
Explore Our Graduate Options
As a nationally top-ranked college of education and research powerhouse grounded in our land-grant mission, we are home to over 35 graduate fields of study that will prepare you to drive educational change, advance the educational success of all and lead in the educational field of your choice.
Find the right graduate program or concentration for you.

Department of Education Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (ELPHD)
Master of Education:
- Adult and Community College Education
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- College Counseling and Student Development
- Higher Education Administration
- School Counseling
- Training and Development
Master of Science:
Master of School Administration:
Doctor of Education:
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development Concentrations:
- Adult and Lifelong Education
- Community College and Career Education
- Counseling and Counselor Education
- Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
- Higher Education
- Higher Education Opportunity, Equity, and Justice
Graduate Certificates:

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM)
Master of Education in STEM Education Concentrations:
Master of Education in STEM Education or Master of Science in STEM Education Concentration:
Doctor of Education
Ph.D. in Learning and Teaching in STEM Concentrations:
Graduate Certificate:

Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS)
Master of Education:
Master of Education or Master of Science:
- Curriculum and Developmental Supervision
- Educational Psychology
- Elementary Education – Mathematics or Science
- Learning Design and Technology
- New Literacies and Global Learning
Initial Licensure:
Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences Concentrations:
- Educational Equity
- Educational Psychology
- Elementary Education in Mathematics and Science
- Learning Design and Technology
- Literacy and English Language Arts Education
- Social Studies Education
Graduate Certificate:

Prepare to drive educational change at one of the nation’s best graduate colleges of education in the nation.
#28
among all colleges of education in the U.S.
Top 5%
in active research funding among all colleges of education in the U.S.
4
speciality programs ranked among Top 25 in the nation
Sources: 2023 U.S. News & World Report
#14
educational administration program in the U.S.
#18
secondary teacher education program in the U.S.
#22
elementary teacher education program in the U.S.
#24
curriculum and instruction program in the U.S.
#12
college of education for veterans in the U.S.
#13
online educational/instructional media design program in the U.S.
Meaningful experiences
Our location
World-class mentoring
Our flexibility
I chose the NC State College of Education because I saw very early on in my doctoral program search that they were committed to diversity and changemaking in education. I wanted to study at a school that was ready to make the necessary changes towards a new kind of education — one designed to serve everyone.
– Jayla Moody
Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development
explore Funding opportunities
A community of Extraordinary Educators and Scholar Leaders
Graduate Student News
More Stories
Doctoral Student Kobie Joyner Receives 2023 Thomas R. and Dorothy E. Koballa Fellowship

Doctoral Student Ashley Mackey-Whitworth Named Recipient of 2023 Edgar J. and Ethel B. Boone Adult & Community College Education Award

My Student Experience: Holmes Scholars Program Creates Opportunities for Mentorship, Collaboration
Another fun Educator Appreciation game! 🤩
Thank you again to all educators. We see you, and we appreciate you. Thank you for everything you do for your students, schools and communities.

Launched in summer 2021, the Transformational Scholarships Program has welcomed its second cohort in fall 2023. The program provides scholarships totaling $40,000 over four years to promising high school students from Eastern North Carolina who will return to the region to teach after graduating from our college.
Trisha Mackey, director of the Transformational Scholarships Program, talks more about the program and how graduating high school seniors can get involved.

Great conversation with @newsobserver about the teaching profession yesterday. 😁
Thank you to everyone who attended!
