Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Accelerated Option (ISIS code: HE9)

I. Entry-Level Courses
(36 credits)

Entry-level/advanced coursework in higher education or related fields to be transferred in or completed prior to entering the program cohort

II. Research Methods Courses
(9 credits)

ED 506 Concepts and Issues in Social Science Research
ED 507 Qualitative Research Methods
ED 504 Quantitative Research Methods
ED 528 Using Quantitative Analysis Software This one credit course is a pre-requisite for ED 504.

III. Specialization Courses
(18 credits)

EDU 515 Decision-Making for Educational Leaders I
ED 520 Program Evaluation
EDU 576 Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
ED 437 Diversity and Equity in Higher Education
EDU 492 Governance, Policy and Administration of Higher Education

ED 521 Advanced Program Evaluation [EDU 420] OR
EDU 516 Decision-Making for Educational Leaders II [EDU 515]

Choose at least two of the following courses designed to provide foundational knowledge in important areas within higher education:

• EDU 496 Fiscal Policy Issues in Higher Education
• EDU 490 Higher Education Law
• EDU 493 History of Higher Education
• ED 475 Leadership and Management in Higher Education
• EDU 446 Entrepreneurial Skills for Educators
• ED 430 College Retention: Theory, Research and Practice

IV. Electives
Choose electives for a total of 3 credits

V. Dissertation Research
(18 credits)

ED 524 Survey Design (1 credit)
ED 525 Interview and Focus Group Techniques (1 credit)
EDE 551 Qualifying Case Analysis - Higher Education (1 credit)

For Program Evaluation Dissertation
ED 540 Educational Leadership Proposal Seminar [ED 550 or EDE 551] (3 credits)
ED 541 Program Evaluation Dissertation Seminar I [ED 540] (3 credits)
ED 542 Program Evaluation Dissertation Seminar II [ED 541] (3 credits)

OR

For Decision Making Dissertation
ED 546 Decision Making Dissertation Proposal Seminar [ED 550 or EDE 551] (3 credits)
ED 543 Decision-Making Analysis Dissertation Seminar I [ED 546] (3 credits)
ED 544 Decision-Making Analysis Dissertation Seminar II [ED 543] (3 credits)

VI. Additional Requirements/Milestones:

• Successful completion of a Portfolio Evaluation (in fall of year 2)
• Successful completion of a Comprehensive Exams (to be completed in the spring semester preceding the dissertation year)
• Successful completion and defense of a field-based dissertation – choose Program Evaluation OR Decision-Making (year 3)

NOTE: Students need to have completed their comprehensive exam in order to register for the Proposal Seminar. Students need to have successfully completed the Proposal Seminar in order to register for one of the Dissertation Seminars. Once in the Dissertation Seminar sequence, students are expected to register for both Seminars in the same academic year and to keep up with the assignments in order to complete their action research dissertation within the required year. Failure to complete the action research dissertation within the allotted year will have to be considered on a case by case basis.