This program leads to a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership with a specialization in Mathematics and Science Education. The Mathematics and Science Education specialization prepares researchers and transformative practitioners in K-16 mathematics and science education. Students in this program gain a deep understanding of classic and current research in mathematics and science education, theories of individual and social cognition, teacher education and professional development, and research methods commonly used by mathematics and science education researchers, all with an emphasis on the connections among theory, research, and practice. Students also develop their own abilities as mathematical and scientific thinkers. All students take a set of common courses addressing teaching, learning, policy, and teacher preparation in mathematics and science, as well as more specialized courses addressing mathematics or science education separately. Students also have opportunities to take science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) policy and leadership courses. The specialization takes advantage of the University of Maryland’s location in a high-needs urban school district near Washington, DC. Faculty in this program have connections to local schools that enable students to get involved with research and teacher professional development focused on the needs of urban schools.
For information on graduate admission please see the Graduate School's Admissions page for the Department of Teaching, Learning, Policy and Leadership at https://gradschool.umd.edu/education/tlpl. We accept both full-time and part-time doctoral students.
Select an area of interest from the various offerings in the College of Education to determine the admission requirements and deadlines. If you are unsure of your area of interest you may request information by submitting an Inquiry Form.
Applicants who wish to apply to the Ph.D. program with specialization in Mathematics and Science Education should select Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) as their “Intended Program of Study.”
Please refer to the Guide to Applying for instructions on how to apply for graduate admission. If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. International applicants should visit the International admissions webpage for additional information.
INFORMATION SESSION about our Ph.D. and M.A. programs will be held on October 13, 2023, by zoom.
Financial assistance for graduate study is generally divided into two categories:
- Merit-Based Assistance Need-Based Assistance
- Fellowships and Scholarships Loans
- Graduate Assistantships
For more details about the various types of financial assistance offered by the campus please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid
There are also a number of fellowships and scholarships offered through the College of Education, the University, and through external sources which may provide tuition support and/or living allowance. Students must apply for these awards on their own, but the links that follow provide valuable information on searching for fellowships and scholarships.
For more information concerning fellowships and scholarships, please visit:
The College of Education Financial Aid & Scholarship webpage
If you have questions about our admission process, contact TLPL Graduate Coordinator Kay Moon at kmoon@umd.edu.
For Math-specific questions, students may contact Dr. Andrew Brantlinger at amb@umd.edu.
For science-specific questions, students may contact Dr. Andrew Elby at elby@umd.edu.