The Curriculum, Cultural and Social Studies concentration within provides students the opportunity to explore, critique, and expand upon historical and contemporary trends of education while producing scholarship that critically engages with these topics and others in order to be an advocate for societal improvement. This concentration includes three independent, yet overlapping, threads that doctoral students may pursue: Curriculum Studies, Cultural Studies, and Social Studies.

The three threads of our doctoral concentration are, in their own right, independent fields of study, yet provide naturally overlapping and interdisciplinary links. The areas are intertwined and multifaceted, thus allowing you to learn about content in each of these areas. Broadly, this concentration aspires to understand educational practices within broad social, geopolitical, and cultural frameworks, focusing on what counts as knowledge, and what knowledge is most valued, by whom, at what time, and for what purpose.

Using philosophical and theoretical underpinnings, innovative research methodologies, and timely pedagogical practices, this program will enhance your collaborative experience through cutting-edge research experiences, conference presentations, and mentorships. Areas of interest in this field deal with interdisciplinary matters concerning global, cultural and civic identity, equity and social justice, cultural studies as public pedagogies, and critical literacies and pedagogies. Topics such as neo-colonization, local and global politics, gender and sexuality studies, culture and society, immigration, institutional power, and the national curriculum are also an eminent part of the specialization. Students who complete this program may go on to be educational leaders, advocates, and experts in the field while working with diverse populations and settings.

The Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education concentration prepares research scholars who are knowledgeable of teaching and learning theories and practices drawn from principles of child development and cutting-edge research-based strategies. Doctoral graduates are grounded in broad historical, social, political, economic, linguistic and intellectual contexts in the United States and abroad. Both concentrations provide students opportunity to leverage Early Childhood and Elementary Education through different approaches, such as Habits of Mind, Restorative Practices and more, into their program of study.

The Kinesiology concentration prepares graduates for careers in research and teaching as well as for careers in industry. This concentration offers an individualized and interdisciplinary program that incorporates graduate courses from a variety of academic units providing a strong foundation of content knowledge and research experience culminating in a dissertation. Doctoral students in this concentration investigate fundamental questions about kinesiology and gain broad understanding of the research methods used to answer these questions. As part of their program, students will attain a significantly greater depth of knowledge in the chosen area of emphasis than would be encountered in the MS program. All Kinesiology concentration PhD students complete a dissertation in one of four interdisciplinary areas of study: Exercise Physiology; History and Philosophy of Sport; Motor Learning, Behavior, and Control; and Psychology of Sport, Exercise, and Performance.

The Language, Literature, Literacy, and Culture concentration offers courses in English literature, reading/literacy, TESOL/bilingual education and multiculturalism. The program is interdisciplinary in nature, allowing students to explore the role of and links among bi/multilingualism, literature, literacy, and culture. Doctoral students use knowledge of theory and research from educational, political, social, and cultural perspectives to ground their understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving ways that educators teach, learn, and communicate, thus serving as critical educators and researchers devoted to enacting equitable change. Doctoral students have opportunities to collaborate with fellow students and FIU faculty to present at conferences and conduct and publish research on national and international issues. Students who complete this program may go on to pursue national, state, and local positions in PreK-12 schools and higher education.

The STEM Education concentration emphasizes K-16 STEM education, Teaching and Teacher Education, Equity issues in STEM, and Informal STEM Education. This concentration allows students to pursue research in these areas with a specialization in science education, mathematics education, technology education, or integrated STEM education. Students who graduate from this program will be situated to become leaders in educational theory and research for K-16 STEM classrooms and professional educational organizations.

The Special Education concentration is grounded in empirically based approaches and incorporates culturally responsive teaching practices for students with disabilities in urban educational settings. Doctoral students can specialize within select special education areas such as family and disability advocacy; interventions for students with pervasive academic and behavior challenges; the education of students with high-incidence or low-incidence disabilities; culturally responsive practices for English language learners with disabilities; as well as other areas of specialization. Doctoral students work closely with special education faculty to develop scholarly dispositions by conducting, presenting and publishing research. Students who complete our program are situated to pursue positions in higher education, such as professors and researchers; leadership positions at the national, state, and local levels; positions in schools and nonprofit organizations; and private practice.