If you have general questions about the Ph.D. in Urban
Education, you may wish to consult other sections of this
website, including An Innovative
Program, Vision and Curriculum.
These Applicants’ FAQs address specific questions
that often arise during the application process.
What is the difference between the Ph.D. and the
Ed.D.?
The USC Rossier School of Education offers two
excellent and distinct doctoral programs: the Ph.D. and
the Ed.D. The Ph.D. Program is a full-time, on-site program
which admits a small Cohort once a year, in the fall. The
Ph.D. curriculum emphasizes the development of cutting-edge
scholars who are theoretically informed and methodologically
sophisticated, and prepared for faculty positions in major
research universities. For additional information on the
two degrees, please visit Ph.D. and
Ed.D.: Which is for Me?
Is financial aid available?
Every member of the Ph.D. cohort is provided with 4 years of support through multiple work experiences, allowing each student the opportunity to participate in research, teaching and study. There is no need to submit a separate application for financial aid or for fellowships.
- Full tuition coverage for all required coursework ~ up to 12 units of tuition remission for each of the fall, spring and summer terms
- Academic stipend ~ $25,000 for the academic year and $6,190 supplemental summer assistantship
- Health/Dental insurance coverage and annual Student Health Center fee payment
- Annual travel award for professional and academic conferences
- Dissertation support, statistical training and professional development workshops in preparation for a career in the nation’s leading research universities
- Pre-admission campus visit and off-site orientation retreat
Can I work while I’m in this program?
Each admitted student is awarded an assistantship which involves twenty hours a week of research, writing and/or teaching in close collaboration with senior faculty. In order to provide the doctoral experience necessary to prepare students for faculty positions at research universities, we require a full time commitment to the program. Outside employment is discouraged.
Do you offer a Ph.D. in anything besides Urban
Education?
The Rossier School of Education recently completed
a strategic restructuring of all its programs, including
the Ph.D. As of 2004, no new students are being accepted
into the previous Ph.D. programs, including the Ph.D. in
Counseling Psychology.
Within the prevailing focus on Urban Educational Policy,
students in our Ph.D. program have the opportunity to explore
a wide range of educational topics. The courses utilize
a case-based method that demands respect for diverse methodologies
and interdisciplinary approaches to address today’s
complex challenges in education.
Please see Curriculum Overview and Vision
of the Ph.D. Program for a more detailed discussion
of the depth of understanding of urban education with
which our students graduate, and the breadth of topics
with which they engage during the program.
How do I know which concentration is right for
me?
If you are interested in research in the areas of learning and motivation, especially how people learn, what motivates them, what instructional and motivational strategies are most effective for individuals from different cultures, and how the social context of instruction affects learning, our Ph.D. with a concentration in Educational Psychology would be right for you.
If you are interested in college student development, organizational productivity, legal issues, equity and access, fiscal management, and retention at four-year institutions and community colleges, our Ph.D. with a concentration in Higher Education Administration and Policy would be right for you.
If you are interested in improving policy and practice in K-12 education, examining influences and processes related to leadership, governance, teaching and learning, and organizational change in K-12 settings, our Ph.D. with a concentration in K-12 Policy and Practice would be right for you.
Can I review a profile of the student body?
Diversity is a strength and source of pride that
plays a central role in the USC educational experience.
Students come from all 50 states and 144 other countries,
educating more than 5,000 international students each academic
year. USC students enrich their programs with a diversity
of perspectives informed both by age and by work and life
experience. The Rossier School of Education student body,
one of the most diverse in the country, reflects this urban
community and was recently ranked #1 in research universities
for Minority Doctorates by Diverse: Issues Higher Education.
A glimpse at our entering Ph.D. cohorts for 2004-2007
- Women = 72%
- Average age = 28
- Age range when entering program = 22-40
- Average undergraduate GPA = 3.43
- Average graduate GPA = 3.82
- GRE scores 1200 or higher = 76%
Racial Ethnic Representation
- Asian/Asian American = 28%
- Black/ Africa American = 20%
- Caucasian/White = 36%
- Latino/Hispanic = 12%
- International = 4%
Please visit our Ph.D. Students for
a look at the academic backgrounds and professional experience
of our current Ph.D. students, an accomplished and diverse
group, both personally and professionally.
What role will my GRE scores play?
We understand that applicants are more than their test scores, and therefore, GRE scores represent only one aspect of your application packet. However, we do require a minimum GRE score of 1000 and most successful applicants will score in the 1200-and-above range. The exam must have been completed within the last five years. If you have taken the exam more than once, the highest scores of the verbal and quantitative section will be evaluated.
Are there any special requirements for international
applicants?
Yes, there are additional requirements for international
applicants. Please visit our Frequently
Asked Questions for International Applicants site for
specific information.
How do I apply?
To apply, prospective students must first complete the USC
Online Graduate Application . In addition to the standard
information required by the University, Ph.D. applicants
also need to upload their personal statement, resume and
scholarship application to this online system. After completing
the online graduate application, Ph.D. applicants must
also send certain materials to USC and RSOE. For more information
on the Ph.D. application process, please refer to our How
to Apply site.
What happens after I apply?
All applications received by the December 1 deadline will
be reviewed by the admissions committee. Acceptance and
denial letters will be mailed in February.
What happens after I get admitted?
Those applicants who are offered admission to
the Ph.D. Program are invited to be our guests at a two-day
campus visit. The visit provides an opportunity to explore
the resources of the University of Southern California
while getting to know Rossier faculty and students in a
casual and intellectually engaging atmosphere. Offers of
admission must be accepted by March 15.
The acceptance letter also indicates the faculty member
who has been assigned to each admitted applicant, matched
according to area of expertise and research interests. The
advisor serves both as an academic mentor and a research
supervisor. Ph.D. students are required to work up
to 20 hours/week on research, instruction and related activities
with their faculty advisor, as stated in the acceptance
letter. If after meeting with your advisor you both
decide that your needs can be better served by a different
faculty member, it is possible to make a change at that
time.
After you have decided to attend USC, the Ph.D. Program
Office will send you information regarding the program
orientation, Cohort retreat and registration. Orientation
and the off-site retreat will take place in mid-August,
prior to the start of fall semester classes.
