Programs, Degrees, and Certificates

At every level—from local school boards to international commissions—society is demanding better educators, in many different ways and contexts.

In the classroom, for instance, teachers meet more than fresh faces. They also meet tough state and federal mandates while helping their students hit performance targets on standardized tests.

And wherever policy is being made, tough questions must be asked. What are the enabling factors that make students more successful? How can we prevent and reverse childhood obesity through wellness programs and physical education? Where should early childhood development programs be focused?

Tomorrow's leaders, child care specialists, and researchers had better be prepared to find the answers.

At the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, we're rethinking what a “good basic education” means in today's global economy. It means providing our children with a solid basis in reading, math, and science, but it also means teaching problem-solving skills and the ability to understand complex concepts.

Challenging and Rewarding

More than ever before, teachers must be effective communicators, able to explain complicated topics to diverse groups of students. They also have to use the best technology of the information age to its fullest potential.

School administrators and policymakers, meanwhile, must stay within tight financial guidelines while answering the government mandates and responding to the concerns of parents and caregivers.

Does it sound challenging? It is. But it's also exciting and extremely rewarding. A dramatic change is underway in education, and if you'd like to be part of this revolution, the University of Pittsburgh School of Education is for you.

Providing The Best Educators

The School of Education is comprised of four departments:

Together, they offer top-quality educations for tomorrow's teachers, administrators, policymakers, and researchers through undergraduate majors, minors, graduate degrees, and professional certificates.

We think the diversity of the programs we offer makes us fairly unique. There are a few other schools in Pennsylvania offering fifth-year teacher training—but we're the only one providing a 36-week field experience for our Master of Arts in Teaching students. We're also training teachers to work with students who have special physical, mental, or emotional needs.

“Our most sensible market niche is to produce the very best educators for our region and country,” says Dean Alan Lesgold, “and we are filling that niche nicely.”

Become a Part of Our World

The School of Education is here to help you reach your goals, whether you're just setting out on your career path, or you're already in the field and want to reach a new horizon. Explore the world of choices we have to offer—and consider becoming a part of ours.

The School's 5 departments offer a total of 4 undergraduate degrees, 57 graduate degrees, 28 certificate programs, and 5 minors.

If you're not sure where to begin, choose your desired career path and we'll guide you to the program that will help you to meet your goals.