Part of the Graduate School of Education
Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning, PhD
Our doctoral program in curriculum, instruction and the science of learning is a multidisciplinary program that focuses on addressing practical educational problems through research in diverse contexts for learning and teaching. You can create your own customized program to meet your research and career interests in one of these seven concentrations — elementary education, English education, learning sciences, literacy and reading education, mathematics education, science education and social studies education.
Why Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning at UB?
While educational programs in curriculum and instruction are common, this program stands out by emphasizing the science of learning — a 21st-century approach to developing evidenced-based practice through design research.
In this program, you can:
- Customize the program to meet your particular research and career interests, or follow the general track for an an innovative interdisciplinary focus; if you customize the program, you can choose from these concentrations:
- Elementary education
- English education
- Learning sciences
- Literacy and reading education
- Mathematics education
- Science education
- Social studies education
- Investigate and solve complex educational problems involving multiple disciplines
- Participate in cutting-edge research
- Work directly with faculty experts at the forefront of educational innovations
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 72: 62 doctoral credits and 10 credits transferred from master’s |
| Time to completion | 4 to 5+ years |
| Course delivery | On campus |
| Optional concentrations |
|
| Careers |
|
| Internship/Student teaching hours | Optional teaching and research experiences |
| Application deadline | Fall: Jan. 1 |
- Arts Integration
- Early Learning
- Educational Informatics
- Educational Technologies
- Learning Sciences
- New and Multimodal Literacies
- Real and Virtual Learning Spaces
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Education
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Integration
- Situated and Embodied Cognition
- Social Learning and Culture
- Spatial Literacy
Your program of study requires 72 credit hours:
- Multidisciplinary concentration — 24 credit hours (includes required course: LAI 615 Seminar in Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning)
- Research — 28 credit hours
- Dissertation — 10 credit hours
- Relevant master's degree courses — 10 credit hours
What is the Time Commitment?
An on campus 3 credit course traditionally requires approximately 9 hours per week of dedicated study outside the classroom. An online 3 credit course requires a approximately 12 hours of dedicated study outside of participation in the virtual classroom. It is important that you take into consideration other personal and professional commitments as you pursue your coursework.
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Associate Professor
Information Science
Research Areas: Achievement; Assessment; Cognition; Cultural Studies; Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Research; Design Experiments; Educational technology; Evaluation; Gamification; Information Science; Large-Scale Assessment and Research; Learning Design; Measurements; Online and Distance Learning; Qualitative Research Methods; Quantitative Research Methods; Research Design; Research Methods
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Curriculum and Instruction; Discourse analysis; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Literacy; Professional / Staff Development; Reading Instruction; Writing Instruction
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Curriculum and Instruction; Elementary Education; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Literacy; Qualitative Research Methods
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Curriculum and Instruction; Educational technology; English Education; Equity and Poverty; Multimodality; Qualitative Research Methods; School and Community Partnerships
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Cognition; Computer Science Education; Digital Media and Learning; Diversity; Educational technology; Educator Preparation; Engineering Education; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Learning Communities; Learning Design; Learning Sciences; Online and Distance Learning; Problem Based Learning; Professional / Staff Development; STEM education; Universal Design
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Computer Science Education; Educational technology; Embodiment; Interaction analysis; Learning Design; Learning Sciences; Mathematics Education; Multimodality; Qualitative Research Methods; Science Education; STEM education
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Curriculum and Instruction; Educator Preparation; English Education; Qualitative Research Methods; School and Community Partnerships
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Cognition; Cultural Studies; Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Research; Design Experiments; Diversity; Environmental Education; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Global Issues; International Education; Learning Communities; Learning Design; Problem Based Learning; Race, Inequality, and Education; Research Design; Science Education
Clinical Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Bullying; Curriculum and Instruction; Educator Preparation; English Education; ESL / ENL / Bilingual; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Literacy; Professional / Staff Development; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Social and Emotional Development
Associate Professor
Counseling, School And Educational Psychology
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Achievement; Assessment; Big Data; Curriculum and Instruction; Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Research; Design Experiments; Digital Innovations; Digital Media and Learning; Diversity; Educational Policy; Evaluation; Gamification; Immigrant Issues; Large-Scale Assessment and Research; Mathematics Education; Online and Distance Learning; Professional / Staff Development; Psychometrics; Quantitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Research Design; Research Methods; School and District Reform; Statistical Methods and Applications in Statistical Issues
