phd programs university of pittsburgh

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Looking to apply to one of Pitt's 14 graduate and professional schools? Find details below about Pitt's graduate schools, graduate programs and courses, and financial support resources.

For questions about programs, applications, admission criteria (including English proficiency), curriculum, and financial awards, it's best to reach out to your program of interest for the details you need. Find information request forms and email addresses arranged by school at Request Graduate Information .

Instead of a central graduate admissions office, applications for admission to graduate study are managed by Pitt's 14 graduate and professional schools . Find links to each school and their programs.

Find the Pitt graduate program that is right for you with Degree Finder —a tool that enables current and prospective graduate and undergraduate students to search, filter, and find degree programs at the University of Pittsburgh. 

View the  Graduate Cost of Attendance  for Pennsylvania residents and out-of-state residents. Cost of attendance includes Pitt graduate tuition, mandatory fees, and other estimated expenses. Information is arranged by program and and for full- and part-time study. 

The University has established a variety of financial aid funding opportunities for graduate and professional students.

Information for Federal TRIO Programs at institutions who wish to schedule a visit: The Office of the Provost is happy to assist you in scheduling an event to meet with the graduate school admissions staff at the University of Pittsburgh! Please complete the Undergraduate Program Visit Request Form  at least one month in advance of your visit. We will do our best to accommodate your request with enough advance notice and graduate program availability.

Leaders in Research

Graduate studies in the school of medicine.

Our graduate programs provide students with access to world-class faculty and outstanding research. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. Opportunities for research training are available in 11 PhD, 4 Master of Science, and 4 certificate programs. 

Students work with leading scientists in their fields. The training faculty enjoy stable grant funding and extraordinary laboratory resources.

Our students' success in research is driven by individualized training, attention to mentoring and careful program oversight.

Our institutional commitment is to maintain a scientific community whose diversity enriches the academic experience for everyone. 

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PhD Program

The School of Pharmacy offers training at the doctoral level to highly motivated individuals seeking a career in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Our mission is to train the next generation of leaders and innovators seeking to make new discoveries and improve the healthcare on a global scale of the community through outstanding basic, translational, and clinical research. Major strengths include highly accomplished, well-funded research faculty, multidisciplinary training opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies. Our rigorous training program prepares students to become leaders in pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, research institutions, and universities.

Program Tracks

There are six areas that students may select to specialize their education:

• Biochemical Pharmacology
• Clinical Pharmaceutical Scientist Program
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research
• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology (PSP)

Requirements for Graduation

Each PhD student must write a dissertation that presents the results of research carried out by the student. An appropriate research project involves a substantive piece of original and independent research grounded in an appropriate body of literature. It is relevant to an identifiable field as it is currently practiced. It represents a hypothesis tested by collection and analysis of data and provides a significant contribution or advancement to that field.

Contact Information

Lori M. Altenbaugh Graduate Program Coordinator 3501 Terrace Street 5016 Salk Hall, Student Services Pittsburgh, PA 15261 [email protected] 412-648-1014 Admissions E-Mail [email protected]

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PhD Program Admissions

The Economics Department recruits the most promising students from the United States and around the world who are interested in pursuing a  Ph.D. in economics . 

We are committed to establishing an academic environment that is collegial and supports students at every stage of their careers in a climate of integrity and respect. We are also committed to the removal of barriers that inhibit access to our program by women and underrepresented minorities.

Consistent with these goals, the department reviews holistically each candidate’s application looking for evidence of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. On the cognitive side, we look for candidates with adequate analytical and mathematical foundations, as necessary requirements for research in economics. The minimum mathematics requirements are two semesters of calculus and a semester of linear algebra. In practice, most students we admit have more than the minimum mathematical preparation and have taken courses in real analysis, differential / difference equations, and probability theory. On the non-cognitive side, we look for candidates who are mature, curious, creative, self-motivated, persistent, work well with others, and can offer a diversity of perspectives.

Previous study of economics is expected but candidates without prior economics background may also be admitted. 

Our entering cohorts in the last few years have averaged around 10-12 new students per year, out of more than 400 applications.  

The application deadline is January 15 of the year in which the student intends to enter the program. Admission is for the fall term only. All applicants are automatically considered for financial aid. The department typically makes admissions and financial aid decisions in early March.

All fee waiver requests are handled by the Dietrich School's Graduate Office. Please see their Application Fee Waiver page for more information. 

For the  admission season 2023-24 , applicants are required to submit all the material listed below. For this application cycle, submission of  GRE scores  is  optional . If applicants choose to submit GRE scores, the admission committee will evaluate them as part of its holistic review of application materials.

• Completed application , submitted on-line through the  GradCAS  portal. Please see our  Applying to the PhD Program  page for further information. Please download and print the  instructions  for completing the online application before beginning the application process.
• A  $75 application fee , payable online with a credit card or by check or money order payable to the University of Pittsburgh. Applicants who indicate they are paying by check and do not submit the application fee will not be considered for admission. On a case-by-case basis,  application fee waivers  may be granted.
• Transcripts  from all undergraduate or graduate programs attended, showing grades earned, degree conferred, and the date when the degree was conferred. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the online application; official transcripts will be required of all successful applicants at the time of matriculation to the program. Applicants who are in the process of earning a degree should submit a current transcript at the time they apply. A notarized English translation is required if transcripts are in a language other than English.
• English language requirement.  If an applicant’s native language is not English, they need to submit a  TOEFL  (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or  IELTS  (International English Language Testing System) or  Duolingo English Test  score. Applicants who have earned or expect to earn a degree from a college or university in the United States are exempt from this requirement. Also exempt from this requirement are applicants whose native language is not English but who have completed a degree program at an institution outside of the United States where the language of instruction is English and where the official national language of the country in which the institution is located includes English. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the internet-based test, with at least a score of 22 in all of the four sections (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). For the TOEFL, the Institution Code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927; the Department Code for Economics is 84.   The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.0, with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four sections. Note that applicants must take the academic reading and writing modules, not the general training reading and writing modules. The minimum acceptable Duolingo English Test score is 120.
• Three letters of recommendation , which must be submitted on-line. Letters should be written on letterhead stationery and signed by the recommender.
• A career statement of 500 words or less  that addresses your intellectual and professional goals and answers the following questions: What has prompted you to pursue graduate study in economics? What are your ultimate professional goals and aspirations? Which subfield of economics has your primary interest?

