Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning, PhD
Create a legacy of learning. Lead a brighter future for learners from diverse backgrounds by reimagining and reshaping traditional educational frameworks.
Drive Change in Education
Our multidisciplinary doctoral program in curriculum, instruction and the science of learning addresses real-world educational challenges through innovative research in various learning and teaching contexts. Choose from seven concentrations: elementary education, English, learning sciences, literacy and reading, math, science and social studies. Each pathway offers a unique opportunity to delve deep into the areas you're most passionate about.
A Journey of Discovery and Mentorship
Dina Skeffrey, a curriculum, instruction and the science of learning PhD alumna, is making a significant impact through her research and mentorship. Focused on affirming Black women's experiences and challenges, Skeffrey's work bridges theory with practical support, inspiring students and peers alike with her innovative approach to education and leadership. Read more about her story of perseverance, influence and quest to foster a culture of acceptance and understanding.
Points of Distinction
While educational programs in curriculum and instruction are common, this program emphasizes the science of learning. It takes a 21st-century approach to developing evidence-based practice through design research, equipping graduates with cutting-edge skills to address modern educational challenges.
Benefit from hands-on research, teaching and leadership experiences that prepare you for real-world challenges and opportunities in education. Tailor your studies to your unique career and research goals, with options across seven specialized concentrations or a general interdisciplinary focus, ensuring a truly personalized academic experience.
Experience a supportive, collegial atmosphere that nurtures intellectual growth and personal transformation. Engage directly with renowned faculty on groundbreaking research projects aimed at solving complex educational problems across diverse learning contexts, gaining both theoretical insights and practical expertise.
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 |
|
| 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 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.
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
To make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. 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.
- Statement of research interest: Statement of research interest: The statement of research interest should be a concise statement about your academic and research background and future interests. Please be specific in explaining how the course offerings and faculty expertise of this program fit your educational and career objectives. Be sure to include the specific faculty you would like to work with and why. We consider a 1000-word statement as an appropriate length.
- 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
To qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three 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—dated within two years of submitting your application—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.
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper- based test and 96 for 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 dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
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.
Our graduates go on to become successful:
- corporate trainers
- curriculum specialists
- educational consultants
- educational program officers
- evaluation and assessment specialists
- faculty member in colleges and universities
- instructional coordinators
- instructors
- online program coordinators
- research specialists
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; Cognitive Psychology; Computer Science Education; Cultural Competence; Curriculum and Instruction; 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: Cognition; Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Research; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Mathematics Education; School and Community Partnerships; Universal Design
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Computer Science Education; Discourse analysis; Educational technology; Embodiment; Interaction analysis; Learning Design; Learning Sciences; Mathematics Education; Multimodality; Qualitative Research Methods; Science Education; STEM education; Training and Supervision
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Computer Science Education; Design Experiments; Educational technology; Human Computer Interaction; Information behavior; Information Science; Learning Sciences
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
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Social Studies Education
Professor
Information Science
Research Areas: Digital literacy; Information behavior; Information Literacy; Information practices; Information Science; Library Science; Misinformation; Qualitative Research Methods; Research Design; Research Methods
Clinical Associate Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Change; Educational Leadership; Educator Preparation; English Education; ESL/ENL/Bilingual; Higher Education; Leadership; Literacy; Online and Distance Learning; Professional / Staff Development; Qualitative Research Methods; Social and Emotional Development
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Curriculum and Instruction; ESL/ENL/Bilingual; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Qualitative Research Methods; Virtual Reality
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: Diversity; History of Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice; Social Studies Education
Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Digital Media and Learning; Discourse analysis; Diversity; Engineering Education; Ethnography; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Literacy; Multimodality, Embodiment, and Digital Literacy; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Research Methods
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Critical Policy Analysis; Cultural Studies; Curriculum and Instruction; Diversity; Educational technology; Educator Preparation; Immigrant Issues; Linguistic, Discourse, and Sociocultural Context; Philosophy of Education; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice; Social Studies Education; Sociology of Education
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
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; Discourse analysis; Diversity; Educator Preparation; Equity and Poverty; ESL/ENL/Bilingual; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Immigrant Issues; International Education; Large-Scale Assessment and Research; Mathematics Education; Multicultural Competence; Multimodality; Problem Based Learning; Qualitative Research Methods; Quantitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice; Standards; STEM education; Urban Education
Assistant Professor
Learning And Instruction
Research Areas: Achievement; Assessment; Curriculum and Instruction; Literacy; Quantitative Research Methods; Reading Instruction; 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
Research Areas: Child and Adolescent Development; Cognition; Curriculum and Instruction; Design Experiments; Digital Innovations; Digital Media and Learning; Diversity; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Ethnography; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Global Issues; Immigrant Issues; International Education; Learning Communities; Literacy; Multimodality, Embodiment, and Digital Literacy; Qualitative Research Methods; Science Education
Assistantships are available in a variety of areas that change from year to year. Compensation for positions ranges from hourly pay only to a stipend to tuition remission plus a stipend. Generally, assistantships require 20 hours of work per week.
The application process for assistantships is separate from the program admission process. Assistantship opportunities are posted for the following academic year in mid-January, from offices on campus such as Campus Living, Career Services, Student Engagement, Intercultural and Diversity Center, among others.
While assistantships are limited, new opportunities become available throughout summer and into the fall semester.
Faculty Expertise
In an era where technology reshapes every facet of our lives, Sam Abramovich stands at the forefront of educational innovation. As a leading expert in learning sciences, Abramovich explores the intersection of emerging technologies and education, focusing on innovative tools like digital badges, educational games and alternative assessments to enhance learning experiences. He is particularly interested in the role of open-source technologies in driving educational improvement and reform.