The Center for the Study of Higher Education is an instructional, research, and service unit within the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy. The instructional program provides college, university, and adult educational leaders opportunities to explore established and emerging practices in postsecondary education, to analyze current issues and problems, and to think in a critical fashion about institutional priorities and commitments.
Instructional programs offered by the center lead to the degrees of Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy. Postdoctoral study and research opportunities are provided through the center’s professional development program. Students seeking a graduate degree in higher education must hold a master’s degree in a related field, and full time experience is highly desirable.
The Education Specialist degree provides a post-master’s level of preparation for higher education administrators. The Ed.S. Program involves 30 credits of course work that can be completed in either one year of full-time study, or part-time with a minimum of one semester or two summer sessions devoted to residence study. Emphasis in the program is placed on developing specialized skills and understandings with a particular role in higher education administration and management.
Candidates for the Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees are encouraged to complete all of their doctoral study in full-time residence. The minimum residency requirement is 24 credits taken from University resident faculty, excluding credits for practica, internship, independent study, and dissertation. Minimum residency for the Ph.D. is two academic years of full-time study. Doctoral programs in higher education normally consist of a minimum of at least 78 credits, including work completed for the master’s degree.
Internships, as part of the doctoral programs, provide the prospective faculty member, administrator, or agency staff member with an opportunity to experience theory in practice in the actual institutional context.
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