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Assessment; Evaluation; Measurements; Psychometrics; Quantitative Research Methods; Science Education; STEM education
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Cultural Studies; Curriculum and Instruction; Design Experiments; Digital Media and Learning; Discourse analysis; Diversity; Engineering Education; Ethnography; Immigrant Issues; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Literacy; Multimodality; Multimodality, Embodiment, and Digital Literacy; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Reading Instruction; Research Design; Research Methods
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Assessment; Computer Science Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Design Experiments; Digital Media and Learning; Educational technology; Information Science; Learning Design; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Literacy; Race, Inequality, and Education
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Digital Media and Learning; English Education; Ethnography; Multimodality; Multimodality, Embodiment, and Digital Literacy; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Research Design; Research Methods
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Critical Policy Analysis; Educational Policy; Ethnography; Gender Studies; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Global Issues; Politics of Education; Qualitative Research Methods; Sociology of Education
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Curriculum and Instruction; Diversity; Environmental Education; Equity and Poverty; Learning Sciences; Qualitative Research Methods; Science Education; Social Justice; Urban Education
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Assessment; Cognition; Curriculum and Instruction; Diversity; Educator Preparation; ESL / ENL / Bilingual; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Immigrant Issues; International Education; Large-Scale Assessment and Research; Mathematics Education; Multicultural Competence; Multimodality; Problem Based Learning; Race, Inequality, and Education; Social Justice; STEM education
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Achievement; Assessment; Curriculum and Instruction; Elementary Education; English Education; Equity and Poverty; Evaluation; Literacy; Quantitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Reading Instruction; Research Design; Research Methods; Standards; Writing Instruction
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Buffalo, NY 14260
Email: naomitho@buffalo.edu
Research Areas: Learning Sciences
Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Access and Equity; Assessment; Cognition; Curriculum and Instruction; Digital Innovations; Digital Media and Learning; Diversity; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Global Issues; Leadership; Learning Design; Problem Based Learning; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Science Education; Urban Education
Master's Degree
If you do not already hold a master's degree, you will be considered for admission if you have completed an otherwise compelling and highly rigorous undergraduate degree program or a collection of graduate courses not leading to a degree.
Standardized Testing No Longer Required
In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration for those applying to this program through the fall 2023 semester. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least two individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Sample of academic writing: A sample of your academic writing (e.g., master's thesis, professional publication).
- Statement of interest: Statement of your educational and career goals and objectives.
- Resume
Admission Interview: You may be invited to interview while your application is under review.
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admissions Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-state Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload 3 documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic. Test scores must be dated within two years of submitting your application.
- TOEFL minimum score is a 250 for a computer based test, 600 for a paper based test and 96 for the Internet based test
- IELTS minimum score is 7.0 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- Financial documentation — International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application, and must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Are you an international student and unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL?
If you are currently unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL tests because they are canceled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the University at Buffalo will accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) for proof of English proficiency. This test can be taken online, in your own home. More information can be found on the Graduate School’s website.
The TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition is a safe and convenient option for students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT test at a test center due to public health concerns.
To facilitate timely processing of the paperwork for the student visa, you must apply before the end of April for fall admission and by October 1 for spring admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office.
Questions About the Admission Process?
Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall, North Campus
716-645-2110
gseinfo@buffalo.edu
University Computing Standards
You are required to have daily access to a reliable broadband connection and a computer that meets university computing standards. You are also expected to have basic computer competency before beginning your coursework.