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University of Pittsburgh    
2026-2027 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Aug 27, 2026
 
2026-2027 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog

Urban Education, EdD


The EdD in Urban Education is designed for experienced education professionals ready to advance into transformative leadership roles within urban communities. This major prepares practitioners to address the complex, interconnected challenges of teaching, learning, and organizational leadership in urban contexts, from PreK-12 school systems to community-based organizations and beyond. Graduates are equipped to lead across a broad range of settings, including: Curricular and instructional leadership within schools and districts; Out-of-school and informal learning organizations, such as museums, nonprofits, and youth development programs; University outreach and extension programs serving urban communities; and Policy, research, and advocacy roles that shape education at the systems level.

The major is offered through the school’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program, which serves professionals across a wide range of fields and areas of expertise. Rooted in practice, the EdD develops leaders who can design, implement, and critically evaluate educational initiatives with a deep commitment to equity, access, and community impact in urban environments.

 

EdD Curriculum


The EdD program is a three-year 76-credit program. Students are required to transfer 24 credits of relevant 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 virtual orientation in the spring (typically April) before the summer start of the program. Incoming students meet program faculty, current students/alumni, receive an overview of EdD program, participate in cohort-building activities and get an introduction to the summer “on-ramp” courses. 
  • Intensive on-ramp: The EdD cohort will participate in the first-year summer “on-ramp” courses which consist of three in-person Saturdays and a full-week, on-campus experience. The on-ramp consists of two courses— Foundations 1 and Practitioner Inquiry 1 — to give new students an immersive introduction to doctoral study, cohort collaborations, and program content. The one-week in-person experience typically takes place in June.
  • Hybrid seminars: After the first summer on-ramp, students experience a hybrid learning model of education. Each semester courses are largely conducted asynchronously online which is supported through a once a month flipped classroom experience that takes place in-person (typically on Saturdays) 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 - PRACTITIONER INQUIRY 5: DISSERTATION-IN-PRACTICE OVERVIEW SEMINAR  

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

 

Foundation Courses: 12 Credits

Practitioner Inquiry Courses: 12 credits

Supervised Practitioner Inquiry: 3 credits

Dissertation-in-Practice Overview: 3 credits

Guidance In Scholarly Practice: 10 credits

Transfer credits (24 credits)


Total Credits: 76




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