PhD in Educational Studies: Educational Research, Policy and Practice

Educational Policy track

The doctoral program in Educational Policy gives you opportunities to work with faculty in ongoing research while you develop your own program of inquiry. We introduce you to a broad range of theoretical perspectives, and encourage you to develop expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods of research.

You learn to study how policy develops, how political narratives differ from implemented programs, how policies produce (or reduce) inequality and injustice, who profits or suffers from them, how oppressed groups experience them, and how policy is resisted. Students have studied education policy in the US and overseas (e.g., Korea, Pakistan), tracked how policies move over local, national, and international levels, and traced their evolution over time.

Specialization Information

This is a specialization of the Educational Research, Policy and Practice, PhD program. For more information please visit the PhD program page here.

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Research Areas

The aim of Educational Policy is to foster originality and relevance in the study of a fast-changing global educational landscape. Our students study a range of topics affecting primary schools to universities, including:

Teacher pay policy

International organizations in policy mobilities

U.S. rural education

Charter schools

Virtual education

Student testimonials

Alexis Little O’Herrick, ’20 PhD

Educational Policy with concentration in Educational Administration

During my time as a graduate student in Ohio State's program, I developed expertise as a mixed-methods researcher to tackle educational challenges.

Under the guidance of esteemed faculty, especially my advisor Dr. Karen Beard, I deepened my understanding of education policy and administration.

This enabled me to conduct meaningful dissertation research on Black girls and school discipline. My community engagement further enriched my work, providing real-world applications. These experiences were crucial in shaping my current role as a research associate at Research for Action, where I continue to apply my research skills.

Career Paths

Students are prepared to work in a range of settings in educational policy spaces including legislative service centers, departments of education, K-12 school systems or education service centers. Others seeks employment at think tanks such as the Learning Policy Institute and Research for Change.