Leadership and Administration

Doctoral Program Designed for Working Professionals

Our Ed.D. program in leadership and administration will expand your leadership skills and help you reach a higher-level position in your career.

Select from three options to choose the format that works best with your schedule, learning style and needs:

On Campus – Immerse yourself in our Downtown Pittsburgh campus one evening a week in eight-week courses.
Fully Online – Perfect for those who require flexibility, our fully online option allows you to balance your coursework with the demands of your daily schedule.
Livestream Campus – Participate in live, real-time instruction from the comfort of your home, office or whatever location you choose. This new option allows students to learn remotely while benefiting from live interaction with professors and fellow cohort members one evening a week in eight-week courses. Learn more about this option in this Q&A.

Your leadership is needed in organizations today and your degree will open doors you never imagined, both now and in the future. You can complete our 54-credit, cohort-style degree program in just three years — or less — if transferring in post-master's credits.

Two-year option (with an individualized concentration)

Transfer in up to 18 post-master's credits; if fewer than 18 credits are transferred, the remainder of courses needed will be selected from the professional leadership track by the program director.

Three-year option

In our three-year program, we offer three concentrations for you to choose from:

Professional Leadership
Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility
K-12 Administration (including principal certification)

"Who You Are is How You Lead"

Point Park University School of Education

Map to Your Doctoral Degree

Take a look at our two-year and three-year program schedules.

Courses run year-round and are divided into eight-week sessions (two classes per semester), earning you 18 credits per year for a total of 36 credits (for the two-year program) or 54 credits (for the three-year program.)

Since this is a cohort program, you will be with the same group of peers in all of your core courses.

Courses are offered at our Downtown Pittsburgh campus, fully online or via livestream, making it possible for working professionals to meet family and personal obligations while finishing all required courses — as well as a dissertation — in three years or less.

Residency Requirements

Residency is met by completing three consecutive semesters of study in the program with a minimum of six hours of course work per semester. Summer, fall and spring semesters are counted toward residency.

In addition, if you are transferring in credits, you will be required to attend six, day-long seminars, two each academic semester.

These seminars will address the theory and performance of the six domains central to the study of leadership in this program: authenticity, vision, culture, quality, service and communication.

You may take these seminars in conjunction with core courses. During the academic year, seminars are typically held on Saturdays.

Pictured is Ed.D. student Lisa Pickett. | Photo by Emily Wolfgang — Ed.D. alumna Lisa Pickett is a leader in urban education. She also acted in the award-winning movie Fences.

Affordable Cost, Attractive Benefits

Our Ed.D. degree in leadership and administration is one of the most affordable doctoral programs in the Pittsburgh region.

Visit our Tuition and Costs page to view current rates. Tuition for students is locked in based on when they start the program while fees are subject to change each year.

Other key benefits of the program include:

Program is offered both on campus and fully online
Option to transfer in up to 18 post-master's degree credits
Ability to work closely with a mentor in your chosen field
Courses based on an interdisciplinary framework
Consistent evening schedules with class one night per week (same night) for each eight week course
Faculty and guest speakers from diverse disciplines
Introductory course on research writing, giving you guidance early on in the program
Feedback provided by faculty throughout the dissertation process

Ed.D. alumnus Nicholas LaMantia shares helpful strategies for paying for a doctorate degree in this blog: How I Paid for My Doctorate Degree from Point Park University

Alumni Success

The graduates of our Ed.D. in leadership and administration program are leaders in the schools and organizations in which they work. Learn how earning a doctoral degree has helped further propel their careers.

Meet our Ed.D. graduates

Shannon Howard, Ed.D. '18

"In the Ed.D. program, I benefited not only from the course content and instructors, but also the peer group of educational leaders in my cohort who will be part of my professional network now and in the future."

Charles Youngs, Ed.D. '18

"Point Park provided a dynamic blend of rigor, expertise, multiple perspectives and compassion that supported my academic and professional growth. I was delighted to complete the Ed.D. program in two years."

Faculty bring industry experience to the classroom

Courses are taught by faculty taught who have years of real-world experience as leaders in education and administration.

Meet the faculty

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Karen S. McIntyre, Ph.D.

Served as Point Park University's provost, senior vice president for academic and student affairs and dean of faculty
Held leadership positions with The Education Policy and Issues Center, Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Diocese of Pittsburgh Catholic Schools
Certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a supervisor of curriculum and instruction, elementary principal, early childhood and elementary teacher

News & Features

Aspen Mock '18

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 "I would recommend Point Park University's Leadership and Administration program because it is an opportunity to empower lifelong learners along their leadership journeys, shaping their paths so they can make profound contributions in their fields."

Sherlyn Harrison '21

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 "My experience is that Point Park invests in hard-working, professional students who have busy lives with families and careers. At Point Park, you do not have to sacrifice your life and work to complete a degree because Point Park promotes academic excellence while focusing on student needs."

Julie Franczyk '24

Thursday, June 16, 2022 "I recommend Point Park for its individualized approach to learning and flexibility in completing coursework. As a parent working a full-time, demanding career, an online option coupled with instructors who provide support and meaningful feedback has been critical to my success in the program."

Learn More

For additional details and questions about the Ed.D. program, contact Abbi Kneuss, School of Education admissions counselor, at akneuss@pointpark.edu or 412-392-3476.