A minimum of 40 upper division and graduate units are required, including a minimum of 20 units in Education and 20 in a cognate field. Baccalaureate level training in the cognate field is presumed. The candidate must pass comprehensive examinations in Education and the cognate field. Candidates enrolled in this program normally will have completed an undergraduate major or its equivalent in a subject field other than Education. General areas available for study are Educational Administration , Curriculum and Instruction , Educational Psychology and Special Education .
Numerous specializations are available within the three general areas.
There is also the possibility of combining some programs with designated advanced credential programs such as Reading Specialist or Administrative Services. Students in the Type B program may, with the approval of their advisers, elect to conclude their program with either a thesis or a comprehensive examination. The doctoral program with specializations in Educational Administration , Curriculum and Instruction , Educational Psychology , and Special Education , is designed to prepare scholars for teaching and research in Education, as well as for leadership in public education. Admission to the Ph.D. program is based on, but not limited to, strong academic preparation at the baccalaureate level and a master's degree in Education, like one of those offered at UCR, or a master's degree in an ancillary field. These programs include a foundation phase designed to introduce students to the breadth of studies included in their doctoral program and enable them to become better acquainted with faculty members in their program area.