Doctor of Education

Program Description

With the present climate of accountability, there is a substantial demand for educators who have a high level of expertise in school improvement, professional learning, and educational research.  Educators who work with various student populations should be able to identify current needs, examine or explore those needs, and implement practices and/or policies based on empirical literature to improve those needs.  The College of Education and Health Professions at Columbus State University is committed to developing this level of expertise through the Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Leadership Program.  The EdD Program offers three specialization program tracks: (1) Curriculum, (2) Educational Leadership, and (3) Higher Education Administration.

The Higher Education Administration program track follows a cohort model implemented through synchronous and asynchronous online instruction.  Courses in the 63-credit hour, doctoral program are intended for school administrators and other individuals seeking professional expertise in higher education administration.

Additional program information can be found on the CSU Department of Counseling, Foundations, and Leadership website.

Career Opportunities

Careers, such as administrators in enrollment services, academic affairs, and student affairs, are all available to individuals who earn a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Leadership with a specialization in higher education administration.

Admission Requirements

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic combination of criteria, including the interview, writing assessment, recommendations, professional experiences, academic transcripts, and GRE scores. 

• Applicