PhD in Educational Culture, Policy and Society in Amherst United States | University at Buffalo, SUNY

The PhD program in Educational Culture, Policy and Society examines education's societal impact, extending beyond traditional P-16 frameworks. Our curriculum emphasizes institutional structures, policies, and practices that either enhance or constrain personal development, social mobility, and economic opportunities. We investigate connections between educational systems and wider sociocultural, political, and economic dynamics, with particular emphasis on disadvantaged communities both domestically and internationally. This encompasses historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (including African American, Latinx, and English language learners) as well as economically disadvantaged populations. The program additionally emphasizes international comparative studies of educational approaches relevant to global policymakers and administrators. Participants develop comprehensive mixed-methods research skills (both quantitative and qualitative), while specializing in one methodological approach and maintaining working knowledge of the other.