.

Suggested foundational courses:

ELC 705: Foundations of Critical Theory

ELC 706: History of Education in the United States

ELC 707: Philosophies in Education

ELC 708: Educational Sociology: Race, Class, and Gender Power Dynamics

ELC 709: Introduction to Critical Pedagogy

After Graduation

Upon completion of the program students can expect to successfully transition into roles as a professor, a director of a program in higher education, director of a non-profit, a community educator, and many more.

additional information

The UNC Greensboro School of Education’s and Graduate School’s formal admission requirements specify the following for the Ph.D. program:

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the master’s degree.

Admissions decisions are based on an applicant’s full set of application materials. All evidence about a prospective student, including the criteria listed above, work experience, letters of reference and recommendations, and the individual’s personal statement will be considered in making admissions decisions. In certain cases, applicants may be granted provisional admission, with a stipulation that they will be granted full admission upon successfully completing a specified number of coursework credits in the program. Faculty members engage in a collaborative, rigorous review of applicants.

The department’s formal admission requirements for doctoral studies are the following:

• Three letters of recommendation from people who can speak to the applicant’s academic abilities;
• Writing sample;
• Transcripts from all universities the applicant has attended;
• Write a 2-3 page personal statement that describes why you wish to pursue this PhD program, how it connects with your personal/professional goals, and what prerequisites prepare you for this program.
• The priority application deadline for the ELC PhD program is January 15.  The final application deadline is March 15.
  • Please note that although Apply Yourself may indicate that your application has been submitted, this does not mean it is COMPLETE. All application materials must be completed in Apply Yourself before the materials will be released to the department for review.