Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Education with a Concentration Higher Education
(ISIS code: HE3)

The goal of this program is to prepare thoughtful leaders and researchers who will reflect critically upon the purposes, institutions, and culture of higher education and its context.

The Higher Education concentration consequently offers a disciplinary and humanistic approach to the study of postsecondary education. This means that the concentration draws upon the academic disciplines and encourages you to reflect upon the fundamental ends, purposes, and rationales for postsecondary education. Our commitment to this approach appears in the requirement that all students complete a core of courses in historical, philosophical, legal, sociological, and organizational perspectives on higher education, as well as research methodology. In conjunction with those courses, you will undertake a focused program of elective courses designed to prepare you to write a dissertation on a significant topic of interest concerning postsecondary education.

Requirements

I. Entry-level Courses
(Up to 30 credits)
Entry level or advanced coursework in education or related fields; some or all of these courses can be transferred into the program from previous graduate work.

II. Research methods Courses
(9 credits)
ED 506 Concepts and Issues in Social Science Research
ED 504 Quantitative Research Methods
ED 507 Qualitative Research Methods

III. Program Core
(15 credits)
EDU 576 Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
ED 437 Diversity and Equity in Higher Education

Choose three (3) from the following foundations of higher education courses:
EDU 496 Fiscal Issues in Higher Education
EDU 490 Higher Education Law
EDU 493 History of Higher Education
EDU 446 Entrepreneurial Skills for Educators
EDU 492 Governance, Policy, and Administration of Higher Education
ED 475 Leadership and Management in Higher Education

IV. Electives
Choose courses to help you develop conent and research methods expertise to prepare for a dissertation on a topic addressing higher education (as needed to reach minimum of 90 credits total).

EDU 416 Conflict Management in Schools and Universities
EDU 432 Professional Writing and Communication
ED 483 Communication and Counseling Skills
ED 516 Designing and Evaluating Professional Development
ED 470 Leading Effective Program Design
ED 479 Human Resources Management in Higher Education
ED 482 Technology and Higher Education
ED 476 Administration of Student Affairs in Higher Education
ED 433 Student Affairs Administration: Admissions and Financial Aid
ED 434 Student Affairs Administration: Minority Student Affairs
ED 467 Student Affairs Administration: International Student Services
ED 484 Student Affairs Administration: Residential Life
EDU 413 Student Affairs Administration: Academic Support Services
ED 420 Learning and Assessment in Higher Education
ED 485 College Students and Student Development Theory
ED 486 Curricular Innovations in Higher Education
ED 411 Philosophy of Education
ED 438 Sociology of School Organizations
ED 428 Ethics of Education

V. Dissertation Research
At least one advanced research methods course, as most appropriate to support the chosen dissertation topic, eligible courses include, but are not limited to:
ED 505 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
ED 527 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
ED 523 Mixed Research Methods
ED 522 Historical Research Methods

Choose a combination of Ed 595: Ph.D. Research (Dissertation) (at least 15 credits recommended), Ed 596: Research Apprenticeship (0-6 credits), ED 591: Independent Study, and/or other courses related to your dissertation, for a total of 27 credits.

VII. Additional Requirements/Milestones:

• Successful completion of a portfolio within the first two years in the program
• Successful completion of research apprenticeship/second year paper
• Successful completion of comprehensive exams
• Successful defense of the dissertation
• Residency requirement: two successive semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall) of full-time study (12 credits a semester or 9 credits a semester if holding an assistantship)

Total Credit Hours: 90

Go to Educational Leadership Department Course Listings.