Doctor of Philosophy Education with a Concentration in Higher Education (PhD)
Felecia Commodore, Graduate Program Director
The Ph.D. Program in Education with a Higher Education Concentration is designed for those who aspire to senior administrative and faculty roles in institutions of higher education. Possession of this degree also provides those who have earned it with entry into business, government, research, and other leadership positions. The Higher Education Concentration is intended to prepare individuals for administrative and faculty positions and to provide these students with the skills to carry out scholarly research, lead organizations, and create new knowledge. The curriculum includes four parts: core courses, research courses, electives, and dissertation.
Admission
Prospective students seeking admission to the Ph.D. Program in Education - Higher Education Concentration must:
- Meet all University admission requirements as listed in the Old Dominion University Catalog;
- Have a completed Master's degree in an appropriate discipline from a regionally accredited university, and submit transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work with a minimum GPA of 3.5 overall for the Master’s degree. Degrees that are equivalent to a Master’s degree such as L.L.B., J.D., and D.D.S. are also acceptable;
- Provide three (3) letters of recommendation. At least one letter must come from a professor or an individual who describes the applicant's academic performance and writing ability. Letters from senior-level leaders that endorse the applicant's leadership potential are encouraged;
- Provide a 1-page single-spaced essay that addresses the questions: What are your professional goals? Why do you wish to obtain the specific degree for which you are applying?
- Provide an original 2-page single-spaced academic writing sample. Pick one current issue facing higher education of interest to you. What is the issue? Why is the issue important to the field of higher education research and practice?
- Provide a CV or resume that describes the applicant’s academic and professional background;
- Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT of at least 80.
Applicants must submit completed application materials by February 1. The admissions committee composed of Higher Education and Community College Leadership faculty will review all applications then will select applicants for an interview with the committee or committee member(s). Interviews will be used to determine final admissions decisions.
Admitted students will begin in the summer semester of the same year. First- and second-year students are expected to attend the Summer Institute, a series of intensive courses offered on Old Dominion University's main campus each summer. The dissertation requires a minimum of twelve credit hours depending on the length of time necessary for completion.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses* | ||
| HIED 805 | Contemporary Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 825 | Higher Education Politics and Policy | 3 |
| HIED 852 | The Law of Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 893 | History of Higher Education | 3 |
| HIED 894 | Governance, Organization, and Administration of Higher Education | 3 |
| Cognate (15 credits minimum) ** | ||
| Students work with advisor to select 5 courses that reflect their research interests. | 15 | |
| Research*** | ||
| Students work with advisor to select at least two (2) advanced FOUN courses. | 6 | |
| FOUN 812 | Research Design and Analysis | 3 |
| FOUN 822 | Applied Linear Models in Educational Research | 3 |
| or FOUN 823 | Analysis of Variance Applied to Educational Research | |
| TLCI 814 | Qualitative Research Design in Education | 3 |
| Dissertation | ||
| HIED 809 | Proseminar in Doctoral Studies | 1-3 |
| FOUN 881 | Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| HIED 899 | Dissertation (12 credits minimum suggested) | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 61-63 | |
- *
Some courses may be waived based on previous study.
- **
Students who enter the Ph.D. program have diverse backgrounds, experiences, and goals. For this reason they have the ability, through consultation with their advisor, to tailor the cognate chosen to fulfill their degree obligations towards these goals. Cognate courses may be taken in the following departments: Community College Leadership, Foundations, Higher Education, International Studies, and Sports Management. The GPD may allow other cognate areas to be developed and implemented by students and advisors upon request if a particular justification is made in writing.
HIED 868 Internship in Higher Education (3-6 credits) is required for all doctoral students who have not served in a full-time administrative position for at least three years prior to admission.
- ***
Prerequisites: Doctoral students with no prior coursework in statistics must enroll in FOUN 722. Doctoral students with no prior coursework in educational research must enroll in FOUN 611.
Special Courses
These courses may be used for a variety of specialized topical seminars and may fulfill requirements in one or more of the cognate areas noted above.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIED 895 | Topics in Higher Education Administration | 1-6 |
Additional Requirements
Continuance
Students must meet all department, college, and university policy requirements for continuation in their academic program. See department policy above.
Exit
In order to graduate from the program, students must successfully complete all degree requirements including all coursework, candidacy requirements, and the dissertation.
Non-Degree
Non-degree students are limited to a maximum of 2 courses prior to admission unless they receive permission from the GPD. Students must receive academic advising from a program faculty member prior to enrollment in any course as a non-degree student. Taking courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission into the program.
Continuance Policy and Procedures for all EFL Programs
The following policy has been established for continuance in all graduate programs within the EFL department.
At the end of each semester – fall, spring, and summer – the graduate program directors (GPD) will review student records. As per university policy, students who do not maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in their EFL program will be placed on probation. Students placed on probation have one semester to bring their overall GPA back to a minimum of 3.0. A student may be placed on probation only one time in their EFL program and will not be eligible for a second probationary period. Should a student’s GPA fall below 3.0 twice, he/she will be dismissed from the program.
Students who receive a grade of F in any EFL required or elective program course or who receive a final grade of lower than B- in more than one class in their program will be dismissed from their program by the Graduate Program Director and Department Chair. A failing grade in dissertation credits for one semester places the student in warning status and does not automatically dismiss the student from the program. However, two failing grades in dissertation credits will result in dismissal from the program. Students may follow the Grade Appeal Procedure in the ODU Graduate Catalog. In the event a grade is appealed such that the student comes into compliance with the EFL Continuance Policy, he/she will be reinstated. In accord with University policy, ODU email is considered official communication.
Advancement to Candidacy Policy for all EFL Programs
In the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership, advancement to candidacy is a formal step that occurs after the student 1) completes formal coursework, 2) passes the PhD written and oral candidacy examinations, and 3) has an approved dissertation topic.