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Click on a link to learn more about our PhD Program.
About Prescott College in General
Is the PC Ph.D. program accredited?
Yes, Prescott College is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS).
Who are the students in the Ph.D. program?
Gender Distribution: 40% women, 60% men
Regional Distribution: 33% Arizona Residents, 67% Out-of-State and International Students
Average Age of Enrollment: 48
Range of Ages: 33-65
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About the Program
Do I need to move to Prescott?
No, while there is a requirement to attend colloquia, with good planning students are able to minimize travel expenses. Our students live all over the United States, and even internationally.
I have a family and/or career, will this program work?
This program allows students to continue with their family and professional responsibilities. Students report that they do their research and studying during the evenings and weekends. It does require discipline and time management skills, all of which can be learned.
Is a master's degree required for admission into the Ph.D. program? Are there exceptions granted?
Yes, a master's degree containing a thesis is required for admission into the Ph.D. program. Occasionally, a prospective student may have experience equivalent to a master's degree and can petition to be considered for admission.
What is the process to petition to be considered for admission without having a master's degree?
Students must submit their CV or résumé along with a detailed letter describing their experience in the field as well as documentation of their ability to complete graduate level writing. These can be emailed to admissions@prescott.edu or mailed to Prescott College Admissions, 220 Grove Ave, Prescott, AZ 86301. You may send published books and/or scholarly articles to help support your ability to carry out a thesis-length project.
What are the benefits of this program?
Over and over we hear that students select this program because it is flexible, self-designed and it will fit into already full lives.
What are the residency requirements?
All doctoral students must attend the required colloquia. Over the four-year program, students will be in residency for 37 days. Please see the colloquia schedule for dates. The College will not make exceptions to attendance at the first colloquium.
What is a colloquium?
Each term, doctoral students attend the required colloquia at Prescott College. The colloquia include extended conferences between students and their graduate advisors; presentations by students of their work-in-progress; discipline-specific workshops by faculty; brainstorming and networking sessions; panel discussions; and workshops that address the nuts and bolts of the Ph.D. program.
When do enrollment periods start?
We enroll students once a year in August. Semesters run from August to early January and from February to mid-June.
Where do I take my classes?
The model of learning in the doctoral program is self-directed independent study. Students do not take classes.
Can I receive credit for life experience?
No, Prescott College does not offer credit for life experience in its doctoral program.
Can I incorporate my job into my degree? How?
Students regularly design their practica around their current jobs, often including a research component or deepening their understanding of a specific component of their work.
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Academic Process
What is the minimum time I have to attend to get a degree from Prescott College?
Students must complete a minimum of 96 semester credits to receive a Ph.D. degree from Prescott College.
How long will my program take?
Students will take four years to complete their doctoral work. Two years are devoted to coursework, one to the practicum, dissertation proposal, comprehensive assessment and research methods and methodology, and the fourth to the dissertation.
How do I design my own program? How do I create a Program Proposal?
In the program proposal, you will demonstrate your readiness to conceive and carry out independent doctoral work in Sustainability Education. The program proposal should include the following:
• A discussion of your understanding of education, especially sustainability education;
• A provisional plan for your individual focus area that describes:
1. The three required foundational courses (found in program brochure) and how they relate to your proposed program of study.
2. Five to six individual courses to be studied. These should reflect your specific area of focus and should include a course-by-course proposed bibliography. You are encouarged to use the style required for your discipline (APA, MLA, Macmillan).
3. One or more possible practica in your field of study where you provide service to a community and learn from the experience.
4. A relevant research methodologies and methods course including proposed bibliography.
5. A preliminary proposal for a dissertation/project.
Can I transfer in credit from other doctoral or master's programs?
No, The Ph.D. program at Prescott College does not transfer in credit from other colleges.
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Degrees
Prescott College offers a Ph.D. program in Education, concentrating in Sustainability Education, providing an opportunity for advanced, interdisciplinary, student-centered learning that addresses important global and local issues.
The Ph.D. program views education as both the act or practice of educating or being educated and the study of education as a process.
Education for sustainability, therefore, is the act or practice of learning how to achieve global and local sustainable communities. The desired outcome is an informed, involved citizenry with the social and scientific literacy, commitment, and creative problem-solving skills to engage in responsible individual and cooperative actions toward a sustainable society.
Education as sustainability, on the other hand, is the study of the educational process with the goal of reforming education itself. Achieving sustainability in all dimensions of human existence depends on adopting an education paradigm that manifests and supports change toward a sustainable, secure society.
Although these two aspects of sustainability education can be defined differently and are often studied separately, they are interdependent.
Can I incorporate requirements for teacher certification in my degree?
Students who are seeking teacher certification should contact our Adult Degree Program to learn about options for post-baccalaureate certification.
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Admissions Process
What is the application deadline?
We accept applications year-round but only review them beginning on February 15th. This is also the scholarship application date.
What steps do I take in the application process?
1. Request:
Contact the colleges or universities where you obtained your bachelor's and master's degrees and request official transcripts to be sent directly to the Prescott College admissions office. Ask three people to write letters of recommendation. Find people who can comment on your self direction and who know about your academic or professional background. Send them the required form, which is to accompany their letters of recommendation
2. Gather data:
Read over the Ph.D. view book and web site a few times. Talk to a financial aid counselor. Call the Director of Admissions. Compare the Ph.D. Program to other programs.
3. Think:
Mull over the possibilities. Define your goals. Picture your dreams. Imagine the result of having the Ph.D. degree.
4. Write:
Pull together your résumé. Write your Personal Statement. Write out your Program Proposal and its bibliography.
5. Send:
Mail your application and $50 application fee. Transcripts may come directly from their sources or you may include them in your application packet if they are sealed and signed. Letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the admissions office. You are encouraged to email attached documents containing your Personal Statement, Program Proposal and résumé. Any writing samples that you want returned require a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please retain a copy of all work submitted.
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Tuition and Financial Aid
How much is tuition?
Please see the Ph.D. tuition page for current figures.
What type of financial aid is available? How do I apply?
Prescott College participates in the federal government's Title IV program and offers federal funds. We also award merit-based Admissions Scholarships as well as other scholarships through the Financial Aid Office. You are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Prescott College school code is 013659. You can also visit our Financial Aid Office website for assistance in finding outside scholarships. There is no special application for the Admissions Scholarships. You must have your application file complete by February 15th to be considered.
How much financial aid can I get?
Based on your financial need as determined by the FAFSA and your grade level, we will consider your eligibility for federal and institutional grants and loans. Other funding options exist. Contact our office for more details.
How long does the financial aid process take?
Please allow 4 to 6 weeks from filing your FAFSA to receiving your financial aid award offer. We do not prepare award offers until students are admitted to Prescott College. Be sure to respond to requests from the Financial Aid Office for additional information in a timely manner. Most correspondence is sent via email. If you do not wish to receive correspondence via email, please do not include an email address on your FAFSA.
Are any tuition fellowships available?
Applicants that complete their application file by February 15th will be considered for a competitive partial-tuition fellowship. This fellowship will be awarded to the applicant with the strongest application in two areas: academic excellence and embodiment of the Prescott College mission statement. (Please see the Admissions Preferred Level of Performance for more information.) No additional form is needed to apply for the tuition fellowship.
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