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Take your language-teaching expertise—and your career—to the next level in our part-time doctoral program.
Are you a world language educator who wants to engage deeply in research to improve your practice? Do you aspire to leadership positions in world language education? Would you like to pursue a doctorate while continuing to work full time? The part-time Ed.D. in Educational Linguistics is designed for early- to mid-career professionals like you.
What Sets Us Apart
#1 Penn GSE is ranked #1 Graduate School of Education by U.S. News & World Report, 2022
Work full time while earning your doctorate
Be part of a vibrant Ivy League community of researchers and practitioners
About the Program
In addition to coursework on language and learning, doctoral students engage deeply in research into their practice as they prepare their dissertation.
Application Deadline
December 1, 2020Entry term(s)
Fall
Course requirements
16 courses (10 required; 6 electives)Typical course load
No more than 2 courses per semester – part-time program only
Duration of program5–9 years (depending on the number of graduate-level transfer courses)
Culminating experienceCandidacy examination, language examination (to show knowledge of a language other than English), and dissertation
Format(s)
- Part-Time
Overview
Designed for working professionals, the Ed.D. in Educational Linguistics is a part-time program for early- to mid-career world language educators. Candidates gain a solid foundation in:
- linguistics
- bi/multilingualism
- second language development
- language policy
- research methods
Ed.D. students have the opportunity to demonstrate expertise in these areas by generating and applying research knowledge to program design and professional practice. Candidates receive additional training as teacher-educators, have opportunities to engage deeply in research on their practice, and are able to advance their careers as language educators and trainers of instructors in language programs.
Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to provide a solid foundation in linguistics and research methodology, with the goal of generating and applying research knowledge to program design, mentoring, and instructional practice. Furthermore, candidates customize their education by working with their advisor to choose electives from a wide range of course offerings from across the Penn campus.
For information on courses and requirements, visit the Educational Linguistics Ed.D. program in the University Catalog.
Sample courses
- EDUC 537 Educational Linguistics
- EDUC 546 Sociolinguistics in Education
- EDUC 661 Language Diversity and Education
- EDUC 670 Second Language Development
- EDUC 911 Issues in Second Language Acquisition
- EDUC 927 Research Seminar: Language Policy and Education
- LING 530 Phonology I
- LING 550 Syntax I
- EDUC 502 Citizen Sociolinguistics
- EDUC 517 Classroom Discourse and Interaction
- EDUC 527 Approaches to Teaching English and Other Modern Languages
- EDUC 547 Anthropology & Education
- EDUC 834 Theories of Reading
- ANTH 603 Language in Culture & Society
Our Faculty
Executive Director, Language Instruction, Penn Arts & Sciences
Ph.D., University of California at Davis
Our Graduates
The Ed.D. in Educational Linguistics prepares you to lead initiatives in world language education. You work closely with faculty mentors to develop the theoretical and technical expertise necessary to pursue leadership positions as leaders of language programs in colleges and universities, primary and secondary schools, private language schools, and online environments.
Admissions & Financial Aid
Please visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages for specific information on the application requirements, as well as information on tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships.
Contact Information
Contact us if you have any questions about the program.
Office of Admissions and
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Graduate School of Education
University of Pennsylvania
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-6415
admissions@gse.upenn.edu
finaid@gse.upenn.edu
Program Contact
Sarah Peyton Kaufman
Program Manager
(215) 898-5212
speyton@gse.upenn.edu
Katherine O’Morchoe
Program Assistant
(215) 898-7912
omorchoe@gse.upenn.edu
Please view information from our Admissions and Financial Aid Office for specific information on the cost of this program.
Penn GSE is committed to making your graduate education affordable, and we offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.
Related News & Research
Working Papers in Educational Linguistics is a student-managed journal focused on the many areas of research within educational linguistics.
Research