Using the Fat Albert character developed during his stand-up routines, Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, a show that ran from 1972 to 1985, centering on a group of young friends growing up in an urban area. Throughout the 1970s, Cosby starred in a number of films, occasionally returning to film later in his career. In 1976, Cosby earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His dissertation discuss the use of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids as a teaching tool in elementary schools.