Florida State’s History and Philosophy of Education graduate program provides an expansive exploration of the evolution of education. Through the program, you will gain a vast understanding of the social, historical, and philosophical contexts of educational policy and practice. The program looks at these issues both domestically and internationally, providing you with a comprehensive view of education practices.
The History and Philosophy of Education graduate program offers both a master’s and doctoral (Ph.D.) program. The interdisciplinary nature of the History and Philosophy of Education graduate program allows you to take a variety of courses in international and comparative education, educational policy, sociology, history, and philosophy. At the master’s level, you will examine educational policy and practice and work closely with faculty members. Upon completion of the master’s program, you will understand the varied perspectives influencing the field of education. The doctoral program prepares you to create a unique research and pushes you to advance the field. You will choose a focus of study, such as religious, cultural, gender and social justice factors that impact education.
Graduates of our program explore careers as college/university professors, researchers, and policymakers in schools, government, or non-governmental organizations. Our doctoral graduates enjoy even greater career opportunities and often advance research in the field.
In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, an applicant must have:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree
- A graduate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA – Applicants for doctoral programs must have an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA).
- GRE test scores* – Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Educational Testing Service (ETS) does not retain scores longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the official report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report. FSU Institution Code: 5219.
- Target scores: Verbal – 149+, Quantitative – 147+, Analytical Writing – 3.5
- GRE Waiver Allowance for Ph.D. Applicants
- *NOTE: The GRE requirements for master’s and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
- Language proficiency test (international students only) – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
- Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
- Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Building
P.O. Box 3061410
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
- Florida State University
For this program, supporting documents must be uploaded to the Admissions Application Portal:
- Statement of purpose (1 required) – The purpose statement should describe you purpose for pursuing a degree, qualifications, and long-term career goals
- Letters of recommendation (3 required)
- Letters should be written by persons who are in a position to comment on the likelihood of your success in the program, specifically professors, postsecondary instructors, or supervisors. At least two letters must be from professors. We do not accept letters from co-workers, relatives, or friends.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (1 required)
- Unofficial Transcripts – Include transcripts from all colleges attended. Uploading a copy will expedite the review process, though you must still send official copies to the Office of Admissions.
Please note: the program codes you will select in the application for this program are as follows:
MS: HISTPHEDMS
PhD: HISTPHEDPD
Florida Residency Form: If you are a Florida resident, you must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit even if you were previously designated a Florida Resident by the University. If you do not complete this form, you will be classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes.
The application deadlines are as follows:
Master’s program:
- Fall admission: June 1
- Spring admission: October 1
- Summer admission: February 1
Doctoral program: December 1 (Fall admission only)
Click here to learn more about our History and Philosophy of Education faculty.
Limitless opportunities to teach, conduct influential research, develop groundbreaking policy, and analyze existing or future policies at local, state, and national educational agencies await graduates of this program.
As of 2010, the median pay for policy analysts is $51,380 a year. For university or college professors, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 10.3% increase in jobs by 2026, totaling 7,700 new jobs. The median national salary is $64,780 per year.
