Who do I contact for more information about the program?
For more information about applying to the program, please contact the Doctoral Program Secretary.To discuss any questions you may have about the program and the degree to which it could address your particular scholarly interests and/or professional goals, to find out more about our faculty and students or about the financial support offered by the program or to discuss what graduate work entails and the opportunities it provides, please contact the PhD Program Coordinator.
How long will it take to receive my degree?
Most students enrolled in the program full-time (6-9 credits in each of the fall and spring semesters) normally finish their program within five years. Naturally, some students finish sooner and others take a bit longer. On average, however, most full-time students finish within five years. Students who regularly take fewer than six credits a semester, and who don’t take summer courses, tend to finish their program about two years later than students who enroll full time.How many courses will I need to take to complete my program?
At a minimum, students are required to take at least forty-five course credits during their program. This translates roughly to fifteen courses. That said, a doctoral program entails more than completing a set of courses. A doctoral program is designed to best prepare you for a career following the completion of your degree. Consequently, and depending on your particular area(s) of interest and level of preparation you desire, you may choose to (or your committee might suggest you) take one or more additional courses.Can a student transfer courses to the Ph.D. program that were originally counted for an MSU master's degree?
No. Courses that were already counted toward one MSU degree cannot be counted again toward another degree.Can a student transfer courses to the Ph.D. program that were taken at another university, whether or not a degree was received?
There is no fixed limit for transfer courses from other institutions. However, all transfer credits must be approved as part of the student's program plan by his or her guidance committee and confirmed by the program coordinator and associate dean for student affairs. This means that the question of whether transfer courses will count cannot be firmly resolved until the second year of a student's enrollment, when the program plan is approved by the student’s guidance committee. The central question is always: what courses will best serve the student's program needs. Realistically, students should not expect to transfer in a large number of courses from another institution, since the student’s program plan will need to reflect the student’s particular focus area in his/her doctoral studies. There is one set of requirements that is more often open to transfer: the inquiry and research methods requirement. It is difficult, nevertheless, to imagine an appropriate program plan that would include more than three transfer courses.It is important to note that a student’s course of study at MSU (which is reflected in the student’s plan of study or program plan as it is otherwise known) can last no more than eight years. A plan of study begins from the day the student began the first course appearing on the program plan. Consequently, adding a course from another institution taken more than two or three years before beginning your MSU program into your program plan would mean that your first year at MSU would count as your second or third year in the program. This will require you to complete all other program requirements in five or six years in order to abide by the eight-year university rule for degree completion.
Can I apply MSU Lifelong Learning courses toward my doctoral degree?
Yes, but only as part of an approved program plan. No more than 9 credits earned under the Lifelong Education status may be applied to the doctoral degree program. Courses earned under the Undergraduate Lifelong Education status may not be applied to a doctoral degree program.Can a student take courses offered in other departments in the College of Education or from other colleges at MSU and have them count towards his/her program?
Yes. We encourage students to draw widely from the resources in the college and university when planning their programs. In addition students can take courses through the "traveling scholars" program at any of the Big Ten universities. For more information, see the Graduate School's website description of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) program (provide link).Who receives assistantships and what level of support do they provide?
The Department of Teacher Education currently offers all full-time students enrolling in the Doctoral Program in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education a guarantee of half-time (two quarter-time) assistantships for each of the fall and spring semesters for up to five years, as long as students are not fully employed elsewhere. (Some form of external employment is permitted in conjunction with department-provided assistantships as long as it does not impede a student’s normal academic progress in the program.) (Please see information about how to apply for assistantships and how to maintain them.Assistantships provide students a monthly stipend and a tuition waiver for up to 9 credits for each of the fall and spring semesters. (Students with summer assistantships receive a stipend for summer months as well as a tuition waiver for up to 5 credits.) Assistantships also provide year-long health care and a waiver of out-of–state university fees. In all, assistantships provide students an annual stipend and benefits that exceed $20,000.
Who is covered by student health insurance and what does it cover?
MSU graduate teaching and research assistants automatically participate in a medical benefits plan, the details of which can be reviewed at the MSU Human Resources: Student Health Insurance website (provide link). Spouses and children may be included in the university’s plan at an additional cost to the graduate assistant.There are additional options for spouses and children, however. It is worthwhile to explore these options. In particular, children in households earning less than $27,000 annually are eligible to be enrolled in a very attractive, comprehensive option called the MIChild Program (“My Child”) operated by the State of Michigan. Details and procedures for enrolling in this plan can be reviewed online at the MIChild Program website (provide link).
Where will I live?
On Campus
Graduate students who wish to live on the MSU campus may select from two housing options: Owen Graduate Center and University Apartments. Although there are no deadlines for housing applications, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The MSU Housing Office website provides essential guidance to on-campus living.
Owen Graduate Center is specifically designed to meet the needs of single graduate students. Rooms are completely furnished and include linens and private telephones. Occupants of two rooms share an adjoining bathroom and shower. Housekeeping service is provided on a weekly basis. The hall has a lounge, recreational areas, laundry facilities, and cafeteria. In addition to the above website, you may contact Owen Graduate Center, which is handicap accessible, at 517.355.9550 or 1.800.678.4679.
MSU also provides more than 2,000 furnished one and two bedroom apartments on campus for married students and their families as well as for single graduate and undergraduate students. In addition to the above website, you may call University Apartments at 517.355.9550 or 1.800.678.4679.
Off CampusThe city of East Lansing and several nearby communities are home to many graduate students who choose to live off-campus. Current listings of off-campus housing are available through the Department of Student Life website, or by calling 517.355.8286. The MSU Student Life Information Center is also helpful in finding off campus housing.
