Doctor of Philosophy Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education

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Program Link:
https://education.wsu.edu/graduate/culturalstudies/
Program Handbook:
https://education.wsu.edu/documents/2015/08/cultural-studies-doctoral-student-handbook-2014-2015.pdf/
Student Learning Outcomes:
https://education.wsu.edu/graduate/culturalstudies/overview/
Total Core Graduate Faculty in Program:
5
Graduate Students in Program:
22
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall December 1 (Priority Deadline)

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • TOEFL – iBT 80
  • IELTS Band 7

Degree Description:

The Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education (CSSTE) Ph.D. option is a rigorous, flexible, and individually-tailored course of study that focuses on the issues of culture and power in the contemporary and historical contexts of education. Cultural studies includes popular culture and media, social justice, environment, ethics, aesthetics, race, ethnicity, gender, and social class, which are applied to a range of educational sub-fields that include literacy, educational leadership, teacher leadership, school reform, curriculum theory, higher education, science, art, special education, and bilingual/ELL (English Language Learners). The overall goal of the faculty is to articulate a cohesive and supportive community of educational scholarship and practice. While coursework is important, we work to establish a strong program of mentorship in which doctoral candidates are mentored into the world of research, knowledge generation and dissemination, and pedagogical and social action. We are committed to the idea that our scholarly endeavors stimulate positive change in schools and the communities and society those schools serve. Education, whether it takes place in the formal settings of schools and museums or the informal contexts of home and the movie theater, is defined by its cultural context. Cultural studies take these cultural contexts as the essential starting point to build research projects and define teaching practices.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must have a degree, ideally a master’s degree, from an accredited 4-year institution with a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. Students should be interested in intellectual research and have a passion for ideas. Students should also maintain a practical orientation remaining grounded in doing good work for their communities.

01. A WSU Graduate School general application (including application fee). In GradCAS search for Washington State University – Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education.

02. Current resume or vitae.

03. Letter of Intent. The letter of intent must include:

(a) the reason for pursuing a graduate degree,
(b) a description of teaching or other life experience that relates to graduate study,
(c) a commitment to scholarship or professional development,
(d) a specific research or inquiry interest,
(e) the unique perspective you would bring to the graduate program, and, if applying for an assistantship,
(f) why you would be an effective teacher at the college level.

04. Academic writing sample. This writing sample must be a formal, academic writing sample, such as a thesis or paper.

05. Three letters of reference. The three letters of recommendation, submitted through GradCAS, must address your:

(a) interpersonal skills,
(b) scholarship,
(c) experience with children or youth, and
(d) facility with written, oral, and interpersonal communication.

In addition, if applying for a teaching assistantship, one of the letters must also address your effectiveness as a teacher.

06. Complete Educational History and Transcripts from any colleges/universities:

  • Where any degrees have been granted or are expected.
  • That show any graded bachelor’s work and/or graduate-level work (including doctoral) taken after the bachelor’s degree.
  • Unofficial copies may be uploaded with your Graduate School application for application review. If admitted, you will be required to submit official copies to the WSU Graduate School.
  • Official WSU Transcripts are NOT required for coursework taken at WSU.

07.  International Students must meet the university’s English proficiency and funding requirements. Please view the current requirements.

08. Copies of currently held education certificates.

 

Career Opportunities:

University faculty in cultural studies, social foundations, or related fields; administrator or researcher in a school district or state/national educational organization or non-profit or non-governmental organization.

Career Placements:

Assistant Professor, Eastern Washington University
Academic Counselor, Eastern Washington University
Assistant Professor, Northern Illinois University.
Assistant Professor, University of Portland
Assistant Professor, California State University at Stanislaus.
Assistant Professor, Gonzaga University
Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator for the Province of Alberta

Contact Information: