PH.D. PROGRAM CURRICULUM


see also:	Curriculum FAQ
back to:	The Ph.D. Program

Approved January 2008

The Institute of Higher Education programs are informed by three distinct themes defining the core interests of its faculty:

1) Academic Reform and Innovation,
2) Power and Politics, and
3) Management and Accountability.

These themes provide a frame for the character and organization of the Ph.D. program. The program is designed to systematically expose students to a set of courses that will provide an entry point into a specialization in any one of the three areas above.

I. CORE ISSUES (9 HOURS — 3 COURSES)

EDHI 8010 — Introduction to Higher Education in the U.S. (required first semester)
EDHI 9050 — Organization and Governance (required first year)
EDHI 8000 — History of Higher Education (required first year)

II. THEMATIC AREAS (15 HOURS — 5 COURSES)

Students are required to take at least one course in TWO of the THREE thematic areas. While there are numerous courses that can be connected to each area, each area has a gateway course that must be taken before proceeding to other courses in the area. Beyond the gateway courses, students, working with a faculty advisor, will take a series of 3 EDHI courses constituting a clear thematic specialization within the program. Specializations will typically be closely related to one of the thematic areas. Occasionally, exceptions to a Gateway Course in an area can be made. These exceptions are made possible through special designate courses that are identified in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. All designate courses require the written approval of the faculty advisor.

Academic Reform and Innovation Gateway Course:
EDHI 9010 — Academic Programs or a special designate course
Power and Politics Gateway Course:
EDHI 9500 — Policy Studies in Higher Education or a special designate course
Management and Accountability Gateway Course:
EDHI 8400 — Higher Education Finance or a special designate course

III. RESEARCH CORE (14 HOURS — 4 COURSES, 2 LABS)

EDHI 8990 — Introduction to Research in Higher Education
EDHI 8920 — Quantitative Methods in Higher Education II* and lab
EDHI XXXX — Qualitative Methods in Higher Education and lab

One additional three hour methods course is required beyond the three courses and two labs listed above. Here students are encouraged to develop their methodological specialty. Students may choose a course that focuses on qualitative methods, case-study methods, or advanced quantitative methods, for example. This course must be an 8000 level seminar. Eligible courses may be taught within the IHE or in an outside department. Departments offering relevant sequences include (but are not limited to): Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, History, Statistics, and Education. This course must be approved in advance by the major professor.

* NOTE: Students entering the program without exposure to coursework covering principles of basic inferential statistics should enroll in EDHI 8910 and EDHI 8910L (or an equivalent) prior to taking EDHI 8920. Credit earned in EDHI 8910 or an equivalent will not count toward requirements within the 60 total credit hours of the program

IV. COGNATE (12 HOURS)

Students are required to develop competencies in areas related to but beyond the range of course offerings in the Institute. To ensure multidisciplinary exposure, a block of 12 hours outside higher education will be required of all students pursuing the Ph.D. degree. Course opportunities outside the study of higher education must be approved in advance by the major professor and advisory committee. Suggested cognate areas include (but are not limited to): Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, History, and Education.

V. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION (10 HOURS combined)

EDHI 9000 — Doctoral Research
EDHI 9300 — Doctoral Dissertation

SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES

A valuable component of each student's doctoral program is the opportunity to participate in the Institute's in-service development activities. During the two or more years in which they are formally enrolled there will be occasional workshops, seminars, conferences, and lectures in which students are expected to participate. Although these learning opportunities carry no academic credit, they are directly related to the professional and personal development of doctoral graduates. Participation by doctoral students is therefore strongly encouraged.

CURRICULUM FAQ

Which courses should I take in my first semester of enrollment?

EDHI 8010

Which courses should I take within my first year of enrollment?

EDHI 9050

EDHI 8000

If I take a third gateway course for "Thematic Areas," will this count toward the required hours?

This is left to the discretion of faculty advisors, so check with yours. If all three gateway courses are pertinent to your specialized program of study, the answer is probably yes.


back to:	The Ph.D. Program