Please see our  frequently asked questions  page for more information, or contact our Graduate Program Administrator.

On November 7th, Professor Luca Rigotti, Director of Graduate Studies, hosted an information session to go over the aspects of the program and answer any admissions questions. If you missed the session, you can view a recording here.  

View the 2024 Prospective PhD Visit Day slides here. 

Browse Programs

This program aims to provide students with the business and accounting knowledge necessary for them to succeed as professional accountants. 

Provides students with the business and accounting knowledge necessary for them to succeed as professional accountants. 

Prepare for advanced study in mathematical or quantitative finance and business administration, and careers in banking and insurance.

Students in any major can enhance their program of study and complement their department major with African Studies.

Understand the complexities, struggles, and successes of people of African descent that exist throughout the world.

Students will graduate prepared for careers that include a high level of social, cultural, and international competency, particularly as they

Among other benefits, this certificate provides a high degree of proficiency in ASL.

This program explores the basic sub-fields of anthropology: archaeology, physical, cultural, and anthropological linguistics.

This program will provide you an opportunity to learn about the theories and practical applications of applied behavior analysis.

Develop the computational and data skills necessary to support the increasingly data-oriented nature of many careers.

This program builds the skills you’ll need to address the diverse needs of children, youth, and families across multiple settings.

This program allows for students to prepare for a career in teaching, research, business, finance, economics, programming and many others.

This program allows for students to prepare for a career in statistics, data sciences or a related field.

This certificate will provide intermediate to advanced proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic and at least one Arabic dialect plus more.

This program positions students to apply to graduate programs in architecture or historic preservation, as well as careers in those areas.

The pre-professional major combines coursework in architecture history and theory, building science, design studios and digital media.

Students in any major can explore a scholarly interest in Asian Studies and develop language proficiency.

This certificate provides a focused area of study for students interested in careers providing technology to individuals with disabilities.

This program prepares students for careers in areas of law, business and government administration, technical writing and science education.

Take what you learn in the classroom and apply it in a variety of clinical settings to become a certified athletic trainer.

Learn key skills including the prevention, assessment and treatment of auditory and balance disorders across the lifespan.

This program prepares students for an applied public health career.

This certificate is designed to teach students to effectively handle large amounts of disparate data.   

Gain knowledge of the technical and social principles of bioengineering as well as a focused track area within bioengineering.

Designed for clinicians, lawyers and students, this program emphasizes the philosophical foundation of bioethics.

Good for careers in scientific journalism, pharmaceutical supply industries, biological/medical research, and scientific libraries/museums.

This program offers training for students who want to conduct innovative research at the intersection of biomedicine and computing.

This program uses an individualized approach to enable students interested in health and biomedical sciences to become lifelong learners.

This program is an academic degree program for students with a background in calculus and a strong interest in public health.

Students will further their business skills while integrating new and emerging knowledge.

Immerse yourself in quantitative methods and analytical tools, statistics, data mining, and data-driven decision-making.

Develop an understanding of business analytics, diagnose problems, and envision solutions from an evidence-based perspective.

Learn how IT interacts with business strategies, organizations and customers.

Study the basic areas of business law, such as business and tax law; technology and commercial law; litigation and dispute resolution; regulatory

The program combines basic and clinical research faculty who are dedicated to the training of students.

The program combines basic science and clinical research to explore questions related to biology.

Leads to careers in food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, medical, materials, electronics and other fields.

This program prepares students for a career in business or industry or for advanced study in chemistry.

Students often pursue careers in education, information science, childcare and social work, as well as a range of advanced degrees.

This program is designed to prepare graduates from the MSW program to provide services to vulnerable children and families.  

This program combines the best of Chinese studies, ancient and modern, with expert training in speaking, reading, and writing the language.

Experience rigorous evidence-based education and a longitudinal clinical experience within an inter-professional academic environment in the field

A new collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and Covestro LLC takes aim at decreasing global waste and its impact on the environment

This program aims to produce highly qualified civil engineers and achieve scholarly excellence through research.  

This program trains professional scholars and teachers specializing in the languages, literature, history, philosophy, and archaeology of the

Train to re-engineer the ways in which basic scientific discoveries are translated to improved health and health care.

This program is focused on training students to prepare for clinical and research careers related to exercise and physical activity.

Become a clinician promoting rehabilitation and recovery.

This program provides the skills essential to design and conduct high-quality clinical and translational research.

Develop your communication skills, improve your writing and gain an understanding of how mass media affects society.

Acquire a foundation in speech and hearing sciences to prepare for graduate-level academic work and clinical training.

Become a scientific leader in research, teaching and service via individualized, interdisciplinary training.

Learn to examine the world, communicate and persuade others.

Examines how social, economic and environmental factors impact a community’s well-being.

Gain the advanced knowledge and skills required for contemporary macro social work practice.

Learn to conduct population-based research.

This graduate certificate recognizes sustained, advanced study in composition, literacy, and pedagogy.

