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UF
College of Education
School of Teaching and Learning Admissions Ph.D. Application Directions

Ph.D. Application Directions

1. Apply Online to the University of Florida Graduate School.

2. When you are instructed to enter your doctoral program, follow the below instructions to be sure your application is routed to the appropriate area.

  • Direction for applying to a PhD program in the School of Teaching and Learning

    Most of the admissions portal for PhD students is intuitive and similar to previous years but please follow the directions below for areas that may cause confusion.

    1. Access the UF Graduate School Admissions portal
    2. Complete the Personal Information and Conduct Disclosure Sections
    3. Select “Main Campus – Gainesville” under “Location of Intended program.” Our PhD programs are not offered online
    4. Under “Program of Study”, Select your PhD DEGREE as Curriculum and Instruction
    5. Under “Program of Study”, Select your Admissions term. Most PhD student begin in the Fall semester.
    6. Under “Program of Study”, Select your CONCENTRATION from the drop-down if any of the following are applicable. If not, select NONE.
      1. Ed Tech
      2. Teachers, Schools and Society
      3. Science Education
      4. Languages and Literacy Education
      5. Critical Race
      6. None: 
    7. PROGRAM SPECIALIZATION text box
      1. Enter NONE in the text box if your Concentration is Ed Tech, Teachers, Schools and Society, Science Education or Critical Race
      2. If you selected the Languages and Literacy Education concentration, please type in one of the following specialization:
        1. Reading Education
        2. English Education (This is not related to teaching English as a foreign language)
        3. ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages)
      3. If you selected NONE because your area of interest is not listed in the Concentration Dropdown, please write in one of the following:
        1. Math Education
        2. Social Studies Education

    (8) You can leave the department contact box blank.

    (9) Complete the rest of the application as directed.

     

3. As part of the online application, you are required to provide a statement of purpose. The application portal specifies a 500-word limit, however, we prefer to learn more about PhD applicants. You can upload a file of up to two double-spaced pages. Your statement of purpose should include your reason for pursuing a doctoral degree, your professional and career goals, your research interest, the name(s) of faculty you may have communicated with or wish to work with.

4. The Graduate School also requires three letters of recommendation from professors who know the applicant as a student and can evaluate academic abilities and potential for success in a graduate program. The online application process allows you to enter in the names and email addresses of 3 people. This will trigger an electronic system to send electronic forms to these individuals. All the person providing your recommendation has to do is complete the form and hit the submit button.

5. The Graduate School accepts unofficial transcripts for the admissions process but official transcripts are required before you can begin taking courses if admitted. If the original transcripts are not in English, you need to send an English translation.

6. For international students, evidence of English proficiency is required.

7. Submit an example of your academic writing. This can be a class paper, journal article, conference proposal or similar form of academic writing. It may be work that you have previously completed as coursework, a professional writing sample or an original writing sample composed for this application. Ideally, your topic will relate to the area in which you hope to study in your Ph.D. program, but this is a not a requirement. The purpose of the writing sample is to assess your writing ability, not to assess your knowledge of the field to which you are applying. Please limit your submission to 10 pages (not including references).You should be the author of this work, not a technology. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans. An author is accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the work, ensuring that it is original and does not infringe any third-party rights (e.g., copyright).

8. Submit a current curriculum vitae or resume.

9. Submit an application for a Doctoral Fellowship or STL Assistantship if you wish to be considered for funding opportunities. The form indicates you should mail your fellowship application, however, processes have changed and you should upload the form with your graduate application materials. You do not need to submit 3 additional letters of recommendation but it is in your best interest to submit a different statement (up to 2 double-spaced pages) that addresses the points mentioned in the funding application. Admission decisions and funding decisions are separate. You will receive an admission decision first and information about funding will come at a later time. You will be considered for all funding opportunities for which you are eligible. Please note that PhD students should apply by December 1 to be considered.