Higher Education Administration, Ph.D.

Higher Education

The Higher Education Administration program provides options for individuals interested in both administrative and faculty/research roles within post-secondary institutions. The curriculum emphasizes the aquisition of skills and knowledge and includes a thorough grounding in theory and practice in higher education including administration, finance, legal issues, the professoriate, curriculum and teaching, and leadership. The department offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs Administration, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education Administration

The Ph.D. program in Higher Education Administration is designed for educators whose interests lie in seeking academic positions in higher education administration and in research related to effective practice in a post-secondary setting.

Admission

*Supplementary materials may be submitted at the student’s discretion or may be requested by the admissions committee.

** Letters should be from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study.

Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Plan of Study. During the first semester, students will schedule a program planning meeting with their assigned advisor. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study form to the Graduate School by the end of the first semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/planofstudy.php.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the continuous enrollment and time limitation requirements specified in this Bulletin.

Residency

Residency may be met through one of the following:

• Two consecutive* semesters of 12 hours each (12-12);
• Three consecutive* semesters of 9 hours each (9-9-9);
• Four consecutive* semesters of a minimum of 6 hours each, none arranged (6-6-6-6);
• Two semesters within a three-year period in which a minimum of 12 hours is taken in each of the two semesters and a minimum of 3 hours in each of the intervening semesters.

* Consecutive does not have to include summer term but may, at the student’s discretion.

Research and Scholarly Integrity Education

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Comprehensive Exam

A comprehensive exam will be given at or near the conclusion of coursework and must be passed before proceeding to dissertation work.

The Dissertation

All students must complete twelve (12) hours of HE 898 - Dissertation . A minimum of three (3) credit hours of HE 898  must be completed during each of the semesters in which the dissertation is proposed and defended. The student’s doctoral committee will be comprised of at least four faculty members. The student submits three documents to this committee as described in the department dissertation guidelines: pre-proposal, proposal, and completed dissertation. The latter two are also presented orally.

Graduation

To complete the doctoral degree, students must

1. maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average,
2. complete all coursework,
3. pass the comprehensive exam, and
4. successfully complete and defend a dissertation.

Ph.D. requirements (69 hours)

Doctoral Minor in Higher Education Administration

Students majoring in a different discipline at the doctoral level may also wish to pursue a doctoral minor in higher education administration. The objectives of the minor are to prepare individuals to

1. Understand the role of an administrator in a higher education setting,
2. Work as an academic administrator or student services administrator in a higher education setting, and
3. Examine how the role of an administrator in higher education affects other faculty, staff, and students.

A minimum of eighteen (18) semester hours is required for the doctoral minor in higher education administration.