Doctor of Philosophy in Education - Social Studies Education

This program is designed to prepare graduates for college or university positions in teacher education or for positions within research organizations with specific areas of curricular expertise. Program requirements include coursework, a research apprenticeship, and practical experiences that prepare graduates to:
Produce original research that contributes to the knowledge base in social studies education and/or to teacher education in general
Become experts in the content of their curricular area and in the evidence-based practices that inform that area
effective leadership roles in one or more of the areas of emphasis
The emphasis in social studies education is designed to prepare students for social studies education positions in academia (i.e., beginning tenure-track assistant professor positions in teacher education programs at either major research institutions or smaller colleges) and/or social studies leadership positions in school divisions (i.e., curriculum development, supervisory positions).

Admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below:
Admission to this program requires an undergraduate bachelor's degree in one or more of the social sciences (history, political science, sociology, geography, economics, anthropology, and/or psychology) and at least two years of social studies teaching experience at the K-12 level.
Applicants must provide both a goal statement (2 pages) and a writing sample (10-15 pages) as part of their online application.

Goal/Professional StatementThis is your opportunity to describe your understanding of and interest in the program area to which you are applying, what you hope to learn during the program, and how it will help you achieve your professional goals. The prompt on the application provides additional information you might include in your statement.
Letters of RecommendationMost programs will require you to submit two letters of recommendation as part of the online application. These should be solicited through your online application. In the event that a program requires more than two letters, the program page will list how many additional letters of recommendation you will need, along with additional guidelines for selecting a recommender. You can submit your application before the letters are received.
TranscriptsUpload copies of transcripts showing college coursework and degrees completed to date. Unofficial copies are acceptable. Official transcripts are required only when you accept an offer of admission. If you are submitting an electronic transcript, please email it directly to gehdadmission@virginia.edu. A transcript must be provided for each school listed on your application. Transcripts that are not stated in English must be accompanied by a translation into English. Your application will be considered incomplete until all transcripts are received.
We will accept international transcript evaluations from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). While we do not endorse any specific providers, we commonly receive evaluations from Educational Credentials Evaluators, International Academic Credential Evaluators, Josef Silny and Associates, or World Education Services. Course-by-course evaluations are preferred.

English proficiency requirement:
Paper-based TOEFL: 600
Computer-Based TOEFL: 250
IELTS: 7.0
IBT TOEFL: at least 22 in writing, 22 in speaking, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening for a total score of 90.