We Work to Make a Difference in Education
Welcome to the Department of Education at UC Santa Barbara. Our faculty strive to prepare the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and scholars in the diverse subfields of education. We aim to help our students understand not only classroom instruction, but also the broader, increasingly multicultural, multilingual, and digital world we occupy.
Through intensive coursework and research, our students explore education from diverse critical perspectives:
- Institutional & Policy Analysis: Investigating the differing effects of schools, public policy, and leadership on educational equity and student outcomes.
- Cultural & Linguistic Exploration: Studying the profound mediating effects of culture, language, and human differences in diverse learning environments.
- Inclusive Community Advocacy: Fostering a supportive environment that values and elevates divergent perspectives, ethnic backgrounds, and student lived experiences.
Our Commitment to Your Growth
Through dedicated research and teaching, our faculty members mentor each of our students personally—working to elevate you as an educator and to inspire enduring commitments to learning, scholarship, and excellence.
| Program Track | Deadline Type | Deadline Date & Time | Funding Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. & Joint M.A./Ph.D. | Final Deadline | December 1, 11:59 PM PST | Eligible for full funding consideration |
| M.A. ONLY | Primary Consideration | December 1, 11:59 PM PST | Eligible for priority funding |
| M.A. ONLY | Secondary & Final Deadline | May 13, 11:59 PM PST | No departmental funding available. |
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EQUITY
In the pursuit of academic excellence, the Department of Education, as part of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education (GGSE), is committed to recruiting, supporting, and retaining a community of students, faculty, and staff that reflects the diversity of our state and nation. The students, faculty, and staff of the GGSE recognize and respect the dignity and worth of all people. We value individual differences including, but not limited to, racial and ethnic backgrounds, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, age, and divergent perspectives. Our goal is to create a diverse community where all members feel safe and included. We welcome discussion of complex issues related to diversity and equity inside and outside the classroom. We are committed to providing all members of the GGSE community multiple opportunities for their voices to be heard. We believe a dedication to these principles of inclusion is essential to our scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and democracy.
Department of Education Leadership Contact Information and Faculty Office Hours
Contact Information for Program
Office: ED 3103
Email: progoffice@education.ucsb.edu
Phone: (805) 893-4515
Fax: (805) 893-7264
Mailing Address:
GGSE Dept. of Education
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490
Program Office Staff
Antoniya "Toni" Terzieva
Department Administrator
aterzieva@ucsb.edu
Office: Education 3103
Leonora "Léo" Naser-Saravia
Program Coordinator
lnasersa@ucsb.edu
Office: Education 3105
Chair
Tarek Azzam, Professor
tarekazzam@ucsb.edu
Chair's Office: ED 3153
(805) 893-3711
Vice Chair
Danielle Harlow
danielle.harlow@ucsb.edu
Office: ED 3129
(805) 893-5165
Graduate Advisor
Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj
carolynsattin-bajaj@ucsb.edu
Office: ED 3117
Graduate Diversity Officer
Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj, Associate Professor
carolynsattin-bajaj@ucsb.edu
Office: ED 3117
Department of Education News
Opinion: The rollback of DEI initiatives in higher education puts student success at risk
GGSE in the News > Dept. of Education
Jaime Lester Appointed New Dean for Gevirtz School
GGSE News > Dept. of Education
Munira Kairat Receives the National Academy of Education Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
GGSE News > Dept. of Education
Innovative Environmental Education Earns Top Honors at 2026 Grad Slam for Kaylee Laub
GGSE News > Dept. of Education