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General Information







  • Admission of International Students
    The School of Education welcomes applications for admission from international students. Application forms may be obtained through the Office of International Services (see address below). Applications should be initiated nine to 12 months before the date of intended enrollment and should be competed at least six months before the beginning of that term.

    In addition to meeting requirements for admission stated earlier in this Bulletin, international applicants must meet the following requirements:

    (1) The application must be completed in the English language.

    (2) Certified translations must accompany official transcripts and other academic credentials written in a language other than English.

    (3) The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required if the applicant's native language is not English. Information about this test may be obtained from the nearest United States Embassy, Consulate, or US International Communication Agency office, or by writing directly to the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. Applicants seeking to enroll at the beginning of the academic year in September should take the TOEFL no later than the preceding March. All admitted students from abroad with a TOEFL score less than 650 will be tested upon arrival for English proficiency by the English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh.

    (4) All applicants must submit evidence of adequate financial resources for the entire course of study. Certification for such funds must be in the form of official statements from a bank or organization that funds are available and transferable for these purposes. Forms for this certification will be sent with the application for admission. These estimated expenses do not include the cost of round-trip transportation.

    All documents, except the financial certification, must be received before the application can be considered by the Admission Committee. Transcripts of international students will be evaluated by the Office of International Services prior to evaluation by the School of Education Admissions Committee, though the final decision rests with the Admissions Committee. When the applicant has been accepted for admission, and upon receipt of financial certification forms, the Office of International Services of the University of Pittsburgh or the applicant's sponsoring organization will be requested to issue an appropriate US Government form permitting the student to obtain a visa for entry into the United States.

    The University reserves the right, even after the arrival and enrollment of a student from another country, to require appropriate additions to the curriculum to meet particular deficiencies or needs. The student may be required to take such courses without credit and at his or her own expense. This could apply to additional course work in English as a foreign language when necessary. To facilitate the educational experience and to help in adjustment to the United States, the University offers the assistance of the Office of International Services, 708 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.


  • Credits
    A credit is awarded for the work represented by a class meeting for one hour each week for one term. In certain laboratory courses a class meeting two, three, or four hours each week for each term yields one credit. A student is not permitted to register for more or fewer credits in a course than the stated number of credits listed in the Schedule of Classes. In graduate work, full time constitutes nine to 15 credits per term; in undergraduate work, full time constitutes 12 to 18 credits per term. Part-time students (graduate students enrolled for eight or fewer credits or undergraduate students enrolled for 11 or fewer credits) enroll on a per-credit basis only.


  • Extension and Correspondence Courses
    No credit will be granted toward any degree for work completed in extension courses or in off-campus centers of another institution unless those credits are approved for the same degrees at that institution. Such institutions must have the appropriate accreditation.

    Undergraduate credits taken by correspondence and completed while in the military service and certified by the United States Armed Forces Institute may be accepted on the undergraduate level only.

    Correspondence courses and courses in absentia are not acceptable for credit toward advanced degrees.


  • Grading Policy*
    *Effective March 1990

    A grading system expresses the judgment of the faculties on the relative accomplishments of each student in terms of the objectives of a course. This grading system policy statement includes all grades, their corresponding definitions, and grading options that may be used within the School of Education.

    Grading System Definitions and Quality Points. The definitions and quality points of the grading system are as follows:

    A+ = 4.00
    A = 4.00 Superior attainment
    A- = 3.75
    B+ = 3.25
    B = 3.00 Meritorious undergraduate attainment or adequate graduate-level attainment
    B- = 2.75 Attainment below graduate-level expectations.
    C+ = 2.25
    C = 2.00 Adequate undergraduate attainment or attainment below graduate-level expectations
    C- = 1.75
    D+ = 1.25
    D = 1.00
    D- = 0.75
    F = 0.00 Failure
    G = Course work unfinished because of extenuating circumstances
    I = Incomplete course work, due to the nature of the course, clinical work, or incomplete research in individual guidance courses or seminars
    R = Resignation
    W = Withdrawal
    H = Exceptional (honors) completion of course requirements
    S = Satisfactory (successful) completion of course requirements
    U = Unsatisfactory (failing) completion of course requirements
    N = Non-credit audit
    Z = No grade or invalid grade reported

    Letter Grade System. The letter grade system includes the following:

    A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F AND G, I, W

    Grading Options. There are four grading options:

    Option I Honors/Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (H, S, U)
    Option II Satisfactory/Audit (S/N)
    Option III Letter Grade and Honors/Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
    Option IV Letter Grade and Satisfactory/Audit

    Courses taken under Options I through IV in which H and S grades are received carry credit toward graduation but are not used in computing the quality point average.

    Grading Option Restrictions and Procedures. The following restrictions and procedures apply:

    (1) Grading Option II must be selected for use with thesis or dissertation research courses. The Letter Grade System may not be used in these courses.

