Oct 14, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Urban Education Leadership and Policy Studies (PhD)


Program Requirements


Complete 60 credits from 19 courses including 10 core courses, 1 advanced methods course, 4 elective courses, and 4 dissertation courses.

Students who enter with a master’s degree in an equivalent discipline may be considered for advanced graduate standing on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, if a student is ineligible for advanced standing, the student may transfer up to 6 credits of coursework taken beyond the master’s level that has not contributed toward the award of any other degree.

Doctoral candidacy: Pass a comprehensive assessment and qualifying paper.

Dissertation: Propose, compose, and defend a dissertation based on original empirical research.

Statute of limitations: Seven years.

Advanced Methods (3 Credits)


Complete one advanced methods course chosen in collaboration with the graduate program director.

Electives (12 Credits)


Complete four courses chosen in collaboration with the graduate program director.

Dissertation Courses (15 Credits)


Certification


Students may use Urban Education courses to fulfill many of the requirements for certification as a principal, supervisor-director, or special education administrator.