A survey of PhD programs in TEFL: Curricular strengths and weaknesses in Iranian universities

Curriculum development is considered the most important component of higher education system in every country. The ability of instructors in effective teaching, especially at university level, has a meaningful relationship with their knowledge of the curriculum. Therefore, the process of developing these programs, and especially the main partners who should participate in the formulation of curricular programs, has attracted a wide range of attention. Due attention to the necessity of carefully planned curricula and their components as a complex system is a sensitive indicator of the trend of intellectual thought system and educational trends of the instructors. This article investigates the TEFL PhD programs held in Iranian universities to cast light on their points of strength and weakness.