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University of Pittsburgh    
2025-2026 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Jan 02, 2026
 
2025-2026 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog

Out-of-School Learning, EdD


The EdD in Out-of-School Learning major is for experienced informal learning and out-of-school learning professionals who seek advanced training for leadership, consultant, or policymaker positions. The major is part of the school’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program, which has a variety of different majors to serve professionals from various fields.

Our students and graduates work in museums, after-school learning programs, intermediary organizations, media, digital design, university outreach/extension, youth development, and other areas where designed learning environments exist.

EdD Curriculum


The EdD program is a three-year 76-credit program, including 24 credits transferred from relevant graduate work. Students are required to transfer 24 credits of graduate work into the EdD program. The EdD curriculum is delivered in several stages, through a variety methods:

  • Orientation: The EdD cohort participates in a full-day, on-campus, orientation in the spring before the summer start of the program.  The day includes opportunities to meet program faculty, EdD program information, and cohort-building activities as well as an introductory session with other students in your academic major.  Orientation typically takes place in March or April.
  • Intensive on-ramp: The EdD cohort will participate in a full-week, on-campus, experience that includes intense work focused on understanding enduring problems of practice in education, health, and human development. This one-week experience typically takes place in June, and is a component of the first summer courses (Foundations 1 and Practitioner Inquiry 1).
  • Hybrid seminars: You will experience a hybrid model of education through online course experiences and in-person, once per month (typically on Saturdays) sessions on the Pittsburgh campus.  Attendance at in-person, on campus sessions is required.

 

SCHEDULE (all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted)

Year 1: Summer Year 1: Fall Year 1: Spring

EDUC 3001 - PRACTITIONER INQUIRY 1: THE SCIENCE OF IMPROVEMENT  

EDUC 3002 - FOUNDATIONS 1: BECOMING A LEADER SCHOLAR PRACTITIONER  

EDUC 3004 - FOUNDATIONS: CONTEXTS OF EDUCATION  

Major Course 1

EDUC 3003 - FOUNDATIONS: LEADERSHIP IN GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS  

Major Course 2

Year 2: Summer Year 2: Fall Year 2: Spring

EDUC 3005 - FOUNDATIONS: POLICY AS A LEVER FOR CHANGE  

EDUC 3009 - SUPERVISED PRACTITIONER INQUIRY  

EDUC 3006 - PRACTITIONER INQUIRY 2  

Major Course 3

EDUC 3007 - PRACTITIONER INQUIRY 3  

Major Course 4

Year 3: Summer Year 3: Fall Year 3: Spring

EDUC 3008 - PRACTITIONER INQUIRY 4: APPLYING DISCIPLINED INQUIRY  

EDUC 3090 - DISSERTATION-IN-PRACTICE OVERVIEW SEMINAR  

EDUC 3099 - GUIDANCE IN SCHOLARLY PRACTICE  (5 credits) EDUC 3099 - GUIDANCE IN SCHOLARLY PRACTICE  (5 credits)

 

Transfer credits (24 credits)


Total credits (76 credits)




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