Ph.D. in Education – Curriculum and Instruction
Have a Far-reaching and Lasting Influence on Students with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Degree
When researching whether to pursue a Ph.D. in Education or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), you might be torn between which program to study. Both programs offer training that can further your knowledge as an educator and teach you skills that will enhance your understanding of educational leadership. Our Ph.D. programs are designed for educators who want to remain active in the classroom. Through our online curriculum and instruction Ph.D. program, you will study administration, curriculum development, learning theory, and more to gain the knowledge, skills, and training you need to be an effective educator, professor, or administrator.
Influence classrooms on a county, state, and national level by creating innovative and effective curriculum that helps students live up to their fullest potential. In addition to our core courses in education and curriculum and instruction, you will have the opportunity to complete a dissertation. Throughout our degree program, you will be equipped with the strategies needed to research and defend your dissertation. Your critical thinking skills will be challenged as you work through this process and present and defend a topic of interest with a fresh new perspective. Through this Ph.D. program, each course integrates specific course materials and assignments that require you to examine relevant topics and current events in light of Scripture and a Christian worldview.
What Will You Learn in the Online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education – Curriculum and Instruction Program?
- Issues and Trends in Exceptionality
- Issues and Trends in Teaching and Learning
- Curriculum Theory
- Research in Curriculum Design and Development
The core content of our online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education, with a specialization in curriculum and instruction, will enhance your understanding of the latest trends in learning theories as well as help you stay up-to-date with the latest advances in educational technology. Besides learning theories and research in education, you will also be exposed to advanced training for serving special needs students and the teachers who work with them.
Through our curriculum and instruction concentration, you will evaluate the process of designing curriculum and implementing instructional practices. You will analyze pedagogical concepts and approaches based on research and knowledge of the discipline. By the end of your program, you will have designed and conducted original research that adds to the knowledge base of the discipline. As a Doctor of Philosophy in Education graduate, you will find the concepts covered in our Ph.D. degree program invaluable as you put them to use in the classroom.
Potential Career Options with a Ph.D. in Education
- Curriculum Specialist
- Curriculum Creator
- University Professor
- University Administrator
- K-12 Administrator
- Educational Consultant
- Survey Researcher
- Educational Instructor
- Superintendent of Schools
- Training and Development Specialist
- Executive Education Director
Highlights of the Ph.D. Online Program
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank among Niche.com’s top 3 online schools in America. Earning your online Ph.D. in Education – Curriculum and Instruction degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Tuition for all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 8 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- You can complete our Ph.D. in Education – Curriculum and Instruction degree program in about 3 years.
Military Tuition Discount
Lead your field with the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Here’s how:
- If you’re earning or have earned a master’s degree through Liberty, you automatically qualify for the low price (when you begin within 2 years of your master’s completion).
- If you haven’t earned a graduate degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $300/credit hour for a postgraduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. Then pay just $300/credit hour for your doctorate. Learn more!
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Credit Hours
Years (Avg.)
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
May 15, 2023
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Experience That Matters to You
As an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University offers you an education that is both academically challenging and rooted in a biblical worldview.
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 35+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
And what’s that?
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Academic Quality
These important factors challenged us to find new financial solutions, get ahead of industry trends, and blaze trails into cutting-edge career fields — and it’s paid off. That’s the difference experience makes.
Ranked among Niche.com’s top 3 online schools in America and recognized by multiple institutions for academic quality, affordability, and accessibility.













Why Choose Liberty University?
Enjoy Flexible Courses
Choose from a wide variety of programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, most of which are 100% online*. With an 8-week format and 8 start dates per year, it’s easy to fit your courses around your schedule!
* excludes licensure, certification, and some doctoral programs
Maximize Your Time
Start and finish your degree faster! Liberty requires no standardized testing for admission, and you can transfer previous course credit — transfer in up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and up to 50% of a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree — or discover how your life, career, or military experience may count toward your college degree.
Grow in Your Faith
All of our courses are taught from a Christian perspective, and our faculty see themselves as mentors. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — we’re committed to championing you as you study to go further in your field, become a leader in your industry, or start a new career.
Access Academic Support
Throughout your educational journey, you will have access to academic resources that will aid in the completion of your degree. Services include our online library, writing center, tutoring, study aids, IT assistance, 30+ tutorial videos, live webinars, and personalized help from our academic advising team.
An Online Education with On-Campus Benefits
Cheer on 20 NCAA Division I
games that air nationwide
Graduate with your peers
Be inspired by world-renowned
speakers at Convocation
As a nonprofit (not-for-profit) university, Liberty is in the business of training skilled professionals to make a difference in the world – not gaining profit, revenue, or producing dividends for shareholders. In keeping with our commitment to your education, we invest our resources back into degree programs and into your student experience.
While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university and has not increased tuition for 8 straight years. Lower tuition means less student loan debt for students.
For Liberty University, nonprofit is more than a status; it is a valuable opportunity to invest in the lives of students who will go out and impact the world.
Financing Options
Financial Aid
Nearly 80% of all Liberty students in an online program are awarded financial aid. Virginia residents may qualify for additional aid — learn more!
Corporate Tuition Assistance
Deferred – If your company reimburses you for the cost of your education, you pay only a portion of your balance up front. You submit your grades to your employer who pays you, and then you pay the remaining balance for your classes.
Tuition Discounts
Qualified military service members, veterans, and their spouses can receive up to 55% off their tuition rate for eligible programs!
Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (800) 424-9595.