The department requires three core courses of all doctoral students: Education and Society (EDPL 600); Introduction to Education Policy (EDPL 620); and Internship in Education (EDPL 889). M.A. students are required to take either 600 or 620. Beyond the core requirements, individual programs are tailored to accommodate the background, experience, and professional goals of the student. All students are expected to take disciplinary, professional specialty, and research method courses.

Discipline-based courses refer to those in the social sciences and humanities, like cultural studies, economics, anthropology, philosophy or history. Professional specialty courses refer to those that develop expertise in areas relevant to work in education, and when combined with discipline-based courses, make up the program concentration. The division between disciplinary and professional specialty courses is not to be interpreted rigidly. Some of the areas in which students wish to develop concentrations may not be easily classified. What is important is that program concentrations reflect purpose and coherence, and as previously noted, students' academic backgrounds and professional aspirations.

Research method courses are designed to build the critical intellectual tools needed to address educational issues. All students are required to take coursework in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. However, the particular mix of research courses is tailored to reinforce the program concentration designed by the students with their advisor. Research courses outside the college of education should also be considered, particularly in relation to the disciplinary courses. For example, if a student is building a concentration in economics, it may be useful to take some research courses in the field of economics. Students are encouraged to take research courses early in their program of study so they are better equipped to begin the formulation of a dissertation topic.