Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership

The Higher Education emphasis is designed to provide the knowledge, concepts, and skills for advanced study and practice within the field of higher education. Persons graduating with an emphasis in this area seek positions in community colleges, private liberal arts colleges, or public colleges and universities. The doctoral program is intended for experienced professionals in higher education. Those with college teaching, student service, or administrative experience are encouraged to apply.

All students who wish to focus their doctoral studies in Higher Education are expected to enter the doctoral program having completed a masters degree appropriate for their professional goals. If deficiencies are noted, or if coursework is dated, students would be expected to take additional coursework to address these deficiencies as part of their doctoral program. The student's program of study committee may also recommend modifications of the program of study to assist the student to achieve his or her professional goals.

In addition to the core experience, the Higher Education emphasis consists of a professional core (24 cr.), directed study (4-8 cr.), research core (14-16 cr.), coursework outside of education (12 cr.), and dissertation (12 cr.). The total program consists of 75-81 credit hours.

Higher Education Core (24 cr.)

Each doctoral student in the higher education emphasis area is expected to complete a common core of five courses. These courses will provide a broad overview of the critical aspects of higher education. Within each course, attention will be paid to how the topic is shaped by, and in turn shapes, student diversity, institutional diversity and internationalization, and technology. In addition to the five core courses, each student will complete 9 credits of additional coursework or directed study that will allow for pursuit of specific interests within higher education or closely related areas.

Hg Ed 664 College Organization and Governance (3cr.)

Hg Ed 665 Financing Higher Education (3 cr.)

Hg Ed 666 Academic Issues and Culture (3 cr.)

Hg Ed 597 Program Evaluation and Assessment (3 cr.)

Hg Ed 578 Students in American Higher Education (3 cr.)

Additional coursework or directed study in Higher Education or closely related areas (9 cr.)

Directed Research and/or Field Experience (4-8 cr.)

Student are expected to undertake at least two directed activities in areas of interest. At least one of these projects must be a pre-dissertation research study, alone or in collaboration with a faculty member, staff member, or other student. Other options would include practica, internships, advanced topics readings, or a significant activity in conjunction with a higher education professional organization.

Research Core (14-16 cr.)

The research core is intended to give students a strong background in research methods and statistics. Depending on the focus of the student's dissertation, the student may choose to focus on quantitative or qualitative methodology.

Res Ev 552 Basic Educational Statistics (3 cr.) OR Stat 401 Statistical Methods for Research Workers

Res Ev 554 Intermediate Research Methods (3 cr.)

HPC 580 Qualitative Research Methodology (3 cr.)

Res Ev 553 Intermediate Educational Statistics (2 cr.) (or Stat 402 Statistical Design and Analysis of Experiments - 3 cr.)
OR HPC 680 Critical Issues in Interpretive Methodology (3 cr.)

Hg Ed 615H Research Designs in Higher Education (3 cr.)

Coursework Outside Education (12 cr.)

Coursework outside of education is intended to provide breadth to the program of study and to allow student to pursue study that will complement and expand their knowledge base related to areas of interest in higher education. Masters coursework could be counted as all or part of this requirement.

Dissertation Research (12 cr.)

Total Program Credits: 75-81 cr.