Our PhD students pursue a research based experience with career options that range from academic research to corporate business, non-profit pursuits and more. After completing a research core, students are free to select courses that will best meet their program requirements and long term professional goals. The ITLS PhD program is nationally and internationally recognized for its research related to design and learning. Please see individual faculty bios to get a sense for active research going on in the department.
Doctoral graduates are well positioned for tenure track positions at research or teaching institutions, for work in student services or higher education administration, engaging in faculty development or as directors of instructional design. Some PhDs go on to leadership positions in corporate settings or use their doctoral degrees in K-12 as teachers or district specialists. All PhD student complete original research in the form of a dissertation.
The PhD is available at the Logan, Utah State University campus.
Degree Requirements
Completed within eight years of matriculation
Completed the three credit online asynchronous orientation course.
48 or more semester credits beyond an ITLS master's degree.
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
70 credits for PhD students who have a completed Bachelor's degree.
All PhD students complete dissertation.
Fulfill Doctoral Residency Requirements.
For Utah Residency, please see: USU Residency Information
54 credits for students with a master's degree in another field, which includes 6 credits of ITLS master's core courses.
How to Apply to the ITLS PhD program
Step 1: Connect with ITLS Faculty
Before you apply to the ITLS PhD program, review the profiles of ITLS Faculty Members who are currently accepting students (see Table 1 below). Read their bios, look at their recent publications, and find one or two professors whose research aligns with your interests.
Send an email to the faculty member(s) you have identified. In your email:
- Introduce yourself briefly.
- State your specific research interests.
- Mention that you are planning to apply to the ITLS PhD program.
- Ask if they are accepting new PhD students for the upcoming academic year.
- Attach your CV for their reference.
Step 2: Review Requirements and Prepare Your Application
Once you have connected with a potential faculty advisor, the next step is to prepare your application. Admission to the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University (USU) requires the following materials:
- A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution, completed before the program starts.
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher over your last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) credits.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Official Transcripts.
- English Language Proficiency for International Applicants [1]:
- Passing scores on TOEFL: Internet based - 79; Computer based - 214; Paper based – 550
- Passing IELTS: Overall score - 6; Subscale scores – 5
[1] Note: International students may replace this requirement with two years’ attendance at an English-speaking college or university (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand or Australia).
In addition to the materials listed above, the ITLS department requires the following supplementary materials:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose (2-3 pages). See below for more information
Note:
- ITLS no longer requires the GRE or MAT for admission.
- A writing sample is no longer required for the PhD application.
It is strongly recommended that you visit the USU School of Graduate Studies Admission Policies and Requirements webpage.
Writing Your Statement of Purpose (SOP)
The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to explain why you are a good fit for the ITLS PhD program. Consider the following questions:
- Why do you want to pursue a PhD in Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences?
- What specific research problems or topics do you want to investigate? Be as clear as possible.
- What academic, professional, research, or design experiences have prepared you for doctoral study?
- How have these experiences shaped your interest in getting a PhD?
- Why are Utah State University and the ITLS department the right place for you to pursue your PhD?
- Name the faculty member(s) you wish to work with and explain why. You should also reference your prior communication with them if possible.
- What are your goals after completing your PhD?
- How will a doctorate from ITLS help you achieve these goals?
Here are two resources on writing your Statement of Purpose:
- Applying to Graduate Schools in the US: The Statement of Purpose: Excerpts from an article on statement of purpose writing by Dr. Steven Olswang, University of Washington Provost, written for the Fulbright Commission.
- A Guide to Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate School Applications Copyright © 2025 by Erin Todey.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
When your materials are ready, submit your application through the USU School of Graduate Studies portal. Pay close attention to the application deadline on the admissions page.
Step 4: After you Apply
Promising PhD applicants will be invited for a virtual interview with faculty members via Zoom. The interview window is typically from late January to early February. Please try to keep your schedule flexible during this time. We will provide the interview questions to you in advance to help you prepare.
Table 1: ITLS Faculty Who are Currently Recruiting Graduate Students
| Faculty member | recruiting PhD | recruiting MS |
|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Bayeck | full or not taking | full or not taking |
| Kristy Bloxham | NA* | willing to talk |
| Jody Clarke-Midura | full or not taking | full or not taking |
| David Feldon | willing to talk | willing to talk |
| Debbie Fields | NA* | NA* |
| Taehyun Kim | willing to talk | full or not taking |
| Lu Lawrence | willing to talk | willing to talk |
| Breanne Litts | recruiting | willing to talk |
| Lisa Lundgren | full or not taking | full or not taking |
| CoCo Massengale | willing to talk | full or not taking |
| Kelli Munns | NA* | willing to talk |
| Mimi Recker | full or not taking | full or not taking |
| Kristin Searle | recruiting | willing to talk |
| Ramy Shaaban | NA* | full or not taking |
| Hillary Swanson | full or not taking | full or not taking |
| Andy Walker | willing to talk | full or not taking |
NA* Some of our colleagues either work from outside of Utah or have extensive responsibilities as program directors and teaching and are thus not able to chair these in-person students. All of us are able to serve as committee members for PhD and MS students.
Additional Resources
Planning