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The Urban Education Doctoral Program combines a specialization focus with interdisciplinary coursework. Students study, research and analyze contemporary educational issues within complex urban settings.

Our urban education PhD program prepares academic researchers and scholar-practitioners to work in a variety of urban settings. This work contributes to the improvement of urban education locally and globally. Students apply and are admitted to specific transcript-designated specializations in the program. Evening and online courses are available.

Program Type

Doctoral

Program Format

On Campus

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Why Choose the Urban Education PhD Program?

  • Expert faculty: More than 50 faculty members support this high-quality, research-intensive degree program. All faculty maintain active research and publication records.
  • Flexibility: Classes are generally offered in the evenings, one day a week. Several classes are also available online. Required credits may vary, depending on a student’s specialization and credits accepted.
  • Affordability: Admitted students can apply for a range of university-wide fellowships. A select number of students are supported by research assistantships funded by faculty grants.
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Our students are often working professionals, while a few are full-time students. Most of them have already earned degrees at the time of application. Our students are K-12 school administrators and teachers. They also work in higher education, at nonprofits and more.

Our graduates go on to work as curriculum consultants, preK-12 education leaders and higher education faculty and administrators. You’ll also find them working in health care, at government agencies and in the private sector.

Program Course Content

  • Introduction to urban education
  • Qualitative and quantitative methods
  • Interdisciplinary doctoral seminars
  • Each specialization has its own additional course requirements

Program Handbook

Urban Education Doctoral Program Handbook (PDF)

Financial Support

Students admitted to the urban education doctoral program are eligible to compete for financial aid. Applicants are also eligible to apply, pending acceptance. Click the button below to learn more about assistantships, fellowships, travel awards and more.

Application Deadlines

Students should apply by Dec. 1 of the year prior to entry, or earlier, if they plan to apply for university-wide fellowships. Applications completed after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis up until April 1 for fall admission of that calendar year.

Application materials MUST be submitted by April 1 in order to be admitted for the fall semester. Please note that it is not possible to officially start in the Urban Education PhD program in the spring.

New and Current Student Deadline to Apply for University-wide Fellowships

Dec. 20: Program deadline for applying for university-wide fellowships (Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship, Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship, Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship). Visit the Graduate School Fellowships webpage for more information.

Application Process

Students interesting in applying to the Urban Education PhD program can visit the How to Apply webpage for detailed information regarding the application process.

Urban Education PhD applicants choose from the specializations listed below:

Adult, Continuing, and Higher Education Leadership (ACHEL)

This specialization is committed to the development of reflective administrative practitioners and leaders of a wide variety of urban organizations. These include post-secondary institutions (e.g. comprehensive colleges and universities, vocational and technical schools, and two-year centers), health care organizations, business and industry organizations, community agencies, religious organizations and others. Doctoral students receive research-based preparation to fill several roles within these organizations such as professor, scholar, administrator/manager, program planner/developer, instructor/trainer, consultant, counselor and others.

Questions about the specialization?

Dante J. Salto
Assistant Professor, Department of Administrative Leadership
salto@uwm.edu

Art Education

The Art Education Specialization is not accepting new applications at this time.

The program is designed to permit students to integrate their particular media and curricular interests in art and art education with theoretical knowledge and educational practices tied to the contexts of urban education and community studies. An art education specialization provides each graduate student with opportunities for growth as an artist, teacher and researcher through the development of their own arts practices and the study of the social and cultural implications of the arts in society and among learners. The program emphasizes the exploration of media, the development of socially responsive art curricula in urban environments, and research using disciplines of inquiry in the arts and art education.

Curriculum and Instruction

The specialization in Curriculum and Instruction gives students an opportunity to improve professional experiences with the students they teach, the educational contexts in which they work, and their disciplinary and content knowledge. The Curriculum and Instruction specialization combines theoretical and disciplinary content knowledge, practical experiences and scholarly activities.

The program prepares education professionals to work in such varied settings as schools, colleges and universities, school district central offices, government agencies, community organizations and private consulting. Graduates of the program are prepared for leadership roles as curriculum directors, instructional coordinators, school partnership coordinators, applied researchers, professional development coordinators and professors.

Questions about the specialization?

Candance Doerr-Stevens
Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
doerrste@uwm.edu

Educational Administration

The Educational Administration specialization is not accepting new applications at this time.