    (2) Grading Option I or II must be selected for use with practicum internship and student teaching courses. The Letter Grade System may not be used in these courses.

    (3) Undergraduate students may use Options I through IV with any courses that do not fulfill for them any of the School of Education requirements; the courses must be outside the student's major related field.

    (4) Except for the preceding restrictions, a student may choose any grading option for any course offered in the School of Education provided the option has the approval of the instructor and is available for the course. The options are listed in the appropriate time schedule.

    If a grading option is available for a School of Education course, the student who chooses the option should make arrangements with the instructor of the course, no later than the end of the first week of the term or session, to receive that grading option.

    Competency-based Courses and Courses Requiring Additional Time for Completion. For competency-based courses and other courses, which may require additional instructional time for completion, an I grade may be given at the close of the course period with the recommendation of the instructor and the approval of the Dean. The student may then be required, again with the recommendation of the instructor, to register for a special TUTORIAL section of the course, which has the same number as the original course and the additional course description TUTORIAL. The student registers for the number of credits that are deemed necessary by the instructor to cover the added instructional time needed for completion of competencies. TUTORIAL courses are always taken on an audit basis. When the competencies are fulfilled, the I grade in the original course is changed to the appropriate grade.

    Quality Point Average (QPA). The following system applies for computing Quality Point Average (QPA) on both the undergraduate and graduate levels for admission and/or graduation: A+ and A = 4.00 quality points per credit; A- = 3.75; B+ = 3.25; B = 3.00; B- = 2.75; C+ = 2.25; C = 2.00; C- = 1.75; D+ = 1.25; D= 1.00; D- =0.75: and F = 0.00. QPA is obtained by dividing the total number of letter grade credits into the total number of quality points. Only a letter grade will be used in computing the QPA. Grades of G, I, H, S, U, W, and N will not be considered. A grade given by an instructor for completed work will not be changed unless an error has been made in reporting or recording the grade. Re-examination of extra work cannot be used as a basis for change of grade.

    Repeated Courses. If authorization to repeat a course is noted on the transcript by the Registrar, only the latest grade and quality points will be used in computing the QPA.

    If an undergraduate or graduate student repeats a course, only the last grade received is counted in computing credits and quality points earned. A maximum of six credits may be repeated.

    Incomplete Grades. A G grade must be removed within one calendar year following the date the grade was received. An extension of time for both undergraduate and graduate students may be granted upon the recommendation of the instructor with the written approval of the Dean/Associate Dean.

    To remove a G grade the student must initiate the process with the instructor concerned. A Grade Change Card can be obtained by a member of the faculty from the respective departmental office. To effect a grade change for a G that is more that one year old, the instructor must include with the Grade Change Card a letter to the Dean/Associate Dean signed by the faculty member explaining the change. The grade may be changed only with approval of the Dean/Associate Dean.

    An I grade is removed when the research or course work is satisfactorily completed. An accompanying letter is not required to clear an I grade.

    Graduation with G and I Grades. A student may graduate without removing G and/or I grades from the record provided all degree requirements have been met and the program both recommends the student for graduation and has the written approval of the Dean/Associate Dean.

    Scholarship Standing. An undergraduate student is automatically considered on probation whenever the total academic work at the University of Pittsburgh is below 2.50 QPA. While on probation, the student must obtain permission from the academic adviser and the Dean/Associate Dean for all work undertaken.

    A student with full graduate status is automatically considered on probation whenever the total QPA falls below 3.00 for master's students, or 3.30 for doctoral students. While on probation, a graduate student must obtain approval both from the academic adviser and from the Dean/Associate Dean for all work undertaken.

    Students not doing satisfactory academic work are placed on probation. The schedules of undergraduate probation students are usually reduced to 12 credits. When students, despite reduced schedules and remedial services that are offered in certain fields, are not able to improve the quality of their work to such an extent that they have a reasonable chance of being graduated, they are asked to withdraw from the school. Students thus dropped may, after a stipulated period of absence, apply for readmission, and, if in the opinion of the Dean/Associate Dean, the chances of their doing successful University work appear to be favorable, they may be readmitted on probation for a final trial.

    A degree candidate is required to show high attainment in order to qualify for a degree. Mediocre or barely passing attainment, while indicating some measure of success, is not sufficient to meet the requirements for an advanced degree.


  • Regional Campuses
    The following are regional campuses of the University: Bradford Campus, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Greensburg Campus, Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Johnstown Campus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Titusville Campus, Titusville, Pennsylvania. A maximum of 15 credits toward the master's degree may be earned at the regional campuses of the University provided that the courses selected have the approval of the student's academic adviser as part of a Plan of Studies. A minimum of 15 credits must be earned on the Pittsburgh campus for the master's degree. Credit taken at a regional campus may not be applied toward the doctoral degree except upon written request of the academic adviser and approval of the Dean/Associate Dean.

