The Best of Online and Face-to-Face
The curriculum of the EdD program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education is designed to be mindful of the time demands of working professionals. You complete courses in a hybrid format. Most of the classwork is online, with a class held on campus once a month on Saturdays.
The blended approach gives our students the best of both worlds: the convenience of online learning with the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interactions with their classmates and professors.
Online Learning
Students complete the majority of their coursework online through the Canvas learning management software. You have the ease of completing work virtually through reading assignments, virtual discussion boards, and more.
In-Person Seminars
Classes are held in-person once per month on the Pittsburgh campus (typically on Saturdays) from morning through afternoon. Our schedule is set far in advance to give you as much notice as possible. Attendance is mandatory for the in-person sessions. However, we understand that life happens and are accommodating if you can’t make it because of work, personal, or health issues.
Additional Opportunities to Learn In-Person
Spring Orientation Program
Prior to the summer start of your program, you will complete a one-day orientation program in the spring (typically in April). There will be an introductory session with other EdD students in your area of concentration, cohort-building activities, and a welcome from the Dean of the Pitt School of Education. Since the pandemic, this event has been held virtually.
Summer On-Ramp Session
The program features several elements designed to help students adjust to life as an EdD student. Students complete the “on-ramp session,” a 6-credit experience designed to be a transition to doctoral education and an introduction to the fundamentals of the EdD program. The on-ramp includes a weeklong, on-campus experience.
