The doctoral degree option is for individuals interested in high level scholarly research. The purpose of the Ph. D. in Art Education is to encourage students to make significant contributions to the body of knowledge related to art education. This degree is more than just coursework, it is focused on research and theory with the goal of becoming an expert in the field. Students are supported in their efforts to investigate and advance understanding related to innovative applications of art education research, based on individual student interests. Many degree recipients of the doctoral degree are now faculty in colleges and universities all over the world, leading and serving the profession of art education in meaningful ways. 

Florida State University, distinguished as a pre-eminent university in the state of Florida, is identified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as engaged in very high research activity, the highest status accorded to a doctoral-granting university. The wide-ranging scholarship of FSU faculty and graduate students is nationally and internationally recognized for its contributions to science, business, government, culture, and society. FSU faculty members are also recognized for their exceptional level of instruction.