Students who have completed their Masters degree in a discipline outside Higher Education may need to complete some prerequisite courses before beginning their doctoral work in the program. Students must complete at least one history and one philosophy course. With the approval of their advisor, students may complete other courses in Arts and Sciences, Communications, Social Work, etc. Doctoral students, in cooperation with their supervisory committee, then choose three courses as an area of focus within the Higher Education Administration Program. Students currently focus in such areas as community college leadership, student affairs administration, and law.
Students then have an additional six hours of coursework to select to compliment their studies.
These courses may or may not be in the College of Education, and students are often encouraged to look at offerings in Commerce and Business, Communications, and Arts and Sciences. These examinations cover the core coursework of the Program, and may be adapted to provide an opportunity to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of an area of specialization. Comprehensive examinations are offered each fall, spring, and summer. Students must pass their comprehensive examinations prior to being advanced to candidacy. The final component of the doctoral program is the demonstration of research and analytical skills through the development and writing of a doctoral dissertation.