Higher Education (PhD), Curriculum Sequence

Year 1, First Semester (Fall, Year 1): 9 Credits*

• ASLP 600 - Introduction to Doctoral Studies in Education 3 Credits
• RDHE 727 - Legal Aspects of Higher Education 3 Credits
• RDHE 704 - Higher Education Policy Analysis 3 Credits

Year 1, Second Semester (Spring, Year 1) : 9 Credits

• RDHE 731 - Governance and Coordination in Higher Education 3 Credits
• ASLP 700 - Methods of Inquiry in Higher Education 3 Credits
• EDSR 810 - Qualitative Research Methods 3 Credits

Year 1, Summer (Summer, Year 1): 3 Credits

• Elective**  3 Credits

Year 2, Third Semester (Fall, Year 2): 9 Credits

• Elective**  3 Credits
• RDHE 722 - Organizational Theory and Administration/Management in Higher Education 3 Credits
• EDSR 719 - Quantitative Data Analysis in Education I 3 Credits

• Portfolio I due during this semester.

Year 2, Fourth Semester (Spring, Year 2): 9 Credits

• RDHE 703 - Diversity and Multiculturalism in Higher Education 3 Credits
• RDHE 702 - Historical Foundations of Higher Education 3 Credits
• EDSR 819 - Quantitative Data Analysis in Education II 3 Credits

Year 2, Summer (Summer, Year 2): 3 Credits

• ASLF 601 - Educational Economics and Finances 3 Credits

Year 3, Fifth Semester (Fall, Year 3): 9 Credits

• EDSR 818 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Education 3 Credits
• Elective** 3 Credits
• Elective** 3 Credits

Year 3, Sixth Semester (Spring, Year 3): 9 Credits

• EDSR 822 - Mixed Methodology in Educational Research 3 Credits
• RDHE 889 - Research and Professional Development 3 Credits
• Elective** 3 Credits

• Portfolio II due during this semester.  If Portfolio II is passed, the student may enter Candidacy.

Year 4, Seventh Semester (Fall, Year 4): 3 Credits

• RDHE 997 /RDHE 998  Dissertation Guidance / Dissertation Defense 3/9*** Credits

Note

* NOTE: Students may certainly elect to take an elective class when it is offered in lieu of a core class; program faculty attempt to offer at least 1 elective seminar each term; students are also able to take electives outside of the program/department after consultation with their advisor. 

** NOTE: Students may take electives in any department of the university in consultation with their advisor. Students may also take electives at other institutions with prior approval.

*** NOTE: 

Upon achieving Doctoral Candidacy, the student will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for RDHE 997 (Dissertation Guidance) until the Dissertation is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.  The course is used only when the curriculum has been completed, candidacy has been achieved, and the student is completing the research and writing of the Dissertation. The RDHE 997 course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load).  

After the Intent to Defend the Dissertation form has been received by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to RDHE 998 (Dissertation Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (RDHE 998 will also count as 9 credits of load).  RDHE 997 will not count toward curricular credits. Other courses cannot be substituted for RDHE 997 (Dissertation Guidance). The only eligible grade for RDHE 997 (Dissertation Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for RDHE 998 (Dissertation Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).