Course Overview!

The PhD in Urban Education program at Cleveland State University is designed to cultivate leadership skills in advanced graduate students, preparing them for impactful roles in urban educational, mental health, and healthcare settings. The program uniquely integrates an urban education focus across various specializations, emphasizing the preparation of urban educational leaders to drive change within their environments. The core curriculum builds a foundation in research skills, urban perspectives, the social context of urban education, understanding the urban learner, and organizational change. Students also acquire knowledge from fields like education, urban policy, law, economics, psychology, public administration, sociology, political science, and organizational development, all within an urban context. Specializations cater to various areas like administration, counseling, teaching, and policy development, allowing students to focus their expertise and research interests within their field. The program is structured around core seminars, research methodology seminars, specialized area study, and a comprehensive dissertation addressing critical research questions in urban education.

Course Structure

The program consists of core seminars (18 credits), research methodology seminars (minimum 15 credits), a specialized area of study (minimum 20 credits post-master's), and a dissertation (minimum 10 credits). Core seminars engage students in intensive study and discussion for two years. Research methodology seminars equip students with quantitative and qualitative research skills. Specialized areas offer advanced study in administration, counseling, teaching, and policy within the urban context. The dissertation follows a traditional model, demanding rigorous scholarly research. Specific course requirements vary by specialization (e.g., School Administration, Adult, Continuing, and Higher Education, Counseling Psychology, Learning and Development, Policy Studies, Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language). Each specialization has prerequisites, required courses, and elective options. Comprehensive exams are required before dissertation work, evaluating knowledge in core and research areas. A dissertation prospectus defense and a final dissertation defense are necessary for graduation.