Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Degree in Higher Education

The doctoral program in Higher Education is practitioner oriented and designed to provide the opportunity for specially selected individuals to enhance instructional, administration, and research skills for leadership roles related to the continuing development and operation of higher education institutions. The program is offered in a format to make it attractive and available to place bound professionals in Southeast Florida and beyond. Graduates are prepared for academic and student affairs administrative positions, as faculty, or as policy analysts in federal state or institutional roles.  The program is designed to stimulate research related to higher education, particularly in the development of innovative administrative and instructional approaches appropriate for urban settings. A candidate for admission to the program will be judged not only on the basis of quantitative criteria (listed elsewhere in this catalog) but also in relation to prior experience, especially as it relates to future career goals.

Post-baccalaureate course work minimum requirements for the degree, while subject to individual variations, consist of the following:

Higher Education Core: (21)

EDH 7065       Higher Education: Philosophical and Historical Perspectives    3
EDH 7204       Higher Education: Community College   3
EDG 7222       Curriculum Theory and Research  3 

Students will take an additional twelve credit hours from the program as approved by their Program of Study Committee. These courses may focus on student affairs, education policy, instructional methods, academic administration or other areas within higher eductaion. The area of concentration should assist the student in developing the essential leadership skills for their field.      

Professional Education Core (6)

EDF 7937        Advanced Topics in  the Social Foundations of Education          3
EDP 7057       Educational Psychology: Advanced  Applications                  3
           

Cognate Area: (18)

The cognate area may be taken in one or more subject areas and may include graduate or undergraduate (post-baccalaureate) courses. The design of the cognate for Higher Education Administration should assist the student in developing essential administrative, instructional, and leadership skills. Some students use master’s coursework in a “teaching field” to form their  cognate. Alternately, students may select a minor area of study of their interest. Several fields students have selected in the past include: history, public policy, business, anthropology, curriculum and instruction, and others. Depending upon the age of the coursework, recent credit may be required – a minimum of two courses should be anticipated in the cognate area.

Research and Quantitative Statistics Core: (9 hours minimum)

The research and statistics requirement is designed to assist the student in expanding the capacity to use research related to instruction and administration as well as provide a skill base for  conducting independent research or interpreting the research of other in the field. Quantitative courses must be taken in the order listed:

EDF 6472        Research Methods in Education: Introduction to Data Analysis    3
EDF 6486        Research Methods in Education: Experimental Design and Analysis    3

Prerequisites: EDF 5481 and EDF 6472.

And one of the following:

EDF 7403        Quantitative Foundations of  Educational Research        3
                          Or
EDF 6475       Qualitative Foundations of Educational Research      3

Candidacy Examinations and Advancement to Candidacy:

Written and oral qualifying examinations in the students area of specialization and in higher education are required.

Dissertation: (24)

The dissertation should be on a topic of importance to higher education and should reflect the student’s professional interests and goals. The student is expected to complete the dissertation within five years from the date of advancement to candidacy (i.e. successful completion of all written and oral examinations, favorable recommendations of the supervisory and guidance committee, and an approved dissertation proposal). All program requirements must be completed no later than nine years from the date of admission. The College of Education requires a minimum of three credit hours of dissertation be undertaken from completion of the qualifying examinations through the semester of graduation. Continuous enrollment for dissertation credits is required (including summer semester). Details regarding dissertation deadlines and policies can be found at http://gradschool.fiu.edu/thesis.html

For more information about the doctoral program contact Dr. Benjamin Baez (baezb@fiu.edu), or Ms. Jeanine Higdon (higdonj@fiu.edu).