The program of study leading to the Ph.D. in Education is designed to educate researchers and professionals to address critical educational issues within and beyond the traditional formal school systems; to educate these researchers and professionals from an integrated and interdisciplinary perspective through participation in on-going research programs; and to provide these researchers and professionals with the scholarly, methodological, and critical knowledge and skills to conduct original research in education.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education program is based upon completion of a Master’s degree in Education or equivalent advanced-level credential with first class standing (A- or 80% or higher ) at a recognized university. Professional experience in education or a related field is an asset.

Applicants are required to submit a brief research proposal (one to two pages maximum), and to contact one or two potential academic supervisors to obtain confirmation that he/she is willing to supervise their work if they apply for and receive an offer of admission.

Applicants whose native languages do not include English must obtain a passing score in one of the accepted tests of English language proficiency. Information can be found  in the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies here: International Students.

Promotion from the M.Ed. program in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University to the Ph.D. in Education program may be considered under exceptional circumstances. If you are interested in this option, you are encouraged to contact the Faculty’s Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Additional information about this option can be found in the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies here: Academic Qualifications for Admission.

Programs of Study

This program is fundamentally a full-time program; therefore, registered students are expected to pay full-time fees for the duration of their program (see Requirements for Degree Programs). An academic year consists of three terms, which are fall, winter, and summer. All doctoral students registering initially as a full-time student, must pay full-time fees at least for the first six terms, whatever their registration status. After that time the Faculty and the School of Graduate Studies will consider applications for a transfer from full-time to part-time status for reasons such as:

1. the student has an opportunity for full-time professional employment or
2. there has been a change in the student’s personal circumstances that prevent his/her studies from being pursued on a full-time basis (see Transfers from Full-Time to Part-Time Status).

All students will be required to meet regularly with their supervisor, and to maintain appropriate levels of communication in order to maintain sufficient academic progress.

The minimum time to complete the Ph.D. in Education program is nine academic terms. Students normally take courses, and complete their comprehensive examinations, within the first two years of initial registration. It is expected that full-time students will complete all degree requirements within four years.

Students will follow a program with the following components:

• Coursework: Students must complete five graduate courses, which includes EDUC 900 Doctoral Seminar. The four other required courses are to be selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor and with the approval of the Faculty’s Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Students are encouraged to take one graduate course in another department, and may be required by their supervisory committee to take further courses beyond the five normally required.
• Personal Program Plan: In conjunction with their supervisory committee, students will compile a personal program plan of appropriate research and development goals and these will be tracked through the Annual Ph.D. Progress Report Form.
• Comprehensive Examination: The comprehensive examination will comprise a set of two tasks. It is expected that these tasks will be completed within the first two years of enrollment.
  • The first task will be negotiated among the student, the supervisory committee, and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Education. It will take the form of one of the following:
    • the writing of a literature review on one or more specified topics;
    • the novel analyses of existing data or consideration of methodological issues; or
    • a grant proposal on one or more specified topics.
  • For the second task each student will submit a dissertation proposal. Following submission of this proposal, an oral candidacy exam will be held. Both the written proposal and the student’s competency at the oral candidacy exam will be evaluated for this task.
    
    All parts of the examination will be marked by the supervisory committee.
• Dissertation: The dissertation research must be original and contribute to knowledge in the field. The defense of the dissertation will be an oral examination conducted according to the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (see Thesis).