Extend your impact as a leader in curriculum and instruction
Mercer University’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction prepares current educators to become scholars, researchers, and leaders in curriculum and instruction at local, state, and national levels. Candidates will gain a greater understanding of the foundations of planning and implementing curriculum and how to employ data and critical analysis of research to design and evaluate instruction.
Completion of the program and a passing score on the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Content Assessment for Curriculum and Instruction will lead to eligibility for a Level 7 Service certification upgrade.
Designed for busy and working adults
Mercer’s Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction is offered in a convenient blended, weekend format, and new cohorts begin once per year in May. Classes are a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online meetings with three Saturday, in-person sessions per semester. Saturday seminars meet on Mercer’s Atlanta campus from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a midday break. The dissertation process is embedded throughout the program, and the supportive cohort model allows for ongoing collaboration with classmates and faculty mentors. In addition to the regular class sessions, students have the opportunity for individual advising and consultation with faculty via a variety of formats. Classes are taken sequentially over 11 semesters in 16-week terms for fall and spring, and an 8-week term in summer.
Expand your knowledge
Through program curriculum, candidates will gain knowledge in:
- The historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of curriculum
- Contexts for planning, implementing, and evaluating curriculum
- Formulating strategies and techniques that incorporate critical analysis of current research and pedagogical approaches
Learn more about our Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule your personalized admission appointment or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6062 or MercerEducation@mercer.edu for more information.
The doctoral program has given me a broader view into the political, theoretical, and conceptual aspects of education. This has helped me develop new understandings about what we do as educators, how we do it, and why. This has influenced my teaching practice and made me more of an advocate for social justice.
I feel confident I can be an effective leader by engaging in reflective and collaborative practices in my local, state, national, and global school communities. I transformed from a teacher to a teacher leader as a Mercer student.
Mercer has prepared me for a successful career by helping me build my self-esteem. When I started the Ph.D. program, I was not confident in my skills as an educator or graduate student. Over the course of three years, I was able to see that my faculty believed in my work as an educator as well as my strength as a Ph.D student.
Meet Our Faculty
Mercer’s Tift College of Education is supported by faculty and staff who devote themselves to preparing students to become transforming educators within their communities and throughout the world.
Professional licensure
All of Mercer’s programs that lead to licensure are designed to meet the educational requirements of regulatory authorities in the State of Georgia. If you intend to seek licensure or certification outside of Georgia, please review Mercer’s professional licensure disclosure for more information.