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HEDPHD - Higher Education

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Educ Policy Studies & PracticeGraduate Degree SeekingPHD - Doctor of Philosophy

Overview

Program Requirements

Completion requirement

63

Completion requirement

Overview:

There is no specific program of study beyond the eight (8) core courses. A program is designed for each PhD student in collaboration with the student’s faculty committee. A student must count at least 36 units toward the major, at least 9 units toward the minor, and at least 18 dissertation units. Credits may be transferred in from other graduate programs.

Core Coursework: 24 units

Required courses (9 units)

  • course: Higher Education in the United States (3)

  • course: Organization and Administration in Higher Education (3)

  • One of the following:

    • course: College Access and Success (3)

    • course: Theories of Inequality, Oppression, and Social Stratification (3)

    • course: Higher Education Across the World (3)

Methods courses (12 units)

  • course: Understanding Educational Research (3)

  • course: Qualitative Methods in Higher Education (3)

  • course: Statistical Analysis in Higher Education (3)

  • course: Research Design in Higher Education (3)

Note: Students are strongly advised to take Quantitative Methods and Research Design from Higher Education faculty. 

Advanced Methods course (3 units)

Choose one:

  • course: Introduction to Multivariate Regression and Quantitative Program Evaluation (3)

  • course: Indigenous Statistics (3)

  • course: Qualitative Data Analysis with a P-20 Focus (3)

  • course: Research in Educational Leadership: Special Topics (3) - see Schedule of Classes for available course topics

This represents a partial list. Additional courses, including advanced methods courses from outside the department, may be approved by the advisor and/or Director of Graduate Studies.

Completion requirement

12 units - selected by the student with advisor approval; coursework should align with the student's research focus or professional interests.

  • A minimum of 6 units must be taken from additional HED coursework .

  • Up to 6 units may be taken from coursework in other areas.

Completion requirement

Research is a key component to the doctoral program. Students will learn how to conduct research through a variety of methods. Conducting research requires responsibility. The following are two important forms that doctoral students should consult and complete:

Written Comprehensive Exam Through this written examination, the student is expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of foundational and contemporary higher education literature, models, and theories. The graduate coordinator sends out an announcement each semester asking who plans to take the written comprehensive exam. Students can contact the graduate coordinator to register or simply respond to the email.

Oral Comprehensive Exam takes approximately one hour (sometimes 15 minutes more). The exam is a general exam about what the student has learned in the classes in their higher education program, although some students provide the committee with a short written statement ahead of time (sometimes five pages or so) giving the committee an idea of what they are thinking about in terms of their dissertation work.

Completion requirement

Minors may be declared in Higher Education, or outside of the program with approval from your advisor.

Students must complete the minor department requirements as stated by the minor advisor.

MINOR (9-12 units) Doctoral students pursue a minor. The minor may be in higher education, or in some other field (e.g. the student's area of master's work, in another department in the College of Education, or in another College at UA), most HED minors consist of 9 units. The minor may be formal or informal. A formal minor will appear on the final transcript and diploma. An informal minor fulfills the Higher Education program requirements for the degree but does NOT appear on the diploma. However, the informal minor does indicate the specific sub area of expertise the student has acquired. If pursuing a formal minor, the student should consult with the department offering that minor to make sure the student fulfills all minor requirements for that minor. If pursuing an informal minor, agreement simply needs to be made between the student and advisor on the appropriate classes, which can all be outside the Higher Education program or split between Higher Ed and the other department.

Completion requirement