Higher Education PhD Program of Study
Minimum Credit Requirements for the Doctoral Program: 52 credits (42 credits from coursework and 10 from dissertation credits)
The Higher Education Graduate Student Handbook contains additional details about the program. Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022, please refer to the 2021 Handbook for program of study requirements.
Required Courses
EDUC 643 Foundations of Higher Education* (3 credits)
EDUC 621 Managing Higher Education (3 credits)
EDUC 644 Critical Perspectives on Equity and Justice in Higher Education (3 credits)
EDUC 621B Race, Class and Gender in Higher Education OR EDUC 601 Student Development Theory (3 credits)
EDUC 697K Supporting Student Success EDUC 642 (3 credits)
EDUC 647B Principles & Practices of Student Affairs OR Higher Education Policy (3 credits)
Students also take five semesters of EDUC 717 Research in Higher Education, a 1-credit proseminar, with an additional 1-credit independent study in their final semester of EDUC 717 for a total of 6 credits in applied research.
*May be replaced by an elective for students with a master’s degree in higher education.
Research Requirements
As a higher ed doctoral student, you’ll take at least four research methods courses, with at least two quantitative and at least one qualitative. Possible research courses include:
Qualitative Courses
Course | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 6193 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
EDUC 794D | Seminar in Discourse Analysis | 3 |
EDUC 797A | Qualitative Data Analysis | 3 |
EDUC 819 | Alternative Research Methods in International Education 3 | 3 |
Quantitative Courses
Course | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 555 | Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
EDUC 656 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 |
EDUC 650 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
EDUC 671 | Survey Research Methods | 3 |
EDUC 676 | Secondary Data Analysis | 3 |
EDUC 731 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
EDUC 785 | Social Network Analysis | 3 |
Higher education doctoral students develop their programs of study in combination with their advisor and/or guidance committee, creating a set of goals and planning courses and experiences to meet these. Generally, however, the program of study for full-time students resembles the following:
Sample Full-Time Course of Study
Fall - Year 1
- EDUC 643 Foundations of Higher Education (replaced by an elective for students with a masters degree in higher education) 3
- EDUC 621 Managing Higher Education 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Spring - Year 1
- EDUC 644 Critical Perspectives on Equity and Justice in Higher Education 3
- Elective / Specialization Course 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Fall - Year 2
- EDUC 621B Race, Class & Gender in Higher Education OR EDUC 601 Student Development Theory 3
- Elective / Specialization Course 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Spring - Year 2
- EDUC 697K Supporting Student Success 3
- EDUC 642 Principles & Practices of Student Affairs OR EDUC 647B Higher Education Policy 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Fall - Year 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (taken for two credits; one-credit proseminar and one-credit independent study) 2
- Additional Coursework as Needed and/or Dissertation Credits 10
- Comprehensive Exam Preparation
52 credits
Sample Part-Time Course of Study
Fall - Year 1
- EDUC 643 Foundations of Higher Education (replaced by an elective for students with a masters degree in higher education) 3
- EDUC 621 Managing Higher Education 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Spring - Year 1
- EDUC 644 Critical Perspectives on Equity and Justice in Higher Education 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Fall - Year 2
- EDUC 621B Race, Class & Gender in Higher Education OR EDUC 601 Student Development Theory 3
- Research Methods course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Spring - Year 2
- EDUC 697K Supporting Student Success 3
- EDUC 642 Principles & Practices of Student Affairs OR EDUC 647B Higher Education Policy 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Fall - Year 3
- Research Methods course 3
- Elective / Specialization Course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Spring - Year 3
- Research Methods course 3
- Elective / Specialization Course 3
- EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed (one-credit proseminar) 1
Fall - Year 4 (if needed)
- Additional Coursework as Needed and/or Dissertation Credits 10
- Comprehensive Exam Preparation
52 credits
As can be noted in the sample part-time schedule, students continue to enroll in EDUC 717 Research in Higher Ed until they have successfully defended their comprehensive exams. Doctoral students can register for dissertation credits at any point as long as they enroll in at least ten (10) credits prior to graduation; for most students, it is advisable to enroll in these credits early in their program of study.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive examination consists of two components: an applied research paper and two applied analysis papers in which you respond to questions you prepare with your committee. Together, these papers give you the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills and expertise necessary for conducting dissertation research in this multidisciplinary applied field. You will be required to demonstrate your knowledge of the research process as well as key issues and concepts in at least one major area of study within higher education.
Dissertation
Whereas the comprehensive exam allows you to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge about higher education, the dissertation is your opportunity to demonstrate depth of knowledge in one particular area of higher education. The dissertation is a highly individualized endeavor representing the area in which you will become an expert and generate new knowledge for the field. In close coordination with your dissertation adviser, you will design, execute, and report on a major research study. You will also form a three-person faculty committee to advise and validate this scholarly work. The process begins with your dissertation proposal, which your committee must approve. You’ll then conduct research, write the dissertation, and defend it before the committee.
View the Higher Education Graduate Student Handbook for additional details about the program. Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022, please refer to the 2021 Handbook for program of study requirements.