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The Doctor of Philosophy of Education (PhD) in Curriculum Studies encourages educators to reflect on and strengthen their own practice and to challenge themselves and their colleagues to work effectively for social justice and educational excellence. Students use critical reflection to improve practice, engage in rigorous theoretical inquiry, and identify, address, and build coalitions around opportunities and problems in education. The PhD serves candidates seeking academic careers (e.g., university faculty, researcher) and terminates in a comprehensive dissertation of original research. Curriculum decision-making is a theoretically informed, practical, and dialogic activity. We encourage educators to seek the most defensible course of action in specific circumstances; this requires a thorough understanding of the sociocultural and political context and the analytical ability to think critically about broader purposes and consequences. We consider educators to be teachers not only in the classroom, but also in a variety of settings where they interact (including in higher education, community organizations, etc.). Educational environments, especially those in urban settings, are complex; creating viable options within them requires a rich knowledge base and the ability to think conceptually. Our program provides educators with a variety of theoretical perspectives to use in analyzing educational phenomena. Graduates of the program may assume faculty or researcher positions in higher education, take leadership positions in local and state education agencies, assume curriculum positions in school or community learning environments, or become leaders in educational policy. They may enter a new career or strengthen their current position in schools, universities or community organizations.