Students combine studies in biology and computer science in order to approach biological questions computationally.

Learn to translate computational technologies to biomedicine and biotechnology.

Aims to increase the potential to address research challenges through computational modeling.  

This program provides the fundamentals of mathematics and the physical sciences, with a strong emphasis on analysis and design.  

This program introduces students to a scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications.

Great for pre-health care students and any student interested in social and philosophical problems in biomedical sciences.

This certificate program allows students to develop their complex construction project and managerial know-how.  

Learn to communicate strategically and effectively with internal and external audiences.

Study U.S legal compliance requirements as international trade and globalization continues to grow.

This program provides a selective, rigorous and forward-thinking investigation of the various languages, literatures and cultures of Europe.

Explore equitable design, digital literacies and agency, and critical thinking in applications of technology and digital media for learning. 

This program fosters the intensive study of cultural formations, past and present, from around the world.

This program provides advanced training in instructional methods that will allow you to keep pace with the changing educational landscape.

Broaden your engineering background by considering cybersecurity aspects in engineering systems.

Provides students with the skills to develop cybersecurity policies and strengthen cybersecurity ecosystems.   

Micro-credentials offer immediate value to current employers and demonstrate mastery of programming skills to potential future employers.

Gain critical skill sets that span key areas of statistics, computing, and mathematics to participate in the evolving data revolution.  

Advance your dental education with programs that provide additional education and training in the dental specialties.

This program provides the educational experiences to prepare our graduates for a career in dental hygiene.

The School of Dental Medicine prepares students to be practicing clinicians or researchers in the field of dentistry.

Personalize this program through rotations such as oncology nutrition, maternal and pediatric nutrition, and more.

Use the power of multimedia content to communicate with and persuade audiences.

Harness narrative, world-building and media studies while using coding, software and human-computer interfaces.

Graduate certificate supporting the acquisition of a proactive engagement with digital methods in the humanities and allied social sciences.

This program focuses on people with disabilities and their experiences rather than representing disability as a problem to be solved.

This program focuses on the education of young children in public and private schools and centers, homes, and more.

Students go on to Asia-related careers in government, business, politics, law and pre-collegiate teaching, as well as doctoral programs.

Students examine fundamental questions of how species live and interact in nature and the evolutionary origins of species.

Studying economics fosters a logical and ordered way of thinking, as well as highly marketable concrete skills.

This program offers practical, real-world experiences to improve student learning and achievement based on cutting-edge research.

Pursue a course of studies that provides training and produces new knowledge in education policy.

This program is rooted in core electric power engineering principles and focuses on the expansion of electric power grid infrastructure.  

This program prepares for careers in electrical engineering through employment in industry, government or private practices, and more.  

Train to become a paramedic after your junior year or prepare for graduate programs like physician assistant studies or medical school.

The 15-credit certificate aims to prepare students to take on the challenge to advance and innovate engineering applications using the systematic

This certificate formalizes student participation in engineering projects that have a social or environmental impact as a core thrust.   

This program aims to develop the student's ability to think analytically across disciplines and tackle future technical challenges.  

Encourages students to identify opportunities to enhance engineering analysis and design through simulation.   

The Department of English provides a rich environment for teaching, research, creative work, and service.

Offers a wide range of opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students interested in teaching reading and writing.

Commit to imaginative and theoretical engagement with Anglophone literatures in their historical, formal and generic forms.

Prepare for a career in teaching or writing, or obtain skills and knowledge that are useful in numerous business and professional settings.

Highlights theoretical underpinnings of environmental health sciences and toxicology with laboratory-based research.

This program aims to produce highly qualified environmental engineers and achieve scholarly excellence through research.    

This program provides concentrated graduate education in this well-defined area of environmental health.

This program is popular with people who love nature and want to explore environmental issues.

Graduates have gone on to careers in government, industry, advocacy, enforcement, education, law, and international policy.

This program provides concentrated training in epidemiological concepts, skills, and methodology with a research focus.

Gain an appreciation of how identities and cultures were established, and how history has shaped current issues.

Links Pitt and the community in practical applied evaluation initiatives at the community level.

Learn about exercise and physical activity to promote health and wellness, prevent and treat health-related conditions, and more.

This program focuses on training students to prepare for health-fitness and clinical careers related to exercise science. 

This program offers rigorous courses concerning the history, aesthetics, theory, and production of cinema.

This program provides students with an understanding of the financial principles and the practical implementation of these principles.

Provides students with an understanding of financial principles and the practical implementation of those principles.

This program includes classes in elementary, intermediate and advanced language, conversation, composition, business French, and phonetics.

Offers foundations for the interdisciplinary study of gender and sexuality and supports students' work in other disciplines.

Provides cutting-edge training in the complex science of genetics while fostering a foundation in counseling. 

This program prepares students for myriad career possibilities that focus on analyzing the human genome. 

Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed for immediate success in GIS-related jobs.

Geology is a rigorous science blending physics, chemistry, and math with going into the field to see how nature actually works.

Learn at a department internationally recognized for excellence in research and education.

Focuses primarily on coursework in German while also addressing communicative and cultural competence.

The Certificate in German Studies offers students a significant level of language and cultural competence.

This program aims to provide students with the specialized skills relevant to practice with older adults and their family members  

Become equipped with the tools and skills necessary to address our world’s most compelling issues.

This program enables students to develop expertise in the management of people, processes, and policies in a global context.

Global Studies interrogates the waning importance of regional borders and disciplinary boundaries in the world today.

This program will prepare students for leadership positions in development, implementation, evaluation, or policy of health initiatives.

For students with academic training and experience desiring to advance to a management-level position.

