Concentration: Educational Equity

The primary aim of the EE concentration is to provide graduate-level preparation to persons interested in becoming leaders who will transform educational institutions and their communities by addressing and reducing inequalities. Students will learn to analyze, evaluate, and implement policies, programs, and practices. Scholarship in this concentration will promote educational access, opportunity, and well-being for students, families, and communities.

Education and training in the EE concentration are rooted in the assumption that equal opportunity is not available to all. Research and analyses show that public policies, programs, and institutional practices generate differential outcomes in schools and that educational organizations have the responsibility and potential to implement strategies and solutions for a fair and just future. The goal of education, preparation, and professional development in the EE concentration is to celebrate and advance opportunities and justice within education at the local, state, national, and international levels. Faculty research interests in the concentration are broad and include a range of disciplines (e.g., multilingualism, literacy, STEM, history).

• Completed application to the NC State Graduate School
• Unofficial transcripts from undergraduate and any graduate programs
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Personal statement:
  • A centerpiece of this program is that you will identify and develop a research focus and engage in the production of new knowledge in the form of publications and professional presentations. An important purpose of this statement is to match your research interests with faculty expertise. Few students enter with fully-formed research agendas, and many discover their research interests through conversations with faculty. We strongly encourage you to visit faculty websites and reach out to faculty you may be interested in working with. We strongly encourage you to visit faculty websites and reach out to faculty you may be interested in working with.
  • In a well-organized 500-1000 word personal statement, please address the following questions: 1) What areas of EE are of particular interest to you? 2) What professional and educational experiences have prepared you to pursue a doctorate in EE? 3) What do you currently envision as your research focus in EE? 
• Academic writing sample (e.g., master’s thesis, class paper, manuscript, research report, or white paper)
• Three letters of recommendation
  • At least one should be from a professor or someone who can comment on your research experience/preparation for a PhD.
• GRE scores are NOT required.
  • Please do not send or upload your scores to the application portal.

Determined in consultation with your advisor. The EE degree can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. The purpose of the core courses is to give students a common foundation in EE, while the elective courses enable students to specialize within a particular subfield. Coursework can be found in the university catalog.

Review the Estimated Cost of Attendance for information on tuition and fees set by the university. Students are funded through a variety of opportunities, some of which cover tuition and fees. Stipend and length of appointment vary based on funding source. 

• Graduate Research Assistantships: Research assistantships are awarded to students working with a faculty member on an externally-funded research grant. Individual faculty select students for these awards.
• Teaching Assistantships: Teaching assistantships are rewarded to students with applicable experience to teach undergraduate courses or supervise teacher interns. Students are selected based on department needs.
• College Fellowships: Offices in the College of Education regularly offer assistantships for research and teaching positions. These are announced each spring.
• University Fellowships: The Graduate School offers several fellowships for new students, including the University Graduate Fellowship and the Provost’s Fellowship. The Director of Graduate Programs nominates applicants for these awards.
• External Fellowships: Applicants are encouraged to apply for fellowships from the National Science Foundation and other national programs.

Eligible students may receive coverage of their tuition and health insurance through the Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP). Opportunities are available on a limited basis, and vary in: stipend amount; length of appointment; research/teaching area that is your focus; technical, research, and teaching skill required; and where you are in your program timeline to completion. Therefore, funding is not guaranteed.

All applicants are automatically considered for funding opportunities that require department nomination. To express interest in being considered for other departmental funding, please complete the TELS Funding Interest Form.

Review the Estimated Cost of Attendance associated with this doctoral degree for the upcoming semester’s tuition and fees. Note that tuition and fees are subject to change.

Funding is available through hourly work, assistantships, and fellowships. Please see Financing Graduate Education for more information.

Christy Byrd
Associate Professor

Maria Coady
Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Educational Equity 

DeLeon Gray
Professor

Micha Jeffries
Assistant Teaching Professor

Joanna Koch
Assistant Teaching Professor

Crystal Chen Lee
Associate Professor

Patricia Marshall
Professor

Samantha Marshall, Concentration Coordinator
Assistant Professor

Amato Nocera, Concentration Coordinator
Assistant Professor

Jamie Pearson
Associate Professor