Curriculum & Instruction Doctor of Philosophy
Advance Knowledge. Transform Education.
Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) at New Mexico State University prepares scholars, educators, and leaders to deepen their understanding of curriculum, pedagogy, and educational research while addressing today's most pressing educational challenges.
As a Carnegie-designated Research 1 university, NMSU offers doctoral students opportunities to collaborate with accomplished faculty, engage in rigorous research, and contribute original scholarship that advances the field of education.
Grounded in a critical multicultural perspective, the program is designed for ethical thinkers committed to lifelong teaching, learning, research, and service.
Through compassionate engagement and scholarly inquiry, students become part of a community dedicated to advancing social justice, strengthening democratic education, and creating meaningful educational and social change.
Choose the Learning Format That Fits Your Goals
The C&I doctoral program is offered in an online or face-to-face format. The two formats share the same scholarly purpose and doctoral expectations while offering different course sequences for engagement and different modalities for learning.
Online Ph.D.
Designed for students seeking rigorous doctoral experiences with the flexibility of online learning.
- Provides a geographically flexible pathway to a Ph.D.
- Uses both synchronous and asynchronous online learning
- Includes required in-person summer residency sessions
- Offers a scope and sequence that differs somewhat from the face-to-face sequence
Next Cohort: Summer 2028
Application Deadline: January 31, 2028
Face-to-Face Ph.D.
Designed for students seeking rigorous in-person doctoral experiences within the NMSU academic community.
- Utilizes a physical setting for scholarly learning experiences
- Fosters direct in-person faculty engagement
- Provides a campus-based context for conducting collaborative research
- Offers a scope and sequence that differs somewhat from the online sequence
Next Cohort: To Be Determined
Why Choose NMSU?
- Research-intensive doctoral education at an R1 university
- Faculty mentorship from nationally recognized scholars
- Collaborative doctoral cohort model
- Preparation for academic, research, and leadership careers
- Original dissertation research addressing significant educational questions
- Opportunities to present at conferences, publish scholarship, and engage in research
Areas of Study
Doctoral students pursue research in one or more areas of specialization:
- Bilingual Education
- Critical Pedagogies & Multicultural Education
- Early Childhood Education — Online Program
- Educational Learning Technologies
- Language, Literacy & Culture
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- Special Education
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have:
- A master's degree in education or a closely related field
- Three years of PreK–12 or postsecondary teaching experience, or equivalent
Complete admission requirements are available in the applicable C&I Doctoral Handbook.
Application Process
Applying to the doctoral program involves three steps.
Apply to NMSU
Complete the application for admission through the NMSU Graduate School.
Submit Your Portfolio
Submit the C&I Doctoral Application Portfolio through the Graduate School application portal.
Complete an Interview
Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with the C&I Doctoral Qualifying Committee.
After Admission
New doctoral students begin their journey by:
Resources
Use these resources to prepare your application and support your progress through the doctoral program.
Prospective Students
Information to review before applying.
Current Students
Academic and student-support resources.
Funding and Assistantships
Resources that may help support your studies.
Program Information
Additional information about the degree and faculty.