A fully online, accelerated 10-month graduate certificate program for working professionals in the healthcare setting.

Further your degree and skills with this 12 credit certificate in Health Data Analytics.

Designed to increase the cultural competency of public health, this program addresses the root causes of health disparities.

Examine the sociocultural context and historical foundations of medicine and healthcare.

Learn the skills to ensure health care providers and patients have access to accurate information. 

Further your degree and skills with this 12 credit certificate in Health Information Cybersecurity.

This program is intended to give students interested in health law a basic grounding in the field.

This program prepares graduates for positions in health services research and policy.

These two programs analyze the structure of the health care industry, provide students with communication and management skills, and more.

The certificate prepares students for employment in roles such as medical director, quality officer, and department chief.

This certificate aims to provide students with the competencies required for problem solving in the healthcare industry.  

Receive training in basic and translational research, and gain standardized skills that are fundamental to hearing and vision research. 

Acquire the professional competencies, experiential learning, and personal development to serve students in higher education.

This program offers a top-rated PhD program in Hispanic Languages & Literature.

Learn to use methods, techniques and ideas from a wide range of humanistic and social scientific fields to examine history.

A great choice for students wishing to combine coursework in the sciences with work in humanistically inclined disciplines.

Explores why and how humans have created images, objects and environments across the globe and throughout time.

For students who plan to deliver social work services in elementary or secondary schools.  

This program provides an enhanced academic experience, including opportunities for interdisciplinary study.

This program prepares students for careers as contributing members of genetics and genomics research teams in academia or industry.

Our advanced, accelerated program will support you as you take on more advanced human resource roles.

Involves effective management, development, and deployment of people, with a focus on analytics and diversification.

Learn and engage with issues of diversity, equality, inclusion, and social change within the bedrock of the long-standing global human rights

Work for the dignity of populations who are vulnerable to violence and deprivation.

Offered in collaboration with the Network of Social Work Management under a university partnership initiative.

This program aims to provide the student with a capability for systems analysis and design, and the demands of today's social systems.   

This program addresses the social-emotional and mental health needs of young children and their families.

Programs encourage cross-disciplinary research through cutting-edge methods and behavioral and community education.

This program is designed to expand students professional skills and qualifications in the field of cybersecurity.  

This program builds a strong foundation in the science of how data, human-centered systems and networks work together to solve problems.  

This program prepares students for independently engaging in advanced work in high-quality research and teaching.  

This certificate provides students a foundation in database management, user-centered design, security, and other IT topics.

Explore the interface between innovation and entrepreneurship.

Learn principles of design, creativity and entrepreneurship through hands-on experiences.  

Explore, examine, and discuss historical, contemporary, and emerging instructional design theories and models.

This program provides students knowledge and skills necessary to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities in health care.

ISB is an ideal choice for students who want to understand biology and disease at the systems level.

This program is designed to allow students to obtain a focused introduction to these bodies of law and practice.

This program is a multidisciplinary graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh dedicated to applied artificial intelligence (AI).  

This interdisciplinary degree requires course work, three years of language study, and rigorous independent research.

Build a foundation for careers and further study in the application of legal regimes to transnational and international relationships.

The CPIB will contribute to preparation for a career in international business. It is designed as an enrichment of the BSBA program.

Prepares students advance or begin their careers in international commercial law.

Combine in-depth theoretical knowledge with practical applications to promote development across the world. 

Provides linguistic-cultural preparation for careers requiring intercultural competency, communication skills, and cultural analysis.

A major in Italian Studies promotes the cross-discipline exploration of a variety of areas relating to Italian and Italian American culture.

Progress from beginning to advanced level in the Japanese language.

The Jewish Studies Certificate is open to all students interested in the history and culture of the Jewish people.

This program is for students who aim to conduct research on the interconnection of culture, language, and literacy in educational settings.

Train as future leaders, public officials and analysts meeting the needs of Latin America and Caribbean countries.

Gain first-hand experience by studying in Latin America.

This program offers a solid foundation in legal education and a multitude of specializations applied to contemporary issues.

Learn about the workings of the criminal justice system in the broader context of society and the legal system. 

Grow as a leader and advance your career with an interdisciplinary certificate in leadership.

The CPLE program will provide meaningful and experience-based exposure to ethics and leadership in different organizational settings.

Further your degree and skills with this 12 credit certificate in Leadership in Health Informatics.

Micro-credentials offer immediate value to current employers and demonstrate mastery of finance skills to potential future employers.

This program offers students an opportunity to learn from and work with leading faculty and researchers in the field of LGBT health.

Working professionals: Earn your first or second undergraduate degree and advance your career at your own pace.

This program provides the theories, knowledge, skills and ethical foundations of the information professions.  

Learn about the unconscious knowledge that humans have about language, the structure of language in general, how languages vary and more.

This program combines the foundations of business with practical training and industry connections.

This program helps to launch a professional career in business analytics for students with little to no work experience. 

Gain familiarity with the structure of the consulting industry while building a toolkit of essential consulting skills.

This program equips students with both the technical and business skills needed to manage an organization's IT resources.

Gain knowledge to control and manage resources effectively by gaining skills in Project, Process & Quality, or Supply Chain Management.

Provides students with marketable management skills to advance their health care careers.

The program focuses on both marketing strategy (determining which markets and customers to serve) and implementation (how to serve them).

This program places students forefront of marketing science through a combination of coursework and experience-based learning opportunities.

Explore marketing science through a combination of coursework and experience-based learning.

Integrate knowledge of materials processing and synthesis to improve the performance of engineered products.

Students learn quantitative methods to apply in biotechnology, medical and other fields.

