Prepare for a career as a professor or researcher in educational leadership and policy through a program that emphasizes critical inquiry, equity-centered research, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Engage deeply with theoretical frameworks and empirical methodologies to examine systemic issues in P-12 education, while collaborating with faculty and peers in a rigorous, intellectually rich academic environment.
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Degree Details
Official Degree Title
PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
42-60
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadline
Admissions is alternate years only.
The next application deadline is December 1, 2026, for a start date of September 2027.
Your academic journey begins with several years of rigorous coursework, including an extensive sequence of research courses that prepare you to conduct original, equity-focused empirical studies. The curriculum offers both structure and flexibility, allowing you to tailor your coursework to align with your individual research interests.
Following the completion of coursework, you will advance to PhD candidacy by preparing and defending a candidacy paper—an analytical synthesis of research and scholarly literature that defines and frames a significant, researchable problem in educational leadership or policy.
Once advanced to candidacy, you will work closely with your dissertation advisor and committee in a process of individualized, faculty-guided mentorship. This stage culminates in the completion and oral defense of a dissertation that contributes new empirical knowledge to the field and demonstrates your readiness for scholarly and academic leadership.
You will engage in critical inquiry into the conceptual, political, organizational, and social dimensions of educational leadership and policy. Through interdisciplinary coursework and faculty-guided research, you’ll explore and apply theoretical and empirical frameworks to examine systemic issues in P–12 education. Faculty and student research focuses on generating new knowledge that addresses pressing questions in the field and advances equity, leadership, and policy reform.
We welcome applicants from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds who are committed to advancing scholarship in educational leadership and policy. Our doctoral students include experienced educators, school and district leaders, and professionals who have worked with youth, families, and communities in nonprofit, policy, or advocacy settings. What unites them is a deep interest in research, theory, and equity—and a desire to contribute to the field through original scholarship.
The diversity of our students' experiences enriches the intellectual life of the program, fostering a vibrant academic community that engages critically with the pressing issues shaping education today.
Before applying, we encourage you to connect with our faculty to explore whether your research interests align with the program. If you're unable to visit campus, you may request a phone or video appointment with a faculty member whose work aligns with your goals. To arrange a conversation, please contact kris.defilippis@nyu.edu.
Funding for Full-Time PhD Students
NYU Steinhardt offers a competitive funding package for PhD students who study full time. Learn more about our funding opportunities.
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