In fall 2026, Temple University will welcome its first students into the new PhD in urban education and policy in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The doctoral program is designed for students who want to critically examine urban education while contributing to meaningful change. Emphasizing equity, social justice and community engagement, the urban education and policy PhD prepares scholars to conduct rigorous research, engage with policy, and work alongside schools and communities in ways that matter.
With courses offered at Temple’s main campus in Philadelphia, the program is shaped by a city that reflects both the challenges and possibilities of urban education. Students are immersed in the contexts they seek to understand and improve.
As Associate Professor Maia Cucchiara explains, “The College of Education and Human Development has a strong commitment to community partnerships and to research and advocacy that grows from those partnerships.” This emphasis on collaboration ensures that research and teaching are informed by ongoing engagement with schools and community organizations.
The curriculum brings together interdisciplinary coursework, advanced research training and policy analysis to help students understand how historical and social factors shape urban education systems. Faculty mentorship is a core feature of the program, supporting students as they refine their research interests and develop projects that are responsive to real-world concerns. The program, according to Professor Linn Posey-Maddox, prepares students to “contribute meaningfully to both academic scholarship and education policy and practice.”
“I am most excited about the opportunity to work with students who are committed to doing research that addresses real problems in ways that build on the strengths and assets in urban schools and communities,” Cucchiara shares.
Students move through the program as part of a collaborative cohort, creating a supportive community where ideas are shared and strengthened through dialogue. Faculty members are nationally recognized scholars whose work spans urban education, educational leadership, policy, sociology and equity-focused research. Through close advising relationships and individualized plans of study, students are encouraged to shape a doctoral experience that aligns with their academic goals and professional commitments. Posey-Maddox emphasizes that these relationships enable CEHD students to become part of “a strong urban education and policy community” that extends beyond campus to include community partners and alumni.
Graduates are likely to pursue careers in higher education, research institutions, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, school districts and policy settings. Whether serving as faculty members, policy analysts, educational leaders or community-engaged researchers, alumni will be prepared to bridge research and practice in service of educational equity and systemic change.
Cucchiara notes, “Temple has a long and proud history of educating scholars and practitioners in urban education, and I am really grateful to be part of that tradition.”
Learn more about the new PhD in urban education and policy on our website.