Studying mathematics provides a strong foundation for advanced study in science, engineering and finance.

Prepare for a career in industry or to enter graduate school in applied mathematics, statistics, economics, business, or a related field. 

This program prepares students to be faculty members in research-focused colleges or universities, non-academic institutions, or elsewhere.

This program provides students with expert knowledge of the design and manufacture of mechanical systems and thermal devices/processes.  

Provides students with a rigorous education in theories of mass media process, history and ethics.

Clinical faculty and community preceptors can enhance their professional education and teaching skills.

This certificate provides the skills to succeed in multidisciplinary teams developing new and innovative medical products.  

Prepare to participate in cutting-edge biomedical research, innovative educational programs and leadership in academic medicine.

Undertake interdisciplinary work to view clearly not only a distant society, but also our own.

Study the region defined by its connection to the Mediterranean Sea and earn a graduate certificate.

Prepares MSW graduates for professional practice with individuals, families and/or groups with mental/behavioral health challenges.  

Students study the physiology, genomics, and genetic engineering of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria and viruses.

The program aims to create access to the breadth of expertise, approaches, and sub-disciplines of Microbiology and Immunology.

Students study the molecules that make up an organism, the forces operating among these molecules, and how they are controlled.

An exciting interdisciplinary research field at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology and medicine.

For highly motivated and qualified students preparing for careers in biomedical research.

Offers an outstanding research environment, ranking 9th nationally in NIH funding of pharmacology departments.

Health professionals will blend clinical or other professional training with population-based approaches.

Museum Studies examines the institutional collection, preservation, and exhibition of art, objects, documents and specimens in society.

Explores music’s meaning in the structure of individual works, the relations between them and their place in the cultures that produce them.

This certificate is designed to be combined with coursework in engineering, chemistry and physics.

Prepares students to respond to emergency situations, from weather-related and natural disasters to terrorism.

The natural sciences major is an interdisciplinary program with a flexible curriculum that meets students' academic and career goals.

The Neuroscience department is committed to excellence in teaching, training and research.

Advance your career and build on your nonprofit management and fundraising skills with this certificate program.

This program provides nuclear engineering education with study areas in operations and safety, science, and nuclear systems and policy.  

Prepare to conduct evidence-based practice, engage in scholarly activities and translate knowledge to improve the delivery of healthcare.

Learn how food and nutrients affect the human body and how to apply knowledge in nutrition science to improve the health of people.

Prepare to become an occupational therapist or seek advanced knowledge and skills at a graduate level.

This unique program will rapidly immerse students into a research environment that will train them to become independent and creative scientists

This program offers basic, translational and clinical studies in oral biology, as well as biomedical research and health.

This program prepares highly specialized teachers to serve the educational needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.

Engage with curriculum intended for experienced informal learning and out-of-school learning professionals who seek advanced training for

This certificate provides the student with an excellent background in sciences related to normal and pathological motion.

Trains leaders and decision makers to improve community health through basic, clinical and translational research.

Gain the tools and knowledge necessary to analyze trends from large data sets and then interpret these trends in a way that allows them to improve

Learn and practice in a variety of environments on the continuum of keeping healthy communities healthy to caring for the sick.

Builds skills and expertise for pharmacy professionals seeking to increase their business acumen and marketability.

Prepare for such professions as law, medicine, business, and teaching at one of the best philosophy departments in the country.

This certificate prepares students for graduate studies in physics, chemistry or electrical engineering with optoelectronics emphasis.

This certificate is designed to meet the nation's workforce development needs for materials engineering expertise in physical metallurgy.

Improve your clinical knowledge and advance your skills as a practicing physical therapist.

This program meshes traditional didactic lectures with out-of-the- classroom learning and case-based activities.

The study of physics leads to a unique and effective approach to problem-solving which is valuable in industry and academia.

For students interested in astronomy or related aspects of space science.

Prepare to undertake the central challenge of quantum computing by combing aspects of computer science with physics concepts.

This program helps students understand major political and social issues in the United States and the world, and how to address them.

This program provides students with training in the conceptual, empirical, and normative foundations of various fields of public policy.

Learn how to evaluate, cast and custom-fit artificial limbs and braces for people whose lives have been impacted by a range of conditions.

Provides a background in psychological and social issues related to disability and rehabilitation.

This program provides the skills needed to succeed in a job or graduate school and to think critically and effectively about human behavior.

Focus on interdisciplinary research and applied analysis of public policy issues.

Both the major and certificate focus on writing that serves professional goals and/or the public interest.

Meet challenges that span business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Certificate designed for science and technology-oriented students who understand the value of communication.

Prepares students as public health leaders in a multitude of fields, such as government, medicine, research and health education.

This program integrates genetics and the public health science disciplines with ethics, social sciences, public affairs, economics and law.

Advance or begin a career in public service.

This program prepares students for a range of careers that are focused on the resolution of public problems and delivery of public services.

This program trains professionals to become experts who can inform economics & business decisions with state-of-the-art data analysis.

Contribute to the rapidly growing field of quantum computing and quantum information science and technology.

Build knowledge, engage in principled practice in supervised settings and prepare for leadership roles.

This program provides you with advanced and specialized knowledge in literacy education.

Delve into the science of the human body, issues affecting people with disabilities, and rehabilitation and health professions.

Expand opportunities for people with disabilities by providing technology and service to promote independence and improve quality of life.

Learn how religion has been shaped by historical traditions as well as by the arts, literature, political thinking, and social behavior.

This program for students who wish to explore the field of research methodology at an advanced level of study.

This 12-credit program can be completed in two terms, online or on-campus.

Prepare for careers in business, government, education, law, medicine, social work, and other professions.

