“Penn taught me, Penn GSE especially, that if you have the right combination of ingredients—commitment from the structure, mentors, and colleagues—then risk-taking, innovation, and progress will for sure ignite.”
Justice Toshiba Walker, Ph.D., GR'19
Here to prepare researchers and teacher educators for universities and colleges.
The Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education is designed for scholars who seek to advance education through rigorous research and theoretical inquiry. Students engage deeply with both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, developing expertise in action research, ethnographic study, statistical analysis, and survey research. Focal areas include teaching and learning, research and practice in teacher education, mathematics education, science education, and the study of urban education and urban contexts.
Program Details
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September 1 Application Opens
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Fall Entry Term
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Full-Time Enrollment Format
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12 Courses
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4 Years Fully Funded Dean's Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship
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On Campus Modality
Hear From Our Alumni
Hear From Our Alumni
Justice Toshiba Walker, Ph.D., GR'19
Overview
The Ph.D. program in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education (TLTE) is designed to draw together coursework, research apprenticeships, and professional academic activities to build a complete professional experience. Students address a range of practice-based and theoretical problems in schools and community settings from sociopolitical, cultural, philosophical, psychological, and historical perspectives.
Taking an interdisciplinary stance, faculty and students explore issues of equity, social justice, and educational change in a range of formal and informal educational settings. Field-based research and collaborative projects with practitioners in schools or other educational settings are central to the program. A key component of this professional experience is the Research Apprenticeship Course (RAC), which supports students in developing, conducting, and presenting original research. As part of the Professional Experiences strand, RAC is structured around students’ research interests and fosters a collaborative learning environment where participants contribute to scheduling activities, leading discussions, and shaping the agenda to reflect the collective needs of the group.
The program also emphasizes mentorship, with students at different stages of their doctoral journey guiding one another under faculty supervision. Beginning in the spring of the first year, students engage in the RAC and continue their participation until the completion of their dissertation. Graduates of the program go on to pursue teaching and research positions in institutions of higher education, leveraging their expertise to advance educational scholarship and practice.
Take the Next Step
Application Requirements and Deadlines Tuition and Fees Ph.D. Funding
Upcoming Events
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Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Location: Online
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Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Location: Online
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Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Location: Online
Curriculum
As a full-time Ph.D. student, you are expected to be in residence and participate in practicum activities, courses, and other academic experiences throughout the first two years, where you will be enrolled in 3 course units per semester.
For more information about courses and requirements, visit the Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education Ph.D. program in the University Catalog.
Do you have questions about the coursework or research?
We're happy to help! Contact the Program Manager, Noemí Fernández, noemif@upenn.edu.
Outcomes
Our graduates are prepared for research and academic careers in education, psychology, and related human services fields.
Alumni Careers
- Adjunct Professor, Moore College of Art and Design
- Associate Professor of Special Education, Villanova University
- Assistant Professor, Montclair State University
- Assistant Professor, Utah State University
- Associate Director, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
- Director, Out of School Time Resource Center
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Temple University
- Senior Associate, Great Schools Partnership
Apply Now
A graduate degree from Penn GSE opens up whole new worlds, intellectually as well as professionally. If you are a passionate, innovative, impactful leader—or aspire to be one—Penn GSE is the place for you
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