Doctor of Education in Urban Education Leaders Program
With Certification Eligibility for the NYSED School District Leader (SDL) Certificate
The Urban Education Leaders Program (UELP) is a 75-credit Ed.D. Program in Education Leadership, which is housed in the Department of Organization & Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. An executive-style leadership preparation program for aspiring urban school superintendents, central office administrators, and non-profit and advocacy organization leaders, UELP integrates historical and present-day research, theory, and practice to provide its students the knowledge and tools necessary to lead and transform complex educational systems in urban contexts and communities.
UELP students at Teachers College
Continuing TC’s longstanding commitment to social justice, UELP students engage actively with the most persistent and pressing problems of practice in the profession and prepare to make a real difference in the lives of children and families. As the first and oldest educational administration program in the country, UELP is one of the nation’s preeminent leadership preparation program. By leveraging the expertise of TC’s distinguished research faculty, accomplished practitioners, and everyday experiences of our students, UELP is deeply committed to the scholarship of discovery, integration, teaching, and application in ways that are essential to effective and transformative leadership practice.
UELP is a part-time cohort program serving students who work-full time as mid-level or mid-career school administrators and have a combined 8-12 years of teaching and leadership experience. More specifically, students meet for face-to-face class sessions Monday through Friday for 2 weeks in July and one Friday and Saturday (one weekend) per month during the fall and spring semesters. The online learning platform, Canvas, is used for asynchronous course-related learning activities and communications between face-to-face class sessions during the regular academic year.
UELP also leads to NYSED School District Leader (SDL) Licensure.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2026 cycle.
Doctor of Education
- Points/Credits: 75
- Entry Terms: Summer (Odd Year Only)
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Cohort
Certification
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- NY State School District Leadership (SDL)
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Three (3) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Master's degree required | |
| Supplemental application required (included in online application) | |
| Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required | |
| UELP Topic Essay (included in supplemental application) |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact ORLadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Additional Information
- Program accepts applications for odd year cycles only.
Additional Details Regarding Requirements
Candidates should have:
- Master’s degree in education leadership, curriculum and teaching, or another relevant field
- At least 8-10 years combined teaching and leadership experience
- Significant administrative experience at the school or district level is preferred
Application requirements:
- Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate study
- Professional resume (history of professional employment, including positions held, dates of employment, and major responsibilities)
- Personal statement of professional experience, career goals, and areas of interest for graduate study
- Letters of recommendation
- GRE optional
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2025-2026)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 terms.
URBAN EDUCATION LEADERS PROGRAM
Directors: Dr. Marcia V. Lyles & Dr. Sonya Douglass
Program Mission
The Urban Education Leaders Program (UELP) at Teachers College, Columbia University aims to prepare education professionals for district-level leadership positions in urban school systems through research-based doctoral studies that values equity, justice, and education as pillars of public necessity for growth.
(Application code: ELUE) Ed.D. – Summer and school-year cohort program
Program Description:
The Urban Education Leaders Program (UELP) at Teachers College, Columbia University is an executive education-style Ed.D. degree program that prepares mid-career education professionals for district-level leadership positions in urban school systems. UELP convenes for two weeks in the summer and one weekend per month during the regular academic year. In addition to coursework, case studies and field-based experiences, our structured approach to scaffolding the dissertation process provides the support and advisement working professionals need in order to complete their doctoral studies in a timely manner.
The objectives of the Urban Education Leaders Program are to:
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Strengthen our students’ ability to lead educational organizations and systems that are purposeful, successful, and humane contexts for learning;
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Help students develop skills and knowledge needed for the effective leadership and management of complex organizations in a global, technological, and culturally diverse society;
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Stimulate inquiry and innovation around challenges in professional practice;
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Broaden and deepen reflection about values, trends, and issues that affect the education enterprise;
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Create and sustain a community of leaders committed to continuous learning and mutual support.
Students pursue a coherent curriculum grounded in practice and combining the best of theoretical and professional studies.
While each entering UELP cohort might experience slight modifications to the course schedule, the following outline of TC courses illustrates the nature and scope of the curriculum.
YEAR 1
Summer
ORLA 5010: Leadership in Schools and Communities (3 credits)
ORLA 6552: Research, Theory and Practice in Education Leadership (3 credits)
Fall
ORLA 6515: School District Organization and Governance (3 credits)
ORLA 6523: Education Policy, Politics & Leadership in Urban School Systems (3 credits)
Spring
ORLA 6519: School District Finance & Leadership (3 credit)
ORLA 6511: Leadership for Social Justice (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit)
YEAR 2
Summer
EDPA 5016: Education & the Law: Equity Issues (3 credits)
ORLA 6527: School District Leadership: Personnel, Conflict & Labor Relations (3 credits)
ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
Fall
ORLA 6513: Improving Teaching & Learning in School Districts (3 credits)
ORLD 5070: Leadership for Adult Development (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit) ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
Spring
ORLA 6500: Qualitative Research (3 credits)
ORLA 6525: Using Evidence, Data, & Research in Education Leadership (3 credits)
ORLA 5331: Urban Education Leadership Research Practicum (1 credit)
ORLA 6461: Internship in Public School District Leadership (1 credit)
YEAR 3
Summer
ORLA 6024: Proseminar in Public School District Leadership (3 credits) ORLA 7500: Dissertation Seminar (3 credits)
Fall
ORLA 8900: Dissertation Advisement or IND 6000
Spring
ORLA 8900: Dissertation Advisement or IND 6000
Degree Requirements:
The Urban Education Leaders Program (UELP) requires 75 academic credits of which 48 credits must be completed within the UELP program. Additionally, students must complete a field experience requirement, pass a doctoral candidacy certification examination, and defend a doctoral dissertation.
NYSED SDL Requirements:
New York State Education Department (NYSED) has certification requirements that are needed for School District Leader Certification. These requirements are described on the Office of Teacher Education website: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/office-of-teacher-education/students/certification-requirements/school-building-leaders--school-district-leaders/