Faculty from the department participate in the delivery of the PhD with a major in education. Concentrations and specializations are available in literacy studies concentration (specialization in children’s and young adult literature, ESL or literacy education); special education, deaf education, and interpreter education concentration; and teacher education concentration (specializations in cultural studies of educational foundations, elementary education, English education, mathematics education, science education, or social science education).
Concentrations (Required)
Literacy Studies
Special education, Deaf Education, and Interpreter Education
Teacher Education
Campus Code
Knoxville Campus
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- Students must submit to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an online graduate application to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Students must also submit the Theory and Practice in Teacher Education Departmental Application for Graduate Study.
- Applicants must submit verbal, quantitative, and analytic writing GRE scores that are equal to or higher than the 50th percentile, based on the norms in effect at the time the test was taken.
- An applicant with either a verbal or quantitative subtest score that is less than the 50th percentile will be expected to submit a proportionally higher, off-setting second subtest score.
- Three letters of reference from those who know of the candidate’s record and promise are required.
- An overall GPA of 3.30 in previous graduate study is required for admission to doctoral study and an interview with the faculty may be required.
- Admissions decisions are made on a holistic basis to discern the candidate’s promise for doctoral study and to ascertain the match of the candidate’s educational goals with the resources and goals of the department.
Literacy Studies Concentration
Literacy studies concentration offers specializations in children’s and young adult literature, ESL, and literacy education.
Students in the PhD concentrations share a common set of course requirements with graduate credit hours required as shown below. Doctoral committees may require students to take additional credit hours to fulfill degree requirements
Credit Hours Required
Minimum 72 graduate credit hours (minimum 48 graduate coursework credit hours plus minimum 24 credit hours of dissertation)
Required Courses
- TPTE 600 (24 credit hours)
- Research Area (15 credit hours)
- Core Requirements (12 credit hours)
- One seminar in each of the three primary concentrations for a total of 9 credit hours
- TPTE 617
- REED 602
- SPED 601 / EDDE 601
- Or other course from each of the three departmental PhD concentrations as selected in consultation with and approved by doctoral committee;
- TPTE 604 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 605 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 612 (minimum of 1 credit hour)
- Concentration/Specialization (15 credit hours). Based upon student’s background and career goals, students will consult with advisor to select appropriate courses
- Cognate (6 credit hours) related courses selected in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee
Non-Course Requirements
- Successful defense of dissertation
Special Education, Deaf Education, and Interpreter Education Concentration
The Special Education, Deaf Education, and Interpreter Education concentration allows candidates to research a number of topics important to the education of or services for persons with disabilities.
Credit Hours Required
Minimum 72 graduate credit hours (minimum 48 graduate coursework credit hours plus minimum 24 credit hours of dissertation)
Required Courses
- TPTE 600 (24 credit hours)
- Research Area (15 credit hours)
- Core Requirements (12 credit hours)
- One seminar in each of the three primary concentrations for a total of 9 credit hours
- TPTE 617
- REED 602
- SPED 601 / EDDE 601
- Or other course from each of the three departmental PhD concentrations as selected in consultation with and approved by doctoral committee;
- TPTE 604 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 605 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 612 (minimum of 1 credit hour)
- Concentration/Specialization (15 credit hours) Based upon student’s background and career goals, students will consult with advisor to select appropriate courses.
- Cognate (6 credit hours) related courses selected in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee
Non-Course Requirements
- Successful defense of dissertation
Teacher Education Concentration
Teacher Education concentration offers specializations in Cultural Studies in Educational Foundations, Elementary Education, English Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Social Science Education.
Credit Hours Required
Minimum 72 graduate credit hours (minimum 48 graduate coursework credit hours plus minimum 24 credit hours of dissertation)
Required Courses
- TPTE 600 (24 credit hours)
- Research Area (15 credit hours)
- Core Requirements (12 credit hours)
- One seminar in each of the three primary concentrations for a total of 9 credit hours
- TPTE 617
- REED 602
- SPED 601 / EDDE 601
- Or other course from each of the three departmental PhD concentrations as selected in consultation with and approved by doctoral committee;
- TPTE 604 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 605 (1 credit hour)
- TPTE 612 (minimum of 1 credit hour)
- Concentration/Specialization (15 credit hours) Based upon student’s background and career goals, students will consult with advisor to select appropriate courses.
- Cognate (6 credit hours) related courses selected in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee
Non-Course Requirements
- Successful defense of dissertation