    An exception to the 15-credit ruling exists when the faculty from the School of Education structure and teach at the regional campuses all the courses for the master's degree. Applications are available at each regional campus.


  • Student Financial Support
    More than $1 million dollars in financial support is available to students in the School of Education annually. Most of the school's financial support programs and scholarships are targeted for teacher education, graduate, and minority student aid.

    Financial support is available to graduate students through graduate student assistantships (GSA), teaching assistantships (TA), teaching fellowships (TF), a variety of scholarships and fellowships, and loan programs. GSA, TA, TF, and tuition scholarship awards are primarily merit-based. GSA, TA, and TF awards provide a stipend in return for carrying out assigned duties, as well as a tuition scholarship based on merit. Other need-based and/or merit-based scholarships and fellowships established through gifts or grants both within and outside the University are also available to students. These include:

    Administrative Studies Fellowships provide awards to graduate students demonstrating superior academic and scholarly achievement who are enrolled in the Administrative Studies program. Applicants must submit a research proposal. Funded through the William A. Yeager Fellowship endowment.

    African-American Graduate Fellowships provide merit-based stipends to graduate students each year on a competitive basis.

    Alumni Doctoral Fellowships provide multiple awards to doctoral students demonstrating superior academic and scholarly achievement. Funded through the School of Education Alumni Fund.

    M. Bielich Award is a merit-based stipend available for a third-year undergraduate female student with an excellent potential for a career in teaching physical education.

    Commonwealth Fellowships provides tuition remission assistance to full-time African-American students who were awarded their baccalaureate degrees from Lincoln or Cheyney Universities and are Pennsylvania residents.

    Future Teacher Undergraduate Scholarships provide awards to undergraduates at the University of Pittsburgh with a commitment to enter the School of Education for teacher education study. Funded through the Sherry Berkowitz Memorial Award and the School of Education Gift/Memorial Fund.

    Graduate Colloquium Awards are provided to graduate students presenting the best research paper at the annual Council of Graduate Students in Education Research Colloquium. Funded through the Dr. Clara Barnes Jenkins Scholarship in Memory of Dr. William J. E. Johnson.

    Graduate Research Grants provide funds to support research related to data collection and analysis for graduate students enrolled in the School of Education who demonstrate superior academic and scholarly merit. A well-developed research proposal must be submitted as part of the application. Funded through the School of Education Alumni Fund.

    Graduate Student Research Positions are available. Money originating from sources external to the University to support faculty research is often available for the employment of graduate students in a research capacity. The sums awarded depend on the source of the funds and the amount of work required.

    K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships are a very competitive, merit-based awards available for African-American students in the early stages of their doctoral programs. Includes full tuition assistance as well as an enhanced stipend. Multi-year funding is available depending on continued academic success.
    International Education Fellowships provide support to School of Education graduate students demonstrating superior academic and scholarly achievement and potential to make a contribution to international education. Funded through the Paul H. Masoner Scholarship endowment.

    Minority Teacher Education Scholarships provide multiple awards for minority students enrolled for teacher education study as fifth-year post-baccalaureate students. Funded through the J. Orville Wood Scholarship, the Margaret M. Greenawalt Memorial Scholarship, the Mary O. Saltsman Scholarship endowments, and the School of Education Alumni Fund.

    Oermann Scholarship is a merit-based stipend for a student pursuing a degree in physical education or exercise science.

    Outstanding Dissertation (Alumni) Award is awarded each year to a student with an outstanding dissertation.

    Professional Education for Teaching provide multiple awards to students enrolled for teacher education study as fifth-year post-baccalaureate students. Funded through the J. Orville Wood Scholarship endowment and the School of Education Alumni Fund.

    Student Travel Grants are awarded to support students traveling to professional meetings to present their research results. Available through the Dean's Office, the Council of Graduate Students in Education, and the Graduate and Professional Student Association.

    Loans available are the Perkins made by the University and the Federal Family Education Loan Programs made by banks and other lending institutions. Each of the loans is low interest and available to both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the School on at least a half-time basis.

    The priority applicant deadline for GSA, TA, TF, TR, and most other awards for each academic year is April 1. However, application for support can be made anytime during the academic year. The continuous application period provides opportunities for awards to be made through projects that result from external contracts, grants, or other forms of special funding. Deadline dates for these awards are specified in the updated listings available in the Office of Student Personnel Services. New applications must be filed each academic year if the student wishes to seek support beyond the year of his or her initial application. Applications will remain on file through June 30 of the following academic year.


  • Transcript Service
    Students may receive one free copy of their unofficial transcript or academic record per term, provided they are currently registered and have a current validation sticker affixed to their University ID Card.

    An official transcript is sent to each student upon graduation. A charge of $3 is made for each additional transcript, which is issued only at the request of the student.
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