Education Administration, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. degree is offered in two program concentrations: higher education administration and CD-12 education administration. Each prepares students for a variety of leadership positions in institutions and agencies related to the emphasis of their studies. Those earning the degree serve as university administrators, school superintendents and principals, administrators in school districts and government agencies, college and university faculty, and other related leadership capacities.
Learning Outcomes
- Advanced program candidates possess a high level of oral, written, and technological communication skills, with specialization for the specific professional role(s) emphasized in the program including university administrators, school superintendents and principals, administrators in school districts and government agencies, college and university faculty, and other related leadership capacities.
- Advanced program candidates conduct research using rigorous scientific practices.
- Using systematic and professionally accepted approaches, advanced program candidates demonstrate inquiry skills, showing their ability to investigate questions relevant to their practice and professional goals as school, district, college or university, and government agency leaders.
- Advanced program candidates demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the extant literature in K-12 Educational Leadership and/or Higher Education.
Degree Requirements (51 Post-Masters Hours/36 Post-Specialist Hours)
The total number of hours required may vary depending on prior graduate coursework completed, but must be no less than the hours stated. Based on the curriculum described below, a program of study will be developed with the student’s advisor and must be approved by the Graduate Director and the Dean of the Graduate School. Courses listed on the program of study must be completed no more than 10 years prior to graduation.
Qualifying Examination
A writing sample, as one part of a three-part interview process, serves as the qualifying examination.
Requirements (51 hours Post-Masters, 36 hours Post-Specialist)
Students must complete all Core Requirements and a concentration in either CD-12 Education Administration or Higher Education Administration. Post-Specialist students may be exempt from concentration requirements.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EDLP 805 | Advanced Educational Policy Analysis | 3 |
| EDLP 806 | Theories of Educational Leadership | 3 |
| EDLP 807 | Seminar in Selected Topics in Educational Administration | 3 |
| Doctoral Research (15-18 hours) 1 | ||
| EDLP 808 | Field Problems in Educational Administration: The Literature | 3 |
| Research (select 9 hours): | 9 | |
| Educational Statistics I | ||
| Educational Statistics II | ||
| Survey Design and Analysis | ||
| Qualitative Inquiry | ||
| Narrative Inquiry | ||
| Ethnography and Education | ||
| Qualitative Case Study | ||
| Survey of Research Methods | ||
| Additional Research (with advisor approval) | 6 | |
| Dissertation Preparation (12 hours) | ||
| EDLP 899 | Dissertation Preparation | 12 |
| CD-12 Education Administration Concentration (12 hours) 2 | ||
| Advanced Methods of Instructional Supervision | ||
| Educational Finance | ||
| Educational Policy Analysis | ||
| The Superintendency | ||
| The Superintendent in Practice I | ||
| The Superintendent in Practice II | ||
| School Building Planning | ||
| Higher Education Administration Concentration (12 hours) 2 | ||
| Advanced Study in Adult Education | ||
| History of Higher Education | ||
| The American College Student | ||
| The Community/Technical College | ||
| Financial Aspects of Higher Education | ||
| Legal Aspects of Higher Education | ||
| Principles of College Teaching | ||
| Organization, Administration, and Governance of Higher Education | ||
| Special Topics in Higher Education 3 | ||
| Contemporary Trends/Issues in Higher Education | ||
| Leadership in Higher Education | ||
| Institutional Assessment in Higher Education | ||
| Comparative Higher Education | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
- 1
Post-Specialist students may only need 15 hours of Doctoral Research, as approved by the academic advisor.
- 2
Students must choose a concentration in either CD-12 Education Administration or Higher Education Administration. Post-Specialist students may be exempt from some or all of these hours.
- 3
Course topics may include, e.g. Ethics, Diversity in Higher Education, Equity & Access in Higher Education, Curriculum in Higher Education, Disability in Higher Education, Film & Fiction.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination for the Ph.D. degree includes a written and oral examination.
Dissertation
Every candidate for a doctoral degree is required to successfully complete and defend a dissertation. Prior to preparing a dissertation, a proposal is required. The dissertation proposal must be approved by the student’s Dissertation Committee. The degree candidate must successfully defend the dissertation [oral defense] before his or her Dissertation Defense Committee.