William E. Doll Curriculum Theory Project Superior Graduate Student Scholarship

The William E. Doll, Jr., Superior Graduate Student Scholarship provides support to graduate students who are pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in Curriculum Studies/Theory in the School of Education. This degree is designed to support advanced study in curriculum theory, an interdisciplinary field whose primary goals are to research the role education plays in a democratic society both nationally and internationally. Curriculum Theory aspires to understand educational practices within broad social and cultural frameworks, focusing on what counts as knowledge, and what knowledge is most valued, by whom, at what time, and for what purpose. Students gain a theoretical and practical understanding of curriculum history, theories of curriculum development, and philosophies of pedagogy as they relate to an increasingly diverse and technological world.

The Scholarship was established in honor of esteemed LSU scholar, beloved professor, and faithful friend, the late Dr. William Elder Doll, Junior. At his core, Dr. Bill Doll was a lifelong learner and educator whose passion for play and sense of possibility inspired those who knew him. Bill attended Cornell University where he studied philosophy and history, graduating with a BA degree in 1953. His Master’s in philosophy was conferred by Boston University in 1960, and his PhD in education by the Johns Hopkins University in 1972. Bill began teaching at LSU in 1989, designed the Holmes Program, and served as founding co-director of the internationally recognized Curriculum Theory Project (CTP) (established in 1995) which he led until he left LSU in 2008. His contributions to LSU were so vast and innumerable that a conference room and a fellowship were named in his honor following his retirement from the university. The William E. Doll, Jr., Archive – preserving his papers and correspondence – is also housed in the LSU Hill Memorial Library.

Dr. Doll’s accomplishments were many; he published four books and traveled the world as an international scholar. His 1993 book, A Post-Modern Perspective on Curriculum, was translated into several languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew. In China, it has consistently ranked in the top ten among highly cited foreign books regarding curriculum and pedagogy. His accolades garnered him the 2005 AERA lifetime achievement award. His work has also been celebrated nationally and internationally via an authored text on his remarkable teaching, as well as two edited collections—of his own scholarship and on his work from curriculum theorists across the world.

Scholarship recipients will be integrated into a comprehensive graduate program that brings together faculty, current and former students, and internationally and nationally recognized scholars. CTP has an active graduate student organization which annually organizes and sponsors visiting scholars; film, lecture and lunch & learn series, professional development opportunities, and an annual Curriculum Camp, which is a graduate student only conference hosting students from around the country and Canada, featuring a distinguished scholar as invited speaker each year. These efforts construct a professional and public intellectual committed to a culture of equity and social justice in education. In order to do this work, CTP asks its students to seek minors in several areas (e.g., higher education, sociology, women’s and gender studies, African and African American studies, and urban and community education). We also support students early on to attend and present at conferences and publish their research. Our graduate student organization, the Curriculum Theory Graduate Student Collaborative (CTGSC), frequently engages in fund raising and grant work as well for such purposes.

In order to qualify for applying for this scholarship, prospective recipients are expected to earn:
Admission into the PhD program in the School of Education’s PhD program, with a specialization in curriculum theory, a 3.5 GPA at Masters Level, and a record of excellence that exhibits potential for research, scholarly presentation and publication in curriculum theory. In addition, they will need to submit two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement that reflects their interest in a specific theoretical domain relevant to curriculum theory, and their scholarly goals and potential uses for the scholarship.

The recipient of this $4000 award may use the endowment proceeds for activities related to his/her/their scholarship and completion of degree including: professional travel, research, equipment, books, and/or conferences. Travel to one of CTP’s affiliated international institutions or conferences is especially encouraged.