The Cultural Studies concentration in Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) is an interdisciplinary program that examines social, cultural, philosophical, and historical issues in education and society. In the Cultural Studies program, doctoral students examine perspectives on equity, marginalization, privilege, belonging, and power from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. This broad approach teaches doctoral students to make sense of students, education, and schooling in local and global contexts.
The Cultural Studies concentration in Teacher Education and Leadership consists of 15 credits in Cultural Studies course work, 8-11 credits of electives, 12 credits of research methodology course work, and 10-13 credits in the area of Curriculum and Instruction. The Cultural Studies concentration is rigorous, with the goal of preparing doctoral students for future careers in research and teaching.
Considering applying to the Cultural Studies Concentration?
We are pleased you are considering applying to the Cultural Studies doctoral concentration in the Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) program at Utah State University. This program is a good match for those with backgrounds in education, especially teachers and administrators who hope to work in academia one day. The field of Cultural Studies in education focuses on how people – children and adults – interact with, make use of, benefit from, and possibly face barriers to – education systems in various contexts.
Your application is enhanced when it is clear that you understand the program well and it aligns with your own interests and goals. As you prepare your application materials, please follow this advice:
- Review profiles of faculty in the Cultural Studies program to see what they study and how they contribute to knowledge construction through their research and teaching.
- If your own area of interest is not reflected in the Cultural Studies concentration description, think about whether this is the right program for you. If you believe it is, be sure to articulate how your own interests connect to the larger program. Help the CS faculty understand how you would be a good fit in the program. You can also contact any Cultural Studies faculty member and learn more about them and their research by clicking on the Cultural Studies Faculty link.
- It is possible to combine Cultural Studies topics with pedagogical areas such as literacy, language education, science education, math education, social studies education, and more. If you wish to do this, please articulate these connections.
Find complete guidelines in the application guidelines document.
You can also contact any Cultural Studies faculty member and learn more about them and their research through the links to the right.
Program Director
Ryan Knowles
Associate Professor, Social Studies Education
School of Teacher Education and Leadership