Overview

The major in Education Policy and Social Change at the University of Pittsburgh prepares students to lead efforts to improve access, outcomes, and opportunities for all students across education sectors.

The program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in education policy and social change in local and global contexts, organizational change, economics-informed policy, and policy implementation and evaluation.

Our graduates make a lasting impact because they are ready to create, implement, and assess the policies and practices that shape and drive educational improvement in local, national, and global environments.

Career Pathways

The program prepares students for many different opportunities for career advancement, including:

Leading change agents in PreK-12, higher education, or non-formal education organizations
Senior administrators in nonprofit organizations and in research firms
Senior evaluators and legislative staff positions at the municipal, state, or federal level
Senior administrators and policy analysts in coordinating and/or governing bodies

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Supervised Practitioner Inquiry
Social Change in Local and Global Contexts
Organizations, Networks, and Education Policy
Economics-informed Policy Analysis
Educational Implementation and Evaluation for Social Change

Key information

Duration

Part-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-05-17 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

76 SCH

76 credits(24 credits transfer from your previous graduate credits)

Delivered

Blended

Campus Location

Pittsburgh, United States

Disciplines

Education Public Policy View 349 other PhDs in Education in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

3.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

GRE scores are not required. Admission is based on your past educational achievement and accomplishments, and your visions for the future.
Completed School of Education online admissions application
A non-refundable application fee of $50 (USD) by credit card
A current resume or curriculum vitae
A goal statement (750-word personal statement)
Please identify 1-3 faculty in your major area you’re interested in working with and why
Three letters of recommendation. We recommend that at least one reference be professional (i.e.,. from a supervisor or a colleague) and at least one be academic (i.e., from someone with knowledge of your performance in an academic setting such as a master's program). However, it is acceptable for all three references to be professional.
Transcript Submission
Official, third-party evaluation of all international transcripts for applicants who have not received a master's degree within the United States

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

27334 USD / year

≈ 27334 USD / year
Out-of-State

27334 USD / year

≈ 27334 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

27334 USD / year

≈ 27334 USD / year

Living costs

Pittsburgh

United States

1148 - 1944 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Education Policy and Social Change.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career Pathways

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Pittsburgh

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners