Doctorate of Education in Curriculum & Social Inquiry

National Louis University's Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Social Inquiry program is designed to prepare high-level scholar-practitioners to provide leadership in curriculum in a multitude of educational settings. The program emphasizes engagement in processes of critical reflection about issues of curriculum in relation to a variety of educational environments and society. The Curriculum and Social Inquiry program is founded on the belief that curriculum is best understood not simply in terms of classrooms and schools, but as connected to larger social, cultural, political and historical contexts. Processes of critical reflection are characterized by the identification of complex problems and issues, intellectual engagement with a broad range of ideas and perspectives, the valuing of personal experience and a sense of teaching and curriculum as a political and cultural struggle.

Consider getting your Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Social Inquiry at National Louis University (NLU) if you:

• Wish to participate in curriculum praxis, an understanding of how both theory and practice are necessary to action-oriented critical reflection and acting on that understanding in a variety of educational communities.
• Are dedicated to social inquiry, an understanding of the importance of contextualizing curriculum study and engaging in interdisciplinary inquiry.
• See yourself as a reflective scholar-practitioner, learning to be self-aware, to critique your own assumptions, and to move from and through emerging, developing, and advanced levels of scholarly practice.

Why NLU for Curriculum and Social Inquiry

NLU has a long-standing reputation for its education and teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Since 1886, NLU has trained thousands of educators and continues to graduate the majority of Illinois' Golden Apple Award winners—one of the most prestigious teacher honors in the state.

Widely recognized and respected in the education community, NLU has a reputation of excellence for its graduate education programs. With award-winning faculty and curricula that inspire tomorrow's teachers and administrators, adult students learn from the best at NLU's National College of Education.

What You Will Learn

• How to conduct micro- and macro-level analyses of curricula
• How to evaluate the theoretical, practical and interdisciplinary dimensions of curricula
• How to deepen your understanding of and more purposeful engagement in the social and curricular issues in which education is encountered

Program Description

The NLU doctoral program in Curriculum and Social Inquiry is designed for individuals who are scholar-practitioners and who want to pursue a career in higher education or curriculum leadership positions in schools and other educational communities. Doctoral students will investigate curriculum issues as they relate to the school, community and society and gain an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical, practical and interdisciplinary dimensions of curriculum studies.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet NLU's general admission requirements. Refer to the appropriate application checklist available online at www.nl.edu/applyonline.