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Learn about the Program
Students who are considering applying to Prescott College should attempt to gain a thorough understanding of the College's educational philosophy and practices by reading the viewbook, checking the Ph.D. FAQ, and speaking with an Admissions Counselor. To make an appointment to speak with an Admissions Counselor on campus or over the phone, contact the Prescott admissions office at (877) 350-2100 x2107. Please make appointments at least two weeks prior to an anticipated visit.
Admission Schedule
Students are admitted to the program in the fall of each year. Admission is competitive and enrollment is limited, so applying by February 15 is strongly advised. Applications received after the class is full will be put on a waitlist for enrollment for this term. Applicants will be given an admissions decision six to eight weeks after February 15. Deferral of applications is not permitted. Applicants who are not offered admission will need to reapply the following year, as will accepted students who choose not to enroll.
Admissions Process
The admissions process for the Prescott College Ph.D. Program in Education, with a concentration in Sustainability Education, is comprehensive, selective, and requires several demonstrations of preparedness to enter into this self-designed, self-directed, community-based doctoral program. The admissions committee carefully considers all completed applications. The program is primarily designed for educators and teachers, for educational training or administrative personnel, for supervisory staff involved with government and non-government organizations, and for people in other fields related to sustainability. Prospective doctoral students will have a strong desire to advance their education in order to contribute to a sustainable, humane, and secure future. Students who are energized by academic and professional challenges, have a commitment to scholarly excellence, want to develop their leadership abilities, and are passionate about designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative research and action projects are a good fit in this program.
Admissions Preferred Level of Performance
Admissions preferred level of performance includes, but is not limited to:
- Completion of a regionally-accredited master's degree in which the student completed a thesis;
- Demonstration of significant life/work experience related to area of study;
- Evidence of self-direction and previous relevant academic experience;
- Critical thinking and writing skills;
- A well-written Program Proposal with clearly articulated doctoral-level educational goals; and
- Computer competence.
Life and work experience may include educational administration, teaching, research, writing, consulting, business, communications, advocacy, public relations, policy development and analysis, politics, or any of a number of other possibilities.
Application materials may be submitted separately, but an admissions decision will not be made until the application is complete. We encourage you to email attached documents containing your Personal Statement, Program Proposal, and résumé. File review begins on February 15. Please note that application materials submitted to the Admissions Office become the property of Prescott College and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.
Application Form and Fee
Applicants must complete and submit a signed application form along with a non-refundable $50 application fee. Applicants may select to complete their application and pay their fee online or through the mail.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts from the colleges and universities where the applicant received his or her Bachelor's and Master's degrees must be submitted in sealed envelopes from the issuing institutions. An applicant may submit these official transcripts along with his or her admissions materials or have them sent directly to Prescott College Admissions. An applicant currently enrolled in a degree program should submit an official transcript of coursework through the preceding semester. It is the applicant's responsibility to forward the final official transcript upon completion of the degree.
Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
The résumé or curriculum vitae must include your employment history and include each employer's name, dates of employment, and job responsibilities. It should also include your educational background, as well as current interests and activities. Please include experience in conducting research, publications, presentations, and membership in professional organizations. Although we do not expect that all applicants have received awards or other honors, if you have, please include a brief description and date for each notable achievement.
Recommendation Form and Letters
Three letters of recommendation are required from academic and/or professional sources. The recommender must send his or her completed form and letter directly to Prescott College, Ph.D. Admissions, 220 Grove Ave, Prescott, AZ 86301.
Personal Statement and Program Proposal
The Personal Statement and Program Proposal are the heart of the application and the admissions committee reads these with great care. The suggested length for each document is three to five typewritten pages.
Personal Statement
In the Personal Statement, you will demonstrate the extent of your knowledge and preparation in your field; your capacity for introspection, reflection, and critical thinking; your writing skills; your personal/professional communication style; and who you are and what history has brought you to this point in your life. Your Personal Statement should incorporate the following:
- Yourself in relation to your proposed doctoral studies. What events in your life have led you to want to earn a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education? What have been your life and learning experiences in this field? How large a part does the field currently play in your life?
- Your learning goals. What do you want to know that you do not presently know? What do you want to do that you haven't already done? How do you want to be different than you are now? How does this new learning relate to your Program Proposal? What are some of your personal, social, or work-related interests that might become areas of research and inquiry as a doctoral student?
- Your readiness for doctoral study. What projects have you initiated and directed? How was your success and satisfaction with previous self-directed study? What areas of expertise are you looking for in your adjunct faculty?
Program Proposal
In the Program Proposal, you will demonstrate your readiness to conceive and carry out independent doctoral-level work in Sustainability Education. The Program Proposal should include the following:
Introduction: A discussion of your understanding of sustainability education;
Phase One:
- Course descriptions for the three foundational courses and include how they might be enhanced by you to relate to your specific area of interest within the doctoral program;
Phase Two:
- Four to six individual courses to be studied which reflect your specific area of focus. They should each include a title, a three-to-five sentence description, and a proposed bibliography of three-to-five scholarly texts. You are encouarged to use the style guide for your discipline (APA, MLA, Macmillan);
Phase Three:
- A relevant research methodologies and methods course including proposed bibliography;
- One or more possible practica in your field of study where you provide service to a community and learn from the experience; and
Phase Four:
- A preliminary proposal for a dissertation/project.
International Students
Applications from international students are welcome. International students whose native language is not English must exhibit a competency in the English language, with a TOEFL score of at least 500 on the paper-based test or at least 173 on the computer-based test.
Prior Graduate Work
Prescott College does not accept transfer credits from other doctoral programs.
Application Checklist
Submit your application materials to:
Prescott College
Admissions Office
220 Grove Ave.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-350-2112 or 877-350-2100, ext. 2112
admissions@prescott.edu
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