The specialization in Educational Administration focuses on the development of educational leaders, particularly for service in urban metropolitan areas. Individuals trained in this program can provide excellence in leadership by nurturing leadership among others in the school community, creating a positive work environment for students, staff, and parents, and contribute to the quality of teaching and learning in the district and within its schools. The curriculum draws from a variety of sources including current research and literature, national and state professional association standards, federal and state governmental guidelines, and the field of practice.

Exceptional Education

Emphasizing collaborative work between students and faculty, the Exceptional Education specialization examines and addresses critical issues in the field within the urban context. Focus areas include: teacher education, cultural diversity in education, early childhood intervention, assistive technology, curriculum accommodation and collaboration, literacy, transition to young adulthood, deaf education, school reform and special education administration.

In addition to advanced coursework, students participate in research and development projects, curriculum development, co-teaching and other activities designed to prepare leaders for roles such as college or university professor, curriculum leader, special education administrator, consultant or project director.

Questions about the specialization?

Maggie Bartlett
Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
bartletm@uwm.edu

Mathematics Education

The specialization in Mathematics Education integrates mathematical knowledge for teaching, urban education, research methods and leadership for mathematics programs. Doctoral students engage in practice-based inquiry on significant issues and developments in mathematics education, including equity and access to high-quality mathematics programs, development of mathematical reasoning and understanding, and high-leverage mathematics teaching practices.

The program prepares education professionals to address critical issues in mathematics education across varied settings and contexts, including colleges and universities, school districts, governmental agencies, and community and private organizations. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles as mathematics education specialists, mathematics professional development providers, applied researchers, professors and mathematics teacher educators.

Questions about the specialization?

DeAnn Huinker
Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning
huinker@uwm.edu

Multicultural Studies

The Multicultural Studies specialization is not accepting new applications at this time.

Multicultural Studies is a fully interdepartmental specialization, offering a unique program of studies with an emphasis on integrating intercultural theory and practice in urban educational and community settings. Enhanced by study in anthropology, history and sociology, students gain depth and breadth in a dynamic specialization that prepares one for the unique challenges of the 21st century.

Social Foundations of Education

The Social Foundations of Education specialization is not accepting new applications at this time.

The PhD in Social Foundations of Education provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the social forces that affect urban schools and communities. This program is designed for individuals who want to look deeply at the challenges facing urban areas in the 21st century and are willing to explore creative solutions. Students in Social Foundations examine the sociological, historical, philosophical, anthropological and political dimensions of schools and community change. Social foundations doctoral students may investigate issues and contexts grounded in the core disciplines of the social sciences.

UEDP Forms
  • Program of Study (DOC) – The purpose of the plan of studies is to assist you in carefully planning and executing a coherent program of coursework. You may use the Plan of Studies as a planning document in dialogue with your advisor. You must submit to the UEDP office a completed plan of studies by the fourth semester after being admitted to the doctoral program.
  • External Member Approval Form (DOC) – This form must be completed when a doctoral committee is comprised of two or more members that are from a different department than the specialization that you are enrolled in or if the external members are from a different institution other than the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
  • Student Status Report (DOC)
Graduate School Forms
  • Application for Preliminary Examination – Doctoral preliminary examinations, or “prelims,” as they are commonly called, are designed to assess a doctoral candidate’s mastery of subject knowledge and application skills, and ensure adequate preparation for individual dissertation research. The Application for Preliminary Examinations must be completed after all coursework is complete. Students must complete the electronic Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Examination, located in the online Doctoral Milestones System, found by clicking the link above.
  • Application for Dissertator Status – The Application for Dissertator Status must be completed after Preliminary Examinations have successfully been completed. Students must complete the electronic Application for Dissertator Status, located in the online Doctoral Milestones System, found by clicking the link above.
    • Note: Students in programs such as ACHEL, Educational Administration, and Social Foundations of Education that combine the Preliminary Examinations and Proposal Hearing must fill out this form after completing their proposal hearing.
  • Application for Dissertation Proposal Hearing – The Application for Dissertation Proposal Hearing must be completed when the student has scheduled the defense of their dissertation proposal. Students must complete the electronic Application for Dissertation Proposal Hearing form, located in the online Doctoral Milestones System, found by clicking the link above.
  • Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation – The Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation form must be completed one month prior to the final defense of the student’s dissertation is held. Students must also adhere to graduation deadlines set by the university by applying for graduation using PAWS. Graduation Application deadlines can be found on the Graduate School’s Graduation Dates & Deadlines webpage.

Resources

Professional Development & Future Employment

The Graduate School provides a range of resources for student professional development on its website.