The Johns Hopkins School of Education’s full-time PhD program offers an individually tailored learning experience based on a student’s interest in finding solutions to pressing education problems. Select applicants receive full tuition and a stipend.
The School of Education will pause admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) program for the 2025-26 academic year while we add several programmatic improvements. The next intake for admission to the PhD program will be for students who want to matriculate in the Fall 2026 semester. The online application will open in August 2025 to begin accepting submissions, and the application completion deadline will be December 16, 2025. Please complete our Request for Information Form to receive updates and announcements for the next admission period.
The program provides rigorous interdisciplinary training that develops students’ abilities to conduct evidence-based research on real-world educational challenges. Instruction and mentorship emphasizes the development and evaluation of policies and practices that address real-world educational problems.
Students benefit from a one-to-one apprenticeship model that pairs exceptional interdisciplinary candidates with nationally acclaimed faculty mentors, along with engaging coursework, sophisticated methodological training, and cohort-based learning.
Questions? Please reach out and we’ll be in touch soon.
Learn about our PhD students.
Upcoming Admissions Events
Have questions about our degree programs, the application, or financial aid and costs? Join us for an inside look at a graduate experience defined by innovation and driven by evidence-based research. Learn more about your area of interest or career path, meet some of our faculty, and connect to the Johns Hopkins School of Education community. Check out our admissions events and register for a virtual information session today.
Core Faculty
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Jennifer Adams, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, International Teaching and Global LeadershipAffiliation
Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
International Teaching & Global Leadership
-
Robert Balfanz, PhD
Professor
Co-Director, Center for Social Organization of SchoolsAffiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Research, Evaluation & Assessment, Social Context of Education
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Ashley Rogers Berner, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Education PolicyAffiliation
Institute for Education Policy, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Curriculum Studies, Education Policy & Politics, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
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Rebecca Cruz, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Social Context of Education, Special Education
Jennifer Adams, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, International Teaching and Global Leadership
Affiliation
Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
International Teaching & Global Leadership
Robert Balfanz, PhD
Professor
Co-Director, Center for Social Organization of Schools
Affiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Research, Evaluation & Assessment, Social Context of Education
Ashley Rogers Berner, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy
Affiliation
Institute for Education Policy, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Curriculum Studies, Education Policy & Politics, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Rebecca Cruz, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Social Context of Education, Special Education
-
Marcia Davis, PhD
Associate Professor (Research)
Co-Director, Center for Social Organization of Schools
Director of Research, Baltimore Education Research ConsortiumAffiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
-
Norma L. Day-Vines, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Counseling & Human Development
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Hunter Gehlbach, PhD
Professor
Faculty Lead, PhD ProgramAffiliation
Advanced Studies in Education
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Measurement & Research Methodologies
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Odis Johnson, Jr., PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Executive Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Director, Institute in Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed MethodologiesAffiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Measurement & Research Methodologies, Social Context of Education
Marcia Davis, PhD
Associate Professor (Research)
Co-Director, Center for Social Organization of Schools
Director of Research, Baltimore Education Research Consortium
Affiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Norma L. Day-Vines, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Counseling & Human Development
Hunter Gehlbach, PhD
Professor
Faculty Lead, PhD Program
Affiliation
Advanced Studies in Education
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Measurement & Research Methodologies
Odis Johnson, Jr., PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Executive Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Director, Institute in Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed Methodologies
Affiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Measurement & Research Methodologies, Social Context of Education
-
Richard Lofton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Social Context of Education
-
Douglas J. Mac Iver, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools
Expertise
Curriculum Studies, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
-
Martha Abele Mac Iver, PhD
Associate Professor
Associate Dean of ResearchAffiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Research, Evaluation & Assessment
-
Olivia Marcucci, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Advanced Studies in Education, Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Expertise
Social Context of Education
Richard Lofton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Social Context of Education
Douglas J. Mac Iver, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools
Expertise
Curriculum Studies, Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Martha Abele Mac Iver, PhD
Associate Professor
Associate Dean of Research
Affiliation
Center for Social Organization of Schools, SOE Leadership
Expertise
Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Olivia Marcucci, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Advanced Studies in Education, Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Expertise
Social Context of Education
-
Ebony McGee, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Advanced Studies in Education
Expertise
Counseling & Human Development, Postsecondary Education, Social Context of Education, Urban Education
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Stephen Morgan, PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Expertise
Measurement & Research Methodologies, Social Context of Education
-
Jonathan Plucker, PhD
Research Professor
Faculty Lead, Master of Science in Education PolicyAffiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Gifted Education, Learning & Instruction
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Eric Rice, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Social Context of Education, Urban Education
Ebony McGee, PhD
Professor
Affiliation
Advanced Studies in Education
Expertise
Counseling & Human Development, Postsecondary Education, Social Context of Education, Urban Education
Stephen Morgan, PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Expertise
Measurement & Research Methodologies, Social Context of Education
Jonathan Plucker, PhD
Research Professor
Faculty Lead, Master of Science in Education Policy
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics, Gifted Education, Learning & Instruction
Eric Rice, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Social Context of Education, Urban Education
-
Joshua C. Schuschke, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Educational Technology
-
Alexandra Shelton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Special Education
-
Angela R. Watson, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Affiliation
Institute for Education Policy
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics
Joshua C. Schuschke, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Counseling & Educational Studies
Expertise
Educational Technology
Alexandra Shelton, PhD
Assistant Professor
Affiliation
Innovative Teaching & Leadership
Expertise
Learning & Instruction, Special Education
Angela R. Watson, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Affiliation
Institute for Education Policy
Expertise
Education Policy & Politics
Program Overview
With its goal of pursuing big ideas and sharing knowledge to address real-world challenges, Johns Hopkins University takes pride in its founding mission as the U.S.’s first research university. The full-time Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education at the Johns Hopkins School of Education embraces that tradition. We offer a world-class, research-focused program that prepares exceptional scholars to investigate and develop policies and practices that improve educational outcomes from pre-K through secondary school and beyond.
Students draw insights from different disciplines (e.g., educational psychology, learning sciences, sociology of education), synthesizing their knowledge to craft multidisciplinary, evidence-based approaches to address educational policies and practices — particularly those that can improve outcomes for historically underserved populations. Immersion in modern research methods — advanced statistical techniques, open science approaches, and data science — facilitates students’ capacities to argue for research-based educational reforms.
Students benefit from the mentorship of nationally acclaimed researchers in an apprenticeship model as well as collaborative learning opportunities from courses, research groups, and their cohort. Our graduates go on to careers in higher education as professors, policymakers, and influential scholars at research-intensive universities, institutes, and centers.
All PhD students at the School of Education are eligible for a fellowship for up to four years. The fellowship includes a yearly stipend and will cover tuition and fees. The fellowship also covers individual health, dental, and vision insurance. All PhD students must be registered full time and be in good academic standing every semester to continue to be eligible for their fellowship.
After SOE
Through our PhD program, students acquire cutting-edge research skills that position them for tenure-track faculty positions in higher education, policymaking roles with state agencies or school systems, and leadership positions in educational research organizations.
Careers
- Research and Post Secondary Teaching
- University Professor
- University Researcher
- Policy Analyst
Careers
- Research and Post Secondary Teaching
- University Professor
- University Researcher
- Policy Analyst