PhD Children, Families, and Schools at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

Children, Families, & Schools doctoral students build a firm grounding in the philosophical, historical and cultural foundations of learning and development. Dissertation topics include family development, the child as learner, teaching interactions, new technologies for learning, character development, the family of the special needs child and early intervention.

Faculty: College of Education | Department: Department of Teacher Education & Curriculum Studies (TECS) | Intake: Fall; application deadline December 1 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Doctoral coursework in child development and childhood studies, with practical experience through field supervision and teaching assistantships in early-childhood and elementary teacher preparation programmes (e.g. Anthropology of Childhood).

Career pathways

Graduates hold faculty positions in colleges and universities or leadership positions in preschool education.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Master's degree in a related area (education, psychology, communication disorders, etc.) and previous experience in a school setting; applicants are expected to have contacted faculty about research interests. GRE not required. Materials: online Graduate School application, two letters of reference, personal statement, resume/CV, transcripts. Fall deadline December 1; decisions typically early March.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intake: Fall; application deadline December 1

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