Doctor of Philosophy - Higher Education and Juris Doctor

Program Overview

The dual Ph.D. in Higher Education and J.D. program prepares individuals for leadership roles in higher education and educational policy. Students complete both a Ph.D. in Higher Education, focusing on research and leadership, and a J.D., providing a comprehensive understanding of law and policy. The program equips graduates for administrative and faculty positions in higher education, as well as careers in law and educational policy advocacy.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The dual Doctor of Philosophy - Higher Education and Juris Doctor (Ph.D. and J.D.) program equips participants for leadership positions at institutions of higher learning and in crafting and advocating educational policy. Students must apply for and be accepted into both programs individually. Upon completion, students earn both a Ph.D. in Higher Education and a J.D.

Objectives:

• Prepare individuals for administrative roles at various educational institutions.
• Equip participants for faculty positions in higher education.
• Develop students' skills in assessment, evaluation, research design, and quantitative and qualitative methodologies for leadership roles in higher education.

Outline:

Ph.D. in Higher Education

Required Core Courses (15 credits):

• History of American Higher Education
• Finance and Budgeting in Higher Education
• Theory of Educational Organizations
• Public Policy in Higher and Post-Secondary Education
• Higher Education Law
• Academic Governance in Higher Education

Required Research Courses (12 credits):

• Designing & Critiquing Research In Education
• Evaluation Research Methods
• Inferential Statistics and Experimental Design
• Qualitative Research Methodologies

Research Elective Courses (3 credits):

• Advanced Qualitative Research
• Qualitative Case Study Research
• Multiple Regression
• Multivariate Statistics

Specialization Courses (9 credits):

• Higher Education Leadership
• Higher Education Policy and Planning
• Student Affairs Leadership

Prospectus Course (3 credits):

• Dissertation Proposal Preparation

Dissertation (12 credits):

Assessment:

Comprehensive Examination:

The comprehensive examination consists of two parts:

Part I: Core Examination

• Covers research design and integrates information from research core courses.
• Students must have completed all core courses, research courses, and methodology course to be eligible.

Part II: Individualized Examination

• Allows students to fill in gaps in their knowledge and prepare for the dissertation stage.

Residency Requirement:

Students must complete a residency requirement after the completion of 42 credits, the comprehensive examinations, and by fulfilling specific outcomes:

• Completing remaining course work
• Completing a doctoral internship
• Successfully completing a dissertation proposal

Careers:

Law School Graduates:

• Typically work as attorneys
• Require admission to the bar to practice law
• Work in private law firms, business, government, nonprofit, and academic settings

Careers in Higher Education:

• Administrative positions at institutions of higher learning
• Faculty positions in higher education
• Leadership roles in higher education