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Program Description
The PhD program in International Education prepares graduates for academic positions in comparative and international education, or for a career as a professional educator/researcher in international and multinational settings. Doctoral students develop a course of study that concentrates on a cultural area of the world, with options to study abroad, and take courses in specialized research methods, social science or humanities disciplines, globalization, and educational policy. Students may tailor their studies for focus on (1) cross-cultural exchange and training which prepares graduates to conduct research, teach, and work in educational and cultural organizations that facilitate international exchanges and cross-cultural training; (2) global education which prepares graduate to conduct research, teach, and work in colleges, universities, schools, publishing houses, and educational agencies that design, develop, and implement global education programs; or (3) International development education which prepares graduates to conduct research, teach, and work in government agencies, private voluntary organizations, and foundations that provide educational assistance to underdeveloped countries to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Special Opportunities
The International Education Program supports a number of research and training projects through the Multinational Institute of American Studies, a center for public diplomacy that offers noncredit programs in American culture, politics, and society to foreign scholars, diplomats, and journalists. A student-led organization, the International Education Student Board sponsors lectures and meetings on topics of current interest. The program also cosponsors several summer study-abroad programs in cooperation with other programs across the University.
Admissions
Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:
- Résumé/CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Proficiency in English
See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.
See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The PhD degree requires the completion of a minimum of 54 credits and a dissertation, as follows:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| INTE-GE 3097 | Content Seminar in Int'L Ed I | 3 |
| or INTE-GE 3098 | Content Sem in Int'L Ed II |
| INTE-GE 3801 | Research in Int'L Ed I | 3 |
| or INTE-GE 3802 | Research in Int'L Ed II |
| INTE-GE 2803 | Foundations In International Education | 4 |
| INTE-GE 2025 | Contemporary Issues in International Education | 4 |
| ASH-GE 3011 | Department Seminar I | 3 |
| 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 8-12 |
| 3 | 8-12 |
| 0-12 |
| Doctoral Seminar I (can be repeated for credit) | |
| Doctoral Seminar II (can be repeated for credit) | |
| Total Credits | 54 |
Additional Program Requirements
Candidacy Examination
While completing coursework, students are known as “PhD students.” Upon successful completion of coursework, written comprehensive exam, oral comprehensive exam, and proposal defense, they are known as “PhD candidates.”
After completing most of their core course work, students should begin preparation for the candidacy examination. The candidacy examination has two parts -- a three-hour written comprehensive and a two-hour oral session. The written part focuses on the basic literature covering modernization theory, cultural identity, nationalism, globalization, and socialization and is largely based on the three core theory classes. The International Education Program faculty work together to write the exam questions. We encourage students to study together as a cohort and use and build on the notes that their colleagues developed in previous years. Most students choose to take their written exam by beginning of their 4th semester so that the material from the core theory classes is still fresh in their minds. The exam is offered on one single date in the fall or spring, scheduled at the request of the students in consultation with faculty. Faculty determine the final date for the exam.
The oral examination focuses on key theoretical frameworks from the key discipline the student draws on (e.g., see disciplines below), major field of specialization in International Education (e.g., loosely described as Global Education, International Development Education, Conflict/Peace Education, or Cross Cultural Exchange and Training), research methods, and the area studies concentration. Students must demonstrate competence in one of the following academic disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, politics, or sociology. Students should use electives in their specialized field of international education and in their area studies concentration to build their theoretical knowledge to satisfy this requirement. Three professors conduct the oral examination representing expertise in, for example, the area studies concentration, disciplinary concentration, and research methods. Prior to taking the examination, each student must submit a list of books and articles for each part of the examination first, to their adviser, and second to the committee members for approval.
Dissertation Committee
When a student has successfully completed the candidacy examination and has chosen a topic for research, their adviser will help her/him identify two faculty members to serve on the sponsoring committee who will supervise the writing of the proposal and the dissertation. Although not required to be the same, these two members may be the same as the two selected for the oral comprehensive examination. The chairperson of the committee is the student’s adviser. The adviser must be a full time faculty member of the International Education program unless there is a compelling reason for another choice. At least one committee member must come from outside the International Education Program; they may come from the department, elsewhere in Steinhart, NYU, or beyond. In most cases at least one of the members of the committee is a specialist in the country or region in which the student has conducted their research.
Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal should be completed and defended ideally by the beginning of the second semester of the third year. We recommend this deadline since the proposal defense typically must be completed in order to apply for dissertation research grants and fellowships. The proposal review process requires the PhD student to work closely with their primary adviser and the two other dissertation committee members to move the proposal to its final state. Once the chair and committee have agreed that the proposal is ready for defense, the student distributes the final version to the committee and to the two proposal reviewers/external readers. At the completion of a successful proposal/defense, the PhD student advances to candidacy (“ABD”). If Human Subjects (IRB) approval is required for the dissertation research, this paperwork should be submitted immediately after the proposal defense.
While preparing the dissertation students must enroll in a 0-credit course, MAINT-GE 4747, to maintain matriculation.
Final Oral Defense
After submitting the dissertation each student will defend the document before an examining commission of five faculty, including the adviser and two sponsoring professors and two outside readers. The defense may include general areas of knowledge in the student's field of specialization as well as specific questions on the dissertation itself.
Sample Plan of Study
Plan of Study Grid
| 1st Semester/Term |
|---|
| ASH-GE 3011 |
Department Seminar I |
3 |
| INTE-GE 3801 |
Research in Int'L Ed I |
3 |
| INTE-GE 2803 |
Foundations In International Education |
4 |
| INTE-GE 3907 |
|
3 |
| | Credits | 13 |
| 2nd Semester/Term |
|---|
| INTE-GE 3098 |
Content Sem in Int'L Ed II |
3 |
| INTE-GE 2025 |
Contemporary Issues in International Education |
4 |
|
3 |
| INTE-GE 3802 |
Research in Int'L Ed II |
3 |
| | Credits | 13 |
| 3rd Semester/Term |
|---|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
6 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| 4th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
| | Credits | 10 |
| 5th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
0 |
|
6 |
| | Credits | 6 |
| 6th Semester/Term |
|---|
|
0 |
| | Credits | 0 |
| | Total Credits | 54 |
Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course. All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Ask research questions and formulate problems using a broad range of theoretical and methodological tools.
- Demonstrate ability to think critically, undertake systematic investigations and research, and communicate effectively orally and in writing to academic and non-academic audiences.
- Articulate, design, and implement a professional and career development plan tied to post-graduate goals.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the larger social and cultural contexts that shape educational institutions and human learning.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Steinhardt Academic Policies
Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.