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Higher Education/Student Personnel, Ph.D.

Improve the landscape of post-secondary education through scholarly leadership.

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About the Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education/Student Personnel

A Ph.D. in Higher Education helps prepare students to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and equitableness of post-secondary institutions through scholarly leadership and informed decision-making.

  • Students learn how to synthesize research, identify gaps in knowledge, design and engage in research studies, and share research to help lead desired changes.
  • The Ph.D. program offers additional options for an emphasis in Gender Studies or an Interdisciplinary Minor in Applied Statistics. Please feel free to inquire about either of these opportunities.

 

A Ph.D. in Higher Education typically prepares individuals for career advancement. Graduates from this program have taken on faculty and executive leadership roles at higher education institutions as well as policy-development roles in government and other agencies.  

Contact the Graduate Studies Office Degree Plan Student Handbook

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    Program Information

    Degree

    Ph.D. in Higher Education

    Emphases

    Gender Studies

    Required Credit Hours

    72

    Program Type

    Doctorate Program

    Program Location

    Oxford

    School

    School of Education

    Duration

    4 years

    Explore Everything the Ph.D. in Higher Education has to Offer

    A Ph.D. in Higher Education is more than a doctoral degree; it prepares individuals to lead and shape higher education institutions, institutional policy, and support systems for student success.

    Students applying to the Ph.D. in Higher Education must meet the following requirements. Students must have:

    • A completed masters degree
    • An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on the course work attempted and a 3.25 graduate grade point average
    • A completed online Graduate School application, which includes official transcripts, and GRE scores (less than five years old with verbal, quantitative, and writing component sub-scores)
    • The following supplemental materials uploaded to the Graduate School application:
      • statement of purpose: Please discuss how your life experiences (personal, academic, and/or professional) have fostered your interest in pursuing a graduate degree in higher education, the strengths you bring that will help you be successful in the program, areas of research interest you have, and how earning the degree might help you achieve your goals as a professional serving in higher education.
      • resume
      • contact information for three references
    • A successful interview with faculty

    To properly complete the application process for admission, students must submit all application materials before the following deadlines:

    • Fall priority application deadline: January 1
    • Spring priority application deadline: October 1

    What courses will you take to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education/Student Personnel

    Here are some of the courses you'll take to earn your Higher Education/Student Personnel degree.

    See the Course Catalog

    GR

    EDHE 7590: Finance of Higher Education

    3 credits

    This course is designed as a doctoral seminar concerning issues germane to the funding of higher education in the United States from the perspectives of different participants, including students, faculty, campus administrators, state and federal officials, and private sector stakeholders. The course will be taught with special attention to issues related to the global recession and U.S. and international public policy responses.

    GR

    EDHE 7620: College Teaching

    3 credits

    Innovative and effective instructional strategies common to all fields in higher education.

    GR

    EDHE 7640: Law of Higher Education

    3 credits

    This course is designed to enable the doctoral student to identify legal issues, delineate legal principles, and develop congruent policies that will influence the administration and management of American postsecondary institutions. Subject matter and content areas have been selected according to their relevance to contemporary concerns of postsecondary education leaders.

    George McClellan

    We're here to help!

    If you have any questions about the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education/Student Personnel, don't hesitate to reach out!

    George McClellan

    Professor of Higher Education

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