Higher Education Administration, Ph.D.

Saint Louis University's Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration emphasizes the interplay of theory and practice in higher education.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is based on the combination of core courses in higher education and the independent needs of the students. This program is intended for those students interested in pursuing careers in higher education teaching and/or administration and will be individually tailored to complement students’ interests and professional aspirations. The degree requires the completion of 30-36 credits of coursework, 12 credits of dissertation research, a comprehensive written examination, an oral examination/proposal defense, and a public presentation and defense of the dissertation.

Careers

The Ph.D. in higher education administration program is intended for those students interested in pursuing careers in higher education teaching and/or administration.

Admission Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE or other applicable graduate entry exam scores
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Please note that application deadlines for this program differ for international students.

Application Deadlines

Domestic students should apply for the fall semester by July 1, for the spring semester by November 1 and for the summer semester by April 1. International students should apply by May 1 for the fall semester, Oct. 1 for the spring semester and February 1 for the summer semester.

Review Process

A committee reviews each application wholly.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation 

The School of Education at Saint Louis University is accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). To contact CAEP:

1140 19th St NW #400
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 223-0077

1. Graduates will be able to use guided practice in student development, organizational, and environmental theories to analyze issues related to college students and higher education administration.
2. Graduates will be able to interpret and apply discipline-based literature to higher education administration practice.
3. Graduates will be able to propose and  higher education administration practices.
4. Graduates will be able to apply guided practice in leadership, communication, organizational, financial, assessment, and management in higher education administration.

Introductory Research Courses

Students must complete master’s level graduate research coursework as prerequisites for advanced research courses. Students are required to successfully complete the following three research courses.  Up to 6 credits maybe waived based on students' prior coursework.  

Advanced Research Courses

Select either a Quantitative or Qualitative option:

Non-Course Requirements

• Students must pass comprehensive written examination,
• an oral examination/proposal defense, and
• a public presentation and defense of their dissertation.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.