Develop a broad understanding of the processes shaping states and societies in Eastern Europe, Russia and Eurasia.

This certificate provides training for engineers in the application and implementation of safety concepts, principles and practices.  

This program is intended for teachers and educators who desire the skills and credentials needed to advance their practice-oriented careers.

Increase innovation and learn new ways to view the world and solve problems.

This PhD program prepares students to be competitive on the national job market for academic, alt-ac and industry careers.

Prepare for careers in business, government, teaching, law, medicine, and social work, as well as the CIA, FBI and other institutions.

Pitt Social Work is one of the country's top-ranked schools, preparing undergraduate and graduate students to address social problems.

Learn to sociologically imagine why and how people develop identities, belong to groups, form social organizations, and enact social change.

The program provides oral and written Spanish language skills and courses that introduce students to the study of Latin American cultures.

This program prepares leadership personnel to serve in public or private pre-K–12 schools or educational environments and services.

Integrates academic and clinical experiences to prepare graduates for careers as speech-language pathologists.

Couple coursework and real-world experiences rooted in the business side of the sports industry.

Enter a multidisciplinary field that focuses on health care issues for athletes and physically active individuals.

Harness the power of data and technology to improve the performance of athletes at all levels.

Students learn how sport shapes economies, politics, world history, health, science and social life.

This program trains the next generation of advanced researchers, educators, and/or consultants in statistics and data science.

The program provides students the ability to explore the visual arts through both traditional and digital methods.

This joint certificate trains CBA and SSOE students in the active management of supply chain activities.  

This program provides theoretical knowledge of SCM and the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world problems and opportunities.

Develop competencies needed by science, engineering, and humanities graduates to contribute to practices in the U.S.

This program uses systems approaches in the context of the triple bottom line of environmental, societal and economic problems.  

Prepare for instructional certification with a curriculum fully aligned with Pennsylvania Department of Education certification areas.

Prepares highly specialized teachers to serve the needs of blind or visually impaired students.

For students who wish to teach English as a Second Language to adults both in the U.S. and internationally.

Learn the knowledge, skills, and abilities in the fundamentals of technology and information systems management

This program explores how information flows through networks to support human needs.  

Explore a critical, theoretical and hands-on path to attain a competency in crucial broadcast disciplines.

Our programs train students in the study of theatre and performance, artistic practice (acting, directing, design), and pedagogy.

Pursue a comparative study of Europe and the United States, as well as countries that touch the Atlantic. 

This graduate certificate program focuses on the expansive mobility, connectivity, and communication between Asia and the world.

Train for leadership positions, out-of-school organizations and other areas related to urban learning,

Engage with the theoretical and technical foundations of urban planning and geographical analysis.

This program is for students who have an interest in unraveling the complexities of the urban world.

This program promotes the study of Europe by developing new courses, lectures, symposia, and conferences with international participants.

This program is for individuals wishing to pursue advanced study in the field of teaching and learning foreign languages.

This certificate helps students improve their writing ability, whether for business communications or creative careers.

This certificate helps students improve their writing proficiency--a valuable skill in today's marketplace.

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PhD in Higher Education

Develop an advanced understanding of the dynamic forces shaping higher education.

The PhD in Higher Education is committed to advancing scholarship, research, and practice in the field of higher education. The program is focused on critical scholarship and centers equity, inclusion, and justice.

Students have research interests ranging from student access to student outcomes, student development and affairs, faculty, organizations, and administration, community colleges and community college leadership, and policy.

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Program Facts

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Time Commitment

3 - 5 years

Enrollment Term

Application Deadline

Admission Requirements

No GRE Exam is required

Program Overview

The PhD in Higher Education is committed to advancing scholarship, research, and practice in the field of higher education. The program is focused on critical scholarship and centers equity, inclusion, and justice. Our students research interests include student access, student outcomes, student development and affairs, faculty, organizations, and administration, community colleges and community college leadership, and policy.

The program has a core set of courses designed for students to gain an understanding of historical, political, philosophical, and social elements that shape and continue to reshape higher education. The curriculum is designed to ground students in the study of higher education as a discipline and critical scholarship within the field. Students develop an area of research specialization. The curriculum in higher education is complemented by courses within other programs in the Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy Department and across the School of Education. In addition, through a strong focus within the program on rigorous methodological training, students gain competency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and take advanced courses in the methodological approaches they plan to utilize in their research.

The PhD in Higher Education program is 90 credits.

View full curriculum

Required Courses (21 credits)

• EFOP 2307 – POLITICS AND HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 2131 – HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
• EFOP 2055 – STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THEORY
• EFOP 3141 – POLICY STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 3150 – FOUNDATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 3151 – THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS FOR THE STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 3153 – RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Electives (24 Credits)

Students enroll for 24 credits of electives, including 9 credits of higher education courses taught in the program. Program courses include but are not limited to the following:

• EFOP 3015 – ETHICAL ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 3131 – STUDENT, CAMPUS, AND SOCIETY
• EFOP 3136 – COMPARATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION
• EFOP 3134 – CONTEMPORARY LATINX ISSUES IN US HIGHER EDUCATION

Research Methodology (18 credits)

Students enroll for 18 credits of research methodology, including:

Three required courses (9 credits):

• EDUC 3100 – INTRODUCTION TO QUAN METHODS: DESCRIPTIVE AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS (required)
• EDUC 3103 – QUANTITATIVE METHODS 2 (required)
• EDUC 3104 – INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE METHODS (required)

Research Methodology electives (9 credits) include the following:

