EdD in Health and Physical Activity

The EdD major in Health and Physical Activity is part of the Doctor of Education (EdD) degree program at the University of Pittsburgh Pitt School of Education. The program aligns with School of Education’s mission to prepare students to be scholars, leaders, and change-makers in education and health, with a particular focus on equity and justice.

Evidence-Based Methodology

With the EdD in Health and Physical Activity program, students will gain experience in:

• Designing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based physical activity and nutrition programs for diverse priority populations in workplaces, communities, schools, and healthcare institutions;
• Analyzing the impact of legislation, judicial opinions, regulations, and policies on individuals’ and populations’ physical activity and nutrition;
• Synthesizing information from multiple sources for research and practice and evaluating the performance and impact of health programs, policies, and systems;
• Obtaining skills in funding and resource development to provide higher quality, more efficient and less expensive health promotion and health care to populations.

Earn Your Degree While Working

The program accommodates the schedules of working professionals and combines an online learning environment with monthly Saturday in-person sessions.

The Best of Online and Face-to-Face

There is a hybrid course delivery model, including a one-day welcome and information event, a week-long intensive on-ramp experience in the first summer, cross-disciplinary practitioner inquiry and foundations courses, and an internship.

Built for Professionals

The EdD helps graduates advance within their professional areas of practice. This is in contrast to our PhD, which is a full-time program that helps to prepare graduates for research-oriented careers and/or working as faculty within research and doctoral granting universities.

1. View all EdD Admissions requirements
2. The EdD program at the Pitt School of Education requires applicants to have 24 credits of relevant graduate work to transfer from a source institution with a B (3.0) or higher according to University policy.
3. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Completion of a related degree and/or course work that are foundational to health and physical activity,
• Completion of a Master’s level degree
• Professional experience in this area of study
• A desire to pursue applied doctoral training in an area of study that is matched to the focus of graduate faculty in the department who may serve as their mentor