Ph.D. in Higher Education

Degree Requirements

1.    Common Core (22-24 s.h.). Competencies represented by the following courses are required. Additional independent study is expected of all students in order to achieve the stated goals of the program.

2.    Area of Concentration (16-24 s.h.). A qualifying paper submitted prior to the comprehensive examinations provides evidence of the student's area of concentration. These

areas include:

A.    Administration - Courses in fields such as education, curriculum and instruction, marketing, business, public administration, and the behavioral and social sciences, particularly sociology, political science, economics and finance, student personnel work, and public relations.

B.    Policy Studies - Courses appropriate to a policy studies concentration should be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor so as to coordinate a basic understanding of policy-making, policy analysis, and policy processes with the student's specific area of educational interest or practice.

C.    Other Specialty Areas - Coursework to be developed in consultation with the faculty advisor.

3.    Cognates and Electives (12-30 s.h.). Each student will complete a related field in education outside of higher education and educational administration, or a minor outside of the College of Education . Students are encouraged to present their M.A. degree as the related or minor field, where appropriate. The remainder of the major in higher education will be developed by the student and his/her advisor.

4.    Research. Each student shall complete or otherwise demonstrate competence equivalent to two graduate courses in computer science, statistics, and/or qualitative research appropriate for doctoral-level work in education. Other tools appropriate to a dissertation will be developed by the student and the advisor. Each student is also responsible for developing research competence and perspective in a discipline (e.g., psychology, history) to be utilized in the doctoral dissertation.

5.    Practicum (0-6 s.h.). Each student shall complete at least 3 semester hours of 07B:333 Practicum or shall give evidence of similar administrative experiences elsewhere.

6.    Dissertation (12-15 s.h.) An original research project to be developed in an area of higher education.

• 07B:493 Ph.D. Thesis   

7.    Comprehensive Examinations . Each student will complete four written examinations, covering the higher education core courses. Students must present a qualifying paper in the form of a research proposal as evidence of their area of concentration prior to making application to take the comprehensive examination. (Consult with advisor for details.)

Higher Education as a Minor or Related Field: Students majoring in another field and desiring to complete a minor or related field in higher education should consult with a higher education advisor early in their studies.

Plans of study involving higher education as a minor or related field are developed individually for each student, but will ordinarily involve a concentration in one of two areas: (1) administration or (2) policy studies.

• At the doctoral level, a minor in higher education will constitute approximately one-third of the student's degree program.
• A related field in higher education will consist of a minimum of 12 semester hours in higher education and supporting fields.