• EDUC 3107 – WAYS OF KNOWING
• EDUC 3505 – RESEARCH-PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS: APPROACHES TO COLLABORATIVE DESIGN, INQUIRY & CHANGE
• EDUC 3506 – MIXED METHODS RESEARCH
• EFOP 3012 – QUALITATIVE DATA MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS, AND PRESENTATION
• EFOP 3201 – INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION
• EFOP 3209 – HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT & ACCREDITATION
• EFOP 3408 – HIERARCHICAL LINEAR MODELING
• EFOP 3417 – STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING
• EFOP 3471 – CONSTRUCTING QUESTIONNAIRES AND CONDUCTING SURVEYS
• EFOP 3472 – CAUSAL INFERENCE IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
• EFOP 3501- Critical Policy Analysis
• EDUC 3000 – ADVANCED APPLIED STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
• EDUC 3106 – ADVANCED APPLIED QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
• TLL 3003 – RESEARCH INTERVIEWING

Supervised Research (6 credits)

Students enroll in 6 credits:

• EFOP 3097 – SUPERVISED RESEARCH

Independent Research (18 credits)

Students enroll in 18 credits:

• EFOP 3099 – GUIDANCE IN THE DOCTORAL DEGREE

Professional Seminars (3 Credits)

• EDUC 3102 – FIRST YEAR SEMINAR 1
• EDUC 3105 – FIRST YEAR SEMINAR 2

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this degree, but interested students should verify that they fulfill the admissions requirements.

Take the Next Step

"The School of Education has been an asset to my doctoral journey and truly embodies the famous words of Nelson Mandela: 'Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.'" Jenay Willis - Pitt alumni

Career Pathways

• Faculty at institutions of higher education
• Researchers at educational think tanks and major policy institutes
• Leaders of administrative units with teaching and research responsibilities.

Program Faculty

Program Coordinator

Linda DeAngelo

Heather McCambly

Darris Means

Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher

Maximilian T. Schuster

Program News

$3 Million Grant Seeks to Build Stronger Career Pathways for Engineering Faculty of Color

$3 Million Grant Seeks to Build Stronger Career Pathways for Engineering Faculty of Color - Read more

Faculty Member Darris Means Named Emerging Scholar in Higher Education

Faculty Member Darris Means Named Emerging Scholar in Higher Education - Read more

New $1.3 Million Grant to Develop Industry-Focused Job Pathways for Community Colleges

New $1.3 Million Grant to Develop Industry-Focused Job Pathways for Community Colleges - Read more

Faculty Member Heather McCambly Receives NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship

Faculty Member Heather McCambly Receives NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship - Read more

New Book Addresses Student Socialization in Higher Education

New Book Addresses Student Socialization in Higher Education - Read more

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A new pitt-bradford partnership gives seniors early acceptance to neumann university graduate programs.

A new agreement will give outstanding seniors at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford early admission to graduate programs at Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Pitt-Bradford undergraduates with a grade point average of 3.0 may apply to any Neumann master’s degree program after Aug. 1 in their senior year to receive advance acceptance upon completion of their bachelor’s degree. Those who earn a 3.5 grade point average or higher at Pitt-Bradford can receive direct admission into graduate programs at Neumann if other admission criteria are met.

“We are excited to partner with Neumann University to provide Pitt-Bradford graduates with streamlined access to several graduate programs leading to the Master of Science degree,” said James Baldwin, vice president of enrollment management at Pitt-Bradford. “Among the highly sought-after majors are accounting (with forensics and fraud detection emphasis), athletic training, cybersecurity, sport business, business and organizational leadership, medical laboratory science, education and forensic psychology.”

Founded in 1965, Neumann is a private Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition, which emphasizes respect for individuals, concern for the environment and social responsibility. It is located outside Philadelphia in Delaware County.

“Earning a master’s degree is a valuable and important step in one’s career, and that’s why Neumann University is excited to offer this gateway to an advanced degree to the outstanding students at Pitt-Bradford,” said Bettsy McKlaine, executive director of enrollment management degree completion and graduate programs at Neumann.

Pitt-Bradford students interested in taking advantage of this agreement can attend an in-person graduate open house June 5 at Neumann. Find more information .

Michele V. Manuel is the first woman U. S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering

Pitt-bradford earned its 14th consecutive military friendly designation, pitt is updating its campus master plan.

• Back Issues
• Letters Policy

Volume 56 | ISSUE 20: June 4, 2024

Horizon scholars focuses on guiding students with child-welfare system backgrounds.

By SHANNON O. WELLS

By providing comprehensive support to youth and young adults who have experienced the child welfare system, Pitt’s new Horizon Scholars program is designed to guide them to and through their educational journey at the University.

Led by the Educational Outreach Center (EOC) and the Office of the Provost, the campus support initiative seeks to address the distinctive challenges that impede students’ persistence, retention and graduation.

A collaboration with the School of Public Health, School of Social Work, and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Horizon Scholars is the first program the EOC — whose mission is to support equitable K-through-12 pathways to and through college — created to support prospective and current students who have experience in the child welfare system, including foster care.

“We are committed to dismantling barriers to access a post-secondary education for underserved and historically underrepresented students,” said Daren Ellerbee, the EOC’s inaugural director.

As far as supporting students who have been part of the child welfare system, Provost Joe McCarthy said Pitt has “frankly done a better job of that on our regional campuses than we have on the Pittsburgh campus in recent years.”

While Stephanie Hoogendoorn, director of academic affairs in the provost’s office, “got the ball rolling,” it was determined that Horizon Scholars fit well into the EOC’s mission, McCarthy said. “They've been able to partner with the School of Public Health, because of the impact that that can have on the long-term trajectory of someone's life, to get them involved in education early.

