Essential program features identified by students working toward a doctorate in mathematics education

Abstract

What are the essential components of a doctorate program in mathematics education or didactics of mathematics concerning research, coursework, seminars, and collaboration? The purpose of this study was to learn from doctoral students across the world about how their programs in mathematics education are preparing them for research and teaching in mathematics education; how their programs provide academic research and writing support; and what they view as missing from their experiences. Online surveys, along with follow-up interviews from a subset of survey respondents, indicated that doctoral students from 17 different countries stressed the importance of international collaboration, examining fundamental theories of learning mathematics, and identified a need for more support with academic writing. © 2024, Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME). All rights reserved.