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. For doctoral programs, candidates are prepared to publish and present at conferences.
- 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.
- 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.
Coursework
Coursework is designed to ensure that at the completion of the program the student can demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions developed in each of the following 4 areas.
Area 1 - Doctoral Core Courses (9 Hours)
9 hours of required doctoral core courses. Required for students completing the Higher Education Administration and the CD-12 Education Administration concentrations.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDLP 805 | Advanced Educational Policy Analysis | 3 |
| EDLP 806 | Theories of Educational Leadership | 3 |
| EDLP 807 | Seminar in Selected Topics in Educational Administration | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Area 2 - Concentration Courses (Post-Masters 12 hours; Post-Specialist 0-12 as approved by academic advisor)
CD-12 Education Administration Concentration
A minimum of 12 hours of coursework related to CD-12 education administration as approved by advisor. Possible courses include, but are not limited to the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDLP 753 | Advanced Methods of Instructional Supervision | 3 |
| EDLP 754 | Educational Finance | 3 |
| EDLP 755 | Educational Policy Analysis | 3 |
| EDLP 756 | The Superintendency | 3 |
| EDLP 757A | The Superintendent in Practice I | 3 |
| EDLP 757B | The Superintendent in Practice II | 3 |
| EDLP 758 | School Building Planning | 3 |
Higher Education Administration Concentration
12 hours of EDHE (or EDLP) coursework related to higher education administration. Possible courses include, but are not limited to the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDHE 720 | Advanced Study in Adult Education | 3 |
| EDHE 730 | Evolution of Higher Education in America | 3 |
| EDHE 732 | The American College Student | 3 |
| EDHE 734 | The Community/Technical College | 3 |
| EDHE 736 | Financial Aspects of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 737 | Legal Aspects of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 738 | Principles of College Teaching | 3 |
| EDHE 830 | Organization, Administration, and Governance of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 832 | Special Topics in Higher Education 1 | 3 |
| EDHE 833 | Contemporary Trends/Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 835 | Leadership in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 839 | Institutional Assessment in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHE 851 | Comparative Higher Education | 3 |
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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.
Area 3 - Doctoral Research Cognate (Post-Masters 18 hours; Post-Specialist 15-18 hours as approved by academic advisor)
Research Methods Requirement
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDLP 808 | Field Problems in Educational Administration: The Literature | 3 |
| 9 hours in research selected from below (or other courses approved by advisor) | 9 | |
| Educational Statistics I | ||
| Educational Statistics II | ||
| Design and Analysis of Educational Surveys | ||
| Qualitative Inquiry | ||
| Narrative Inquiry | ||
| Ethnography and Education | ||
| Qualitative Case Study | ||
| Survey of Research Methods | ||
| 6 additional hours of research as approved by advisor | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | |
Area 4 - Dissertation Preparation (12 Hours)
A minimum of 12 hours in courses to prepare the student for the dissertation:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDLP 899 | Dissertation Preparation | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
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.