EDUCATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

Introduction to Lesley University Ph.D. in Educational Studies Programs

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies programs are designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study and scholarship. Educational Studies is defined at Lesley as an interdisciplinary area of inquiry that includes the examination of the individual and social processes of learning and teaching in institutional and social contexts. Study also involves integrating the study of cognition, learning, and human development with the study of institutions, organizations, and cultures.

The programs build on Lesley's commitment to scholarship and generation of new knowledge, encouraging interdisciplinary study and recognizing the value of relating theory to practice. The programs also maximize the opportunity for individually designed study, which is structured by the student under the supervision of a senior faculty advisor. The programs are intended to promote scholarly inquiry throughout the lifespan and, consequently, seek educated professionals who wish to make an intellectual contribution to their fields of interest.

Lesley offers the following three Ph.D. programs in educational studies:

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies program is a 45-credit, post-Master's program in which students move through three phases of doctoral study: development of an individualized doctoral study plan (Phase I); doctoral study (Phase II); and the doctoral dissertation (Phase III).

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a Specialization in Adult Learning program is a 45-credit, post-Master's program consisting of three phases of doctoral study: coursework and further development of the individualized doctoral study plan submitted at application (Phase I); doctoral study (Phase II); and dissertation (Phase III). This program builds upon four central questions: How do adults Learn? What is the relationship between learning and development? How does culture affect learning? In what environments do adults learn?

The Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a Specialization in Educational Leadership program is a 60-credit post-Master's program consisting of 30 credits of required courses and 30 elective credits. The degree is earned through interdisciplinary courses, electives, residencies, and research.

For School of Education policies, please see http://www.lesley.edu/soe/soe-policies.html