Expressions of academic experience of graduate students studying philosophy of education

This study examined academic experiences of graduate students studying philosophy of education at Tarbiat Moalem University in Tehran. To explore lived experience of student''s interpretive expressions were used. A sample of six students who completed at least 3 semesters participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and purposeful observations transcribed using the Van-Manen method. Experiences of students were classified in relation to field of study، subjects، and lecturers. Attitude towards field of study include initial interest، subsequent satisfaction، job market، as well as awareness of nature، importance and status of the filed. Attitude towards subjects implies integration and relations of subjects with field of study، and how well textbooks، and topics of theses are updated. Attitude towards lecturers refers to their manner and expertise، teaching and assessment methods. Findings revealed relative satisfaction of students with manner and expertise of lecturers whereas they were rather dissatisfied with the nature of the course، its importance، job market، fragmented and ineffective subjects، perplexing stage of choosing an appropriate topic for thesis and assessment methods. Finally، the importance and place of philosophy of education was spelled out along with practical implications.