Program Requirements
Course Requirements
The Ph.D. program requires 54 units beyond the master’s degree, not including the required dissertation units. Most courses are four units, with some two-unit courses. Some of the elective courses are offered in conjunction with travel to professional conferences or to international universities. The required research seminars each term meet between sessions, often in conjunction with professional conferences. Please read the complete course descriptions for more information.
| Required Courses | 40 units | |
| HED 701 | Strengths-Based Leadership for Teaching and Learning | 4 |
| HED 702 | The Nature of Inquiry | 4 |
| HED 704 | Christian Perspectives and Ethics in Higher Education | 2 |
| HED 721 | Diversity and Social Justice in Higher Education | 4 |
| HED 726 | Policy Analysis In Higher Education | 2 |
| HED 727 | Introduction to U.S. Higher Education | 4 |
| HED 742 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 |
| HED 744 | Research Design and Statistics | 4 |
| HED 745 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 4 |
| HED 760 | Research Seminars | 6 |
| HED 790 | Doctoral Seminar in Research Studies | 2 |
| Concentration Courses | 10 units | |
| Organizational Leadership | ||
| HED 712 | Leading Change in Higher Education | 4 |
| HED 725 | Administration in Higher Education | 4 |
| HED 728 | Policy and Politics | 2 |
| Student Success |
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| HED 707 | Principles of Student Retention | 2 |
| HED 708 | College Impact on Student Success | 2 |
| HED 737 | Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | 4 |
| HED 743 | Program Evaluation 2 | 2 |
| Elective Courses | 4 units | |
| HED 719 | Financing Higher Education | 2 |
| HED 723 | Higher Education and the Law | 2 |
| HED 780 | International Higher Education Policy | 2 |
| HED 798 | Special Topics | 2 |
| Dissertation Courses | ||
| When students successfully complete HED 790 and begin dissertation work with their committee, they enroll in HED 794 for one semester (3 units) and then in HED 795 for each semester thereafter until the dissertation has been successfully defended. Enrollment in HED 795 is at a 50-percent reduction in tuition. Enrollment in these courses entitles a student access to faculty and university resources, including library databases and the services of the doctoral research librarian. These courses do not count toward the total unit requirement for the Ph.D. Continuous enrollment is required until the dissertation is successfully defended. | ||
| HED 794 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| HED 795 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Independent Study | ||
| Students may petition to take an independent study course to substitute for an elective course. | ||
| HED 799 | Readings in Higher Education | 1-3 |
Once a student has completed all coursework for the degree, he or she may enroll in additional courses at half tuition. |
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Additional Requirements
Grading and Grade-point Average
Throughout higher education, and particularly at the doctoral level, commitment to learning should outweigh the pursuit of grades. Nonetheless, grading and the grade-point average continue to play a crucial role in students’ careers. For doctoral students, the grade of B is considered average; a grade below B- is not applied toward doctoral degree requirements.
A doctoral student whose cumulative grade-point average falls below 3.0 or who has any grade below B- is placed on academic probation. Students on probation for more than a total of two terms throughout their doctoral study may be dismissed from the program.
A doctoral student whose grade-point average falls between 3.0 and 3.2 or who earns eight credits or more of B- grades is required to meet with his/her advisor to identify academic skills that may need to be strengthened and to plan appropriate action.
Policies regarding incompletes and withdrawals are set forth in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.
First-year Review
To evaluate success in meeting program goals and uphold the mission and objectives of the university and the School Behavioral and Applied Sciences, the program design includes an extensive array of procedures for quality control and assessment. These include a First-Year Review when students have completed 12 units in the program. The First-Year Review calls for a self-assessment, a portfolio of coursework, and a written qualifying exam. The student's academic performance is also reviewed. Continuation in the program is contingent upon a successful First-Year Review.
Critical Issues Conference
Christian perspectives and moral and ethical issues in higher education form an essential strand in the doctoral program and are embedded within many courses and activities. The course specifically dedicated to this topic, HED 704, is required of all students.
In addition, students must attend two of the annual program conferences on research or current issues in higher education which are offered each July.
Advancement to Candidacy
Following successful completion of all coursework and approval of the dissertation proposal, students are advanced to doctoral candidacy status.
Dissertation
The final step in the doctoral program is to design, implement, and write a research-based dissertation. Standards and procedures for the dissertation are defined by the doctoral faculty and are provided to students in a Dissertation Handbook.
The student defends the dissertation in a meeting with the faculty committee that is open to all faculty in the department. Subsequently, the student participates in a public presentation of the research.
Note: All stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Graduate Catalog for the most current and controlling information.
