PhD Educational Sustainability

By sustainable practice we mean conducting research, teaching, and learning across disciplines, cultures, and nationalities and embracing a global vision of education that develops self-knowledge and an understanding that the relationship of the self to people, to nature, and to the designed environment is fundamental in becoming an educated person. Educational Sustainability means that within the program students and faculty members will be asking questions that take into account the social context in which we live, and consider the ways in which the world is interrelated. The purpose is to build capacity to meet the needs of present and future academics and professionals working in various social science fields who will leave the program prepared to move beyond the status quo of 20th century standard practice to create real and virtual educational environments where active learning and multiple perspectives are the foundations of individual and institutional action. The degree is designed for educators within the school system, and within the professions more generally, who will become engaged citizens who can think critically and are prepared to accept individual responsibility for the well-being of society.

 

• ​Draw on a wide variety of theoretical and practical literature to develop a broad understanding of the educational landscape through course readings and through individual research projects.
• Conduct critical conversations about education in the student’s field during course seminars and within research presentations.
• Assume an investigative stance in regard to teaching and learning in order that students can develop a scholarship of teaching and learning through opportunities to conduct seminars and engage in research related to instructional practices in multiple fields.
• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of research methodologies that display an appreciation of the complexity of knowledge and the potential contribution made by diverse interpretations methods and disciplines in both course work and through the development of an in depth research project.
• Engage in original research that contributes to educational knowledge in the student’s field.
• Develop qualities and transferrable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations in professional or equivalent environments.