Program Overview

The Urban Educational Leadership doctoral program at the University of Cincinnati is an innovative, interdisciplinary, practitioner-oriented program designed by national experts in the content and process of educational leadership development. The first of its kind in the state of Ohio, and one of only a handful of similar programs nationwide, the program prepares dedicated educational leaders who understand and appreciate the challenges of urban areas and who are able to make a positive difference in urban schools and communities. The program is based on the guiding principles of practice for integrated interdisciplinary study, partnerships for a professional learning community, diversity for understanding self and others, contemporary models of democratic transformational leadership for learning and teaching, and inquiry for continuous improvement of urban education.

 

Program Highlights

• Three-phased interdisciplinary coursework designed to take students from theoretical foundations in urban educational leadership to successful practice and specialization in urban schools and communities
• Student cohorts that include university faculty and mentors from urban school systems and community agencies who exemplify best educational practice
• Collaborative applied research as the primary mode of inquiry for developing effective urban educational programs
• Working partnerships between the University of Cincinnati, urban schools, community agencies, and state and regional governmental institutions
• Internships that provide significant opportunities for students to practice newly acquired leadership skills in urban schools and community sites
• Electronic portfolios that document students' personal and academic growth and progress toward program completion
• Feedback from graduates to determine how well the program prepares students to successfully address the educational needs of diverse urban youth

As part of their doctoral coursework, students in the Urban Educational Leadership doctoral program can take courses from the Educational Administration Program to obtain administrative licensure. Graduates of the Urban Educational Leadership Program are well-positioned to create and facilitate high-quality, successful learning environments for the urban children, families, and communities they serve.