“We've gotten a lot of momentum recently in figuring out how we can leverage the internal academic resources to be more intentional about supporting those students,” he added. “So it's not exactly new, but it's been a renewed focus for us.”

Ellerbee, who was the first director of Pitt’s Community Engagement Center in Homewood before transitioning to the provost’s office in 2022 to start the EOC, took some time to address the University Times’ questions about the Horizon Scholars program. (Responses have been edited for clarity and length.)

University Times: How did you get involved with the Horizon Scholars project?

Daren Ellerbee : In early 2023, I was approached by my supervising colleague Joe McCarthy, who was vice provost for undergraduate studies at that time and — along with Vice Provost Marc Harding — was the visionary behind the formation of the EOC. McCarthy believed that the EOC could augment the work of (Hoogendoorn) by providing wrap-around services that would ultimately better support Pitt students in foster care identified through (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s) Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver program.

Given my past involvement working within the child welfare system for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, I agreed. With the support of the EOC’s Pathway Development Team, we immediately started benchmarking, (engaging) subject matter experts from School of Social Work, including Dean Betsy Farmer and colleagues from the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, education liaisons from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services … and others to get a better understanding of the resources provided by other colleges and universities across the commonwealth and the challenges faced by youth in care seeking a post-secondary education.

Discussions identified opportunities to collaborate with community partners supporting youth in care interested in attending college, as well as best practices to aid those matriculating to Pitt. Cindy McCarthy from the School of Public Health offered her support and helped to convene collaborators across Pitt as part of the Horizon Scholars Advisory Council to align resources and create a sturdy and responsive network of faculty and staff.

Our first meeting was held in March 2024 and included representatives from the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, the Counseling Center, the Office of Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services including the Pitt Pantry, Office of Admissions and Finance Aid (OAFA), Social Work and representation from each of our regional campuses.

UTimes: How long has Horizon Scholars concept been in the works? What challenges have you faced in getting to this point?

Ellerbee : The Horizon Scholars have been in the works since the spring of 2023, in which we named the program with the blessing of Dean Farmer and Helen Cahalane, principal investigator, Child Welfare Education and Research Programs and clinical associate professor in the Pitt School of Social Work. It was important to us to select a name that was empowering and not stigmatizing to students with the foster care experience.

A challenge we have is ensuring that youth who have foster care experience and who are not receiving the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver are aware of this program and know that the Horizon Scholars exists for them.

OAFA has graciously offered to include two questions on the 2025 Pitt application which will allow students a means to self-disclose their status. In the meantime, we are shaping an outreach and engagement strategy to help reach current Pitt students and are working with Pitt colleagues who are making connections to us as their students seek support.

UTimes: What does the program bring to Pitt students or potential students? What makes it unique to Pitt?

Ellerbee : This program brings prospective and current Pitt students who have experience in the child-welfare system a group of people with resources to help them to and through Pitt. Though Pitt has accepted foster-care youth in the past, this is the first time an initiative has been shaped to directly aid their collegiate experience beyond financial aid.

The EOC has the capacity, with the support of collaborators across Pitt and within the community, to build trusting relationships, to be a convenor and conduit of resources, to guide and to shepherd students through college and into career.

In addition, the EOC’s Senior Program Coordinator Anika Jones and Pathway Development and Outreach Coordinator Rosie Hogan both hold degrees in social work from Pitt, which positions us to provide trauma-informed care and strengths-based approaches that will make a difference. Given this, the Horizon Scholars program is unique at Pitt and a strong asset to our campus community.

UTimes: What are the challenges with funding the program and its scholars?

Ellerbee : Another challenge has been getting adequate financial resources in place to assist Horizon Scholars with anticipated emergency needs. The launch of the Horizon Scholars Endowment is meant to support an emergency fund, but we must get to $25K before it’s endowed, and that will take time. Also, addressing the need for year-round housing has been a challenge.

Discussions with the local and statewide Youth Advisory Boards have uncovered housing as top concern for foster care youth, and rightfully so. We are thankful to Matthew Sterne from the Office of Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services, a member of the Horizon Scholars Council who has created two housing and meal plan scholarships for Horizon Scholars in need.

This is a much-appreciated start in addressing the housing insecurity faced by Panthers with the foster care experience. We are also seeking grant funding to provide experiences and exposures that will enhance college for Horizon Scholars, such as study abroad support.

UTimes: What are the short- and longer-term goals, i.e., how will the program’s success be measured?

Ellerbee : Our primary goals include:

• Intentional early academic outreach, working with our community partners to provide academic lift, and to cultivate experiences and exposures to demystify college and campus life.  
• Aiding persistence: Children in foster care are at high risk of dropping out of school and are unlikely to attend or graduate from college.  
• Supporting retention and degree attainment.

To assess the effectiveness of the Horizon Scholars as well as strategies for improvement, we will measure:

• Stakeholder satisfaction and feedback from students, advisory council members and community partners.  
• Efficacy of academic outreach including number of relationships and partners, number of youths involved in pre-college educational experiences and exposures.  
• Enrollment and retention rates: Track the number of students who matriculate to Pitt and their retention rates through their first year (and) comparing these figures against baseline statewide and national data.

UTimes: Is there anything else regarding the Horizon Scholars program and those making it possible that you would like to share?

Ellerbee : We are a team of passionate professionals who believe in the ability of higher education to positively shift the trajectory of a person’s life, and we are committed to ensuring that every young person has an opportunity to succeed.

The mission of the EOC can’t be fulfilled alone, and we are asking that anyone interested in supporting the Horizon Scholars to join us as mentors and support team members by completing this form . Donations can be made to the Horizon Scholars Endowment by clicking here .

Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at   [email protected] .

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