University of Southern California Urban Education Policy
http://rossier.usc.edu/academic/phd/program-overview.html
Ph.D. Program Overview
The mission of the USC Rossier School of Education is to improve urban education locally, nationally and globally. The Ph.D. program in Urban Education Policy is a full-time, on-site program designed for students whose policy interests are aligned with our urban mission, and who plan to pursue careers as university faculty and research scholars.
Program Curriculum
The Ph.D. program curriculum stems from our mission and vision. Areas of concentration include K-12 policy and practice, higher education policy and administration, teacher education, and measurement, assessment and evaluation. Courses incorporate both quantitative and qualitative methodology and provide core knowledge of urban education policy that includes our four academic themes: leadership, learning, accountability and diversity. Students gain an integrated understanding of global education issues from intellectual encounters on campus and opportunities to participate in study throughout the Asia Pacific rim.
Research Forms Foundation
Research forms the foundation of the Ph.D. program and is fundamental to the mission of USC and the Rossier School of Education. USC is one of the nation's major research institutions, ranking top among U.S. private universities in dollar volume of federal research support. This commitment to scholarship ensures that all Ph.D. students benefit from research opportunities. There are four dynamic and highly active research centers within the Rossier School of Education, and in addition, the School's Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation engages in outcomes-based academic and evaluative studies for government and other clients, often working collaboratively with other departments across the University. Increasingly, interdisciplinary work among the School's many departments, as well as partnerships with USC's other schools and centers is a hallmark of the research taking place within Rossier.
Rossier's international reputation is based on the application of research, not simply the theoretical construct. Research-based tools, developed in conjunction with educational practitioners, are now being utilized in schools and universities across the country. The success and the growing market for these evidence-based education products are a testament to the School's commitment to producing relevant research that makes a difference.
Additionally, Rossier is influencing critical legislation through its leadership in organizations such as PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education). Along with Stanford and UC-Berkeley, USC scholars are actively engaged with state policymakers.