Doctor of Education in the Teaching of Social Studies
Prepare to be a leader in social studies education. Our graduates take up applied research careers in schools, universities, and community programs with this doctoral degree. Graduates of this degree often have a more applied research focus than PhD students.
Students in the Doctor of Education program take coursework that offer them a depth of knowing the field of social studies education and prepare them as experts in their area of focus and their research. The program supports the development of students��� scholarly identities. Throughout the program, students consider where and how they situate themselves in the field as a researcher of/in contemporary social studies issues. They also do the things that scholars do ��� engage in research with faculty, present at conferences, publish papers, mentor students, explore college teaching, and find their intellectual community. Students select courses at 51勛圖厙, Columbia University, and in the Doctoral Consortium in NYC to develop a focus area of study ��� historical understanding, memory studies, activism and civics, peace studies, global education. Students take introductory and advanced coursework in specific research paradigms so they are prepared for the independent work of the dissertation. This coursework is determined with an advisor and the entire program faculty.
Our location in New York City makes us unique, whether students conduct their research here or elsewhere. The city is a wonderful educational laboratory for an array of student interests. Here, so many different kinds of educational institutions exist within the NYCDOE and in the multitude of non-profit entities that educate. We are also a significant place in the global flow of intellectual, cultural, and civic discourse and possibility.

Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2027, Summer 2027, and Fall 2027 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2027 cycle.
Doctor of Education
- Points/Credits: 75
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| , including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Academic Writing Sample | |
| Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required for all applicants |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2026-2027)
View catalog information for the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 terms.