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Residential

Gifted Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Studies

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OVERVIEW

Advance Your Career

Purdue’s internationally recognized gifted education program attracts talented graduate students from across the country and from around the world. Through experiences such as research, teaching, and P-12 engagement, our graduates are well-prepared to enter research and teaching positions at universities, as well as leadership positions in local, state and federal agencies and schools.

This residential program has rolling admission. Applications must be fully complete and submitted (including all required materials) and all application fees paid prior to the deadline in order for applications to be considered and reviewed. For a list of all required materials for this program application, please see the “Admissions” section.

What degree is conferred upon satisfactory completion of this program?

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Studies with a concentration of Gifted Education. This information will be listed on the transcript, and the diploma states the degree objective.

90
Credit Program
Dec 1
Fall Application Deadline December 1 is the deadline for applicants interested in being considered for any available PhD funding. Applications are accepted until April 1 for all other applicants.
Oct 1
Spring Application Deadline
Feb 1
Summer Application Deadline

Courses

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Courses

Candidates are generally required to complete the departmental research foundation (12 hours), core requirements in educational psychology (21 hours), an area of specialization (9 hours), a related area (9 hours), and 9-15 hours of thesis credit for a total of 60+ hours beyond the master’s degree. Areas of specialization and related areas are planned cooperatively by the student, the advisor, and the advisory committee. Coursework must be completed in a five-year period. In addition to completing their coursework, doctoral students are expected to gain experience and expertise in research, writing, teaching, leadership, and service.

Departmental Foundation Requirement (15 credits)

  • EDPS 53300, Introduction to Research in Education, or equivalent course as approved by the faculty advisor (3 credits)
  • Two Foundational Statistics Courses (6 credits)
    • One from the following list: EDPS 55600, STAT 50100, STAT 51100, PSY 60000, or SOC 58000
    • One from the following list: EDPS 55700, STAT 50200, STAT 51200, PSY 60100, or SOC 68000
  • One Advanced Statistics, Research Methods and/or Measurement Course pre-approved by the department (3 credits)
  • EDPS 63000, Research Procedures in Education, or equivalent course as approved by the faculty advisor (3 credits)

Primary Area Core Requirements

  • 3 credits – one course in measurement
    • EDPS 531 – Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation
    • EDPS 532 – Measuring Educational Achievement
  • 3 credits – one course in development by advisement
  • 6 credits – two of the following courses in development, learning, and instruction:
    • EDPS 535 – Personal-Social Dynamics in the Classroom
    • EDPS 536 – Achievement Motivation and Performance
    • EDPS 537 – Prose Learning and Retention
    • EDPS 538 – School Learning and Instruction
    • EDPS 540 – Gifted, Creative, and Talented Students
  • 9 credits – enrollment in one or more of the following variable credit seminars:
    • EDPS 631 – Applied Research Design (Gifted Education Seminar)
      • Students are expected to enroll in this specialized seminar each time it is offered until they have successfully defended their dissertation proposal.
    • EDPS 632 – Research Procedures in Education
    • EDPS 633 – Educational Psychology

Primary Area of Specialization

12+ Credits – Four or more electives by advisement

Related Area

9+ credits – Multiple enrollments in EDPS 699 Research PhD thesis are expected while working on the dissertation; typically students take 9-15 hours of EDPS 699 for a PhD

Credit Requirement

The Office of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) requires that doctoral students meet the requirement of 90 credits towards the PhD, which includes coursework and 69900 research credits and may include up to 30 credits from one master’s degree with the approval of the faculty advisor.

Total Credits: 63+

Supplemental info

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Supplemental Program Information

For information about plans of study, exams, dissertation and deposit requirements, and graduation, students should review the College of Education graduate student webpages listed below. Students should also review the OGS Student Guide, and a copy of the most recent version of this document may be obtained by emailing the Office of Graduate Studies.  

Admissions

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Admissions

A graduate application must be submitted and application fee paid (if applicable) by the application deadline. In addition, the materials listed under the Application Requirements section below must be submitted by the application deadline in order for an application to be considered complete and for the application to be reviewed for admission consideration. Please review the How to Apply section below before submitting an application.

A completed master’s degree is not required for admission to this program.

Below are the materials required for this application. Visit the Office of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) website for more information about the requirements below.

  • Transcripts (from all universities attended, including an earned bachelor’s degree)
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • 3 Recommendations
  • International Applicants must meet English Proficiency Requirements set by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars.

We encourage prospective students to submit an application early, even if not all required materials are uploaded. Applications are not forwarded on for faculty review until all required materials are uploaded.

When submitting your application for this program, please select the following options:

  • Campus and Program Tab:
    • Select a Campus: Purdue West Lafayette (PWL)
    • Select your proposed graduate major: Educational Studies
  • First Choice Program Details Tab:
    • Please select an Area of Interest: Gifted Education
    • Please select a Degree Objective: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    • Primary Course Delivery: Residential

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Licensure

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Licensure Information

This program does not lead to licensure in the state of Indiana or elsewhere. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL) before continuing with the program application if you have questions regarding licensure, or contact your state Department of Education about how this program may translate to licensure in your state of residence.

program FACULTY

Learn From the Experts

Explore how Purdue’s faculty for the residential PhD in Gifted Education can prepare you to help all students learn.

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Alissa Cress

Clinical Assistant Professor

Benna Haas

Clinical Assistant Professor

F. Richard Olenchak

Professor

Nielsen Pereira

Associate Professor

Kristen Seward

Clinical Associate Professor

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