Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration
Program Goals
Upon completion of all program requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration degree, learners will be able to:
- Cultivate ethical leaders who possess transferable skills and acumen for a variety of settings and roles.
- Encourage a systemic approach to higher education administration.
- Foster professionally socialized educational administrators.
- Enhance participation in the global higher education community.
- Prepare proficient researchers in higher education.
Graduate Competencies
- Throughout the program, learners will evidence the following competencies to meet these goals:
- Understand the theory and practice related to the major domains of higher education
- Demonstrate adaptability in using that knowledge in a variety of contexts and organizational configurations
- Develop a holistic understanding of higher education constituencies
- Foster models for collaborative relationships with and among individuals and organizations
- Determine a course of professional development and life-long learning
- Engage with professional associations and organizations
- Demonstrate knowledge of the diverse philosophical, social, and historical contexts and ideologies of education (colonialism and educational development)
- Foster programs that incorporate a meaningful regard for and participation in cultural pluralism
- Demonstrate proficiency in various research methodologies
- Contribute substantial and original research to the body of knowledge
Program Structure
The Ph.D. HEA program has a 65-credit minimum requirement that incorporates both residency and online modalities of instruction. The majority of the program will be delivered in an online, virtual classroom setting. In these courses, learners will work in a cohort of approximately 12 peers and be required to spend approximately 25 hours per week on required coursework.
Learners will attend 10 days in residency during the program. The courses offered during residency sessions cover a variety of areas essential to the successful completion of this advanced degree program, including insights into the preparation of the dissertation. Because of the nature and value of the information presented in the residency environment, learners must attend all residency sessions
The most important milestone of the Ph.D. HEA degree is the successful completion and oral defense of a significant, substantial, and independently completed dissertation. The study provides the learner an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of germinal and current literature and to reflect competence in applying learning to actual organizational issues in the higher education environment. To ensure the quality of this effort, the program's curriculum is designed to develop the learner's ability to articulate and integrate the field of higher education's literature as a foundation for inquiry into higher education issues, to identify and design the most appropriate research strategy for addressing these issues, to analyze and utilize data in creating recommendations, and to communicate research findings to diverse audiences.
Because of the highly independent nature of the program, learners must be self-disciplined and exceedingly motivated to earn this degree.