PhD in Urban Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies in Boston United States | University of Massachusetts Boston

Develop into a thoughtful, analytical leader dedicated to enhancing urban education through both study and application.
Since its establishment in the 1990s, our program has been rooted in principles of social justice and equity. These values permeate every aspect of our program - from course content and admission criteria to faculty research and student dissertation topics.

The Urban Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies Program aims to cultivate passionate, insightful leaders who drive educational improvement through rigorous inquiry and practical solutions. While concentrating on urban school challenges, we acknowledge how these issues intersect with broader state, national, and international contexts. We train educational leaders from diverse backgrounds who champion equity in all its dimensions, working toward societal betterment and greater global justice. Doctoral candidates explore personally meaningful research questions throughout their studies, culminating in dissertations that address real-world challenges faced by education professionals pursuing transformative change.