PhD Courses - Graduate Programs in Student Affairs - The University of Iowa College of Education

Curriculum & Courses (PhD Program)

"The required SAAR program of study provides a nice balance between understanding students and understanding administration. Beyond that, it requires a serious commitment to research classes. It also requires a minor which is 3 classes outside the College of Education which is unique and exceptional preparation for working in the world of academe." PhD Student

Curriculum

The Ph.D. in Student Affairs Administration and Research (SAAR) focuses on administrative practice and research. The SAAR curriculum is organized into 6 core areas of study: (1) college student learning and development, (2) student affairs administration, (3) integrative experiences, (4) research tools, and (5) minor area courses.The SAAR program requires 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree (approximately 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree), although a student's academic and experiential backgrounds, needs, and interests will determine how many credit hours are necessary; decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with the student and his or her advisory committee. In addition, all students must pass a nine-hour written program comprehensive examination to be admitted into candidacy for the Ph.D. Comprehensive examination requirements for the student's minor are established by the minor department.

The Division of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies offers a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. Within the Higher Education Ph.D. are five emphases: policy studies, general administration, academic planning, program development, and community college administration. Thus, the Higher Education Administration Ph.D. is designed for interests other than student affairs administration and college students. For information about the Higher Ed. Ph.D., click here.

Required Courses

College Student Research Core

7C:331 The College Student (3 sh)
7C:332 College Student Psychosocial & Identity Dev. (3 sh) or
7C:334 College Student Learning & Cognitive Development (3 sh)
7C:336 The Impact of College on Students (3 sh)
7C:431 Seminar: Research on College Students (3 sh)
2 Electives (6 sh)

Administration Core

7C:330 Introduction to Student Services (3 sh)
7C:335 Administration of Student Services (3 sh)
7C:337 Theoretical Perspectives on SA Administration (3 sh)
7C:432 Seminar: Reflective Practice in SA Administration (3 sh)
7B:216 Finance and Economics of Higher Education (3 sh)
7B:218 The Law and Higher Education (3 sh)
1 Elective (3 sh)

Integrative Experiences

7C:433 Seminar: Current Issues in SA Administration (3 sh)
7C:333 Practicum or equivalent experience (3-6 sh)

Research Tools

7B:206 Research Process and Design (or equivalent) (3 sh)
7P:243 Intermediate Statistical Methods (or equivalent) (3 sh)
7C:338 Qual. Research Design & Methods (or equivalent) (3 sh)
7C:461 Independent Instruction: Research Practicum (3 sh)
2 advanced research courses (6 sh)
1 course in evaluation methods (3 sh)

Minor Area

Minor area courses are to be taken outside the College of Education. The rationale for this requirement is twofold. First, student affairs administration and research are informed by and grounded in theories, knowledge, and research in disciplines outside education, including sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, management and organizational studies, and law. Second, firsthand engagement in at least one of these disciplines provides deeper and broader understanding of student affairs practice and scholarship. In addition, persons interested in positions of leadership in student affairs administration and research benefit from varying perspectives on institutions of higher education that exposure to another discipline can provide.

Research Dissertation

(12 sh)

Core Area Requirements	Total semester hours
College Student Research Core	18
Administration Core	21
Integrative Experiences	9
Research Tools	21
Minor Area	9
Dissertation	12
Post-baccalaureate credits	90

I. College Student Research Core: 18 semester hours

7C:331 College Students & Their Environments (3 sh)

Focuses on the psychological and sociological characteristics of college students and their environments, including contemporary problems and challenges.

7C:334 College Student Learning & Cognitive Development (3 sh)

An in-depth exploration of theories of college student learning, cognitive development, and moral development. The course also includes an overview of the impact and outcomes of college experiences.

7C:332 College Student Psychosocial & Identity Development (3 sh)

An in-depth exploration of theories of college student development, with a focus on identity development. The literature on development of racial and gender identities, and sexual orientation also is reviewed.

7C:336 The Impact of College on Students (3 sh)

Introduction to literature on college impact; career and economic returns, values and attitudes, learning and cognitive development, assessment and methodological issues of studying college outcomes. (Pre-requisite: 07B:206 or equivalent)

7C:431 Doctoral Seminar: Research on College Students (3 sh)

College student learning and development, outcomes, persistence; emphasis on use of quantitative and qualitative research methods to study college student experiences, outcomes, and environments. (Pre-requisite: GPSA student and 07C:336 or equivalent)

2 Electives (6 sh)

31:205 Social Influences on Behavior
31:218 Cognitive Development
7P:281 Cognitive Theories of Learning
7W:231 Adult Development and Learning
7C: 255 Vocational Psychology

II. Student Affairs Administration Core: 21 semester hours

7C:330 Introduction to Student Services (3 sh)

History, philosophy, overview of student affairs work in higher education; review of standards and ethics; emphasis on institutional missions, cultures, trends.

7C:335 Student Services Administration (3 sh)

Administrative structures and processes, contexts of student affairs practice, budgeting, legal issues, research and assessment in student services. (pre-requisite: 07C:330 or equivalent)

7C:337 Administration Theory in Student Affairs (3 sh)

Issues and problems in student affairs administration; theories of organization, administration, and leadership. (pre-requisite: 07C:335 or equivalent)

7C:432 Doctoral Seminar: Student Affairs Practice (3 sh)

Institutional cultures, student affairs leadership, organizational structures. (pre-requisite: SAAR student and 07C:335 or equivalent)

7B:216 Finance and Economics of Higher Education (3 sh)

Research and issues related to public and private funding of education; costs, benefits, outcomes, resource management.

7B:218 The Law and Higher Education (3 sh)

The role of law as it affects postsecondary institutions; analysis of case law in specific areas of concern to administrators, faculty, staff, students.

1 Elective (3 sh)

7H:330 Strategic Marketing and Institutional Development
7H:315 Curriculum Development in Higher Education
7C:366 Organization Development and Change
6N:271 Management of Non-Profit Organizations
34:310 Education and Social Change
34:164 Organizations and Modern Society
7B:220 History and Philosophy of Postsecondary Education
7B:224 Organizational Theory and Administrative Behavior

III. Integrative Experiences: 3-9 semester hours

7C:433 Doctoral Seminar: Current Issues in SA Administration (3 sh)

Critical and current issues in student affairs professional practice, including ethics, supervision, writing for publication, legal issues. (pre-requisite: doctoral status and 7C:335 or equivalent)

7C:333 Practicum or equivalent experience (3-6 sh)

Experiential learning opportunities in administration, teaching, and research; nature of experience and credit hours required are based on student background, needs, goals, and experiences. (variable credit; not to exceed 6 sh)

IV. Research Tools: 21 semester hours

1 Research design course (3 sh)

7B:206 or equivalent

1 Quantitative methods course beyond introductory level (3 sh)

7P:243 or equivalent

1 Qualitative methods course (7C:338 or equivalent; 3 sh)

2 Advanced quantitative and/or qualitative methods courses (6 sh)

7D:373 Qualitative Research Design and Methods
7P:244 Correlation and Regression
7P:245 Applied Multivariate Analysis
113:202 Ethnographic Field Methods

1 Evaluation and/or instrument development course (3 sh)

7P:255 Construction and Use of Evaluation Instruments
7P:165 Introduction to Program Evaluation
7P:257 Educational Measurement & Evaluation

1 Research practicum (3 sh)

7C:293 Independent Instruction

Research to be supervised by SAAR faculty. This requirement may be waived for students whose Master's thesis has been approved by their curriculum advisory committee.

Graduate Programs in Student Affairs

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