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Ph.D. Academics

The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 12 credits in the HERJD concentration, 15 credits in the LLEP core, 9 credits in research, and 15 credits of dissertation work. In addition, students are encouraged to take electives in consultation with their advisor. Students must also satisfy General Examination requirements after at least 75% of their coursework has been completed. Finally, students must successfully defend a dissertation proposal and final dissertation to obtain their degree.

Sample Plan of Study

LLEP Core Courses

15 credits:

  • EDLR 5201 — Influences on Adult Learning
  • EDLR 5204 — Organizational Learning
  • EDLR 6313 — Educational Policy and Politics
  • EDLR 6467 — Social Justice Leadership, Equity, and Change
  • EDLR 6050 — Proposal/Prospectus Development

HERJD Concentration Courses

12 credits minimum:

  • EDLR 5114. Access to Higher Education, or its equivalent or higher in the higher education program
  • EDLR 5119: Legal Issues and Decision Making in Higher Education and Student Affairs, or its equivalent or higher in the higher education program
  • EDLR 5126: Inclusion and Equity in Higher Education and Student Affairs, or its equivalent or higher in the higher education program
  • EDLR 6468: Critical Race Theory in Higher Education, or its equivalent
  • EDLR 6469: Decolonizing International and Comparative Higher Education, or its equivalent
  • EDLR 6470: Racial Justice and Decoloniality in Higher Education Teaching, or its equivalent
  • EDLR 6471: The Faculty Career, or its equivalent

Research Courses

9 credits minimum (in consultation with advisor), with at least 3 credits in either quantitative or qualitative. Can be used to meet Graduate School 6-credit minimum Related Area requirement:

  • EDCI 6000 — Qualitative Methods of Educational Research
  • EDLR 6052 — Qualitative Methods of Educational Research II
  • EDCI 6005 — Advanced Methods of Qualitative Research
  • EPSY 5605 — Quantitative Methods in Research I
  • EPSY 5607 — Quantitative Methods in Research II
  • Other research courses as appropriate, such as EPSY 5610, EPSY 5613, EPSY 5621

Graduate School Required Doctoral Dissertation Research (15 credits minimum)

  • GRAD 6950 — Doctoral Dissertation Research