Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Teacher Education and Professional Development Specialization, Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Program Overview
This program offers a PhD in Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, with a specialization in Teacher Education and Professional Development.
Great schools thrive on the foundation of great teachers. To cultivate such schools, we must focus on preparing teachers to excel, which is the mission of teacher educators.
As the teaching profession evolves with more sophisticated ideas about high-quality education, the complexity of teacher education also increases. Teacher educators are responsible for preparing pre-service and in-service teachers for equitable and justice-oriented practices.
To personalize your educational journey, you are encouraged to collaborate with your advisor and tailor your coursework to your interests. You also invited to take courses from other specializations within the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership:
- Education Policy and Leadership
- Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry
- Mathematics and Science Education
- Urban Education
- Technology, Learning, and Leadership
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Best Curriculum and Instruction program by U.S. News & World Report
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
- Apply cutting edge research methods to better understand and solve problems in today’s educational environments
- Examine the interplay between teacher development, student learning, teacher leadership, curriculum, and school improvement
- Appreciate the impact of the sociopolitical contexts on teacher education and professional development
- Explore and develop humanizing and equity-oriented pedagogies across various subjects, including preparation for teaching multilingual and special needs students
- Understand, critique, and generate scholarship on teacher learning for minoritized and underserved populations in urban schools
How to Apply
How to Apply
Information on admissions and application to this program can be found on the University Graduate Admissions website and the program handbook.
"At UMD, I found a community and mentors who value my research interests and nurture my passion for education. I am grateful for the opportunities to grow as a lifelong learner in an environment where I can access various resources to develop as a professional in my field."
Requirements
Program Requirements
On average, our program takes at least four years to complete. Most students admitted to the doctoral program already have a master’s degree. If you have a master’s degree, you will take a minimum of 60 credits. If you do not have a master’s degree, you will take a minimum of 70 credits and work with your advisor to develop an individualized plan that seamlessly blends master’s level and doctoral level coursework.
You are expected to fully immerse yourself in the academic community. The curriculum consists of the courses listed below.
All full-time students in a Ph.D. program in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership complete a two-course sequence of core, integrated foundational courses.
- TLPL 794: Foundations of Educational Inquiry I ("Core I")
- TLPL 795: Foundations of Educational Inquiry II ("Core II")
Students complete in-depth study and training in courses tailored to their individual interests and aligned with their chosen specialization area.
- TLPL 771: Pedagogy of Teacher Education
- TLPL 772: Teaching, Professional Development, and School Change
- TLPL 788: Teacher Cognition
Students must take at least one teacher education-focused course offered by the College of Education, and can choose from among many elective options in the College and in other departments, such as:
- TLPL713 Mathematics and Science Education Policy, Professional Development and Teacher Preparation
- TLPL743 Teaching English Language Learners: Current and Future Research Directions
- TLPL760 College Teaching
- TLPL761 History of Curriculum Theory and Development
- TLPL770 Black and Latino Education: History and Policy
- TLPL774 Urban Education
- TLPL775 Power, Privilege, Diversity and Teaching
- TLPL780 Contested Control: School Choice, Localism, and Centralization
- TLPL781 Policy and Politics of Education Reform
Students are required to take research methods courses, including one qualitative and one quantitative methods course. Students may take additional research methods courses offered by the College of Education or other academic departments across campus. Sample courses below.
Qualitative Methodology
- TLPL 790: Seminar in Mixed Methods Research in Education
- TLPL 791: Qualitative Research I: Design and Fieldwork
- TLPL 792: Qualitative Research II: Analysis and Interpretation of Data
- TLPL793 Methods of Discourse Analysis
- TLPL 860: Seminar on Case Study Methods
- TLPL 762: Phenomenological Inquiry I
- TLPL 763: Phenomenological Inquiry II
Quantitative Methodology
- EDMS 646: Quantitative Analysis II
- EDMS 651: Applied Regression Analysis
- EDMS 657: Factor Analysis
- EDMS 722: Structural Modeling
- TLPL 765: Quantitative Applications for Education Policy Analysis
- TLPL 788 X: Special Topics in Education: Cost Analysis
- TLPL 790: Seminar in Mixed Methods Research in Education
- SURV 699K: Multilevel Analysis of Survey Data
Students must complete comprehensive exams before starting their dissertation research. Students typically begin their exams near the end of their second year or beginning of their third year.
Students participate in a weekly 1-credit seminar (TLPL 708A) alongside peers in their specialization to collaborate with faculty and fellow students, enhance their understanding of the field and academic profession, and integrate into the broader research community through practical learning experiences.
Contact
Contact
For general inquiries regarding admissions, please contact:
Kay Moon
TLPL Graduate Coordinator
kmoon@umd.edu
For program inquiries, please contact:
Professor Donna Wiseman
dlwise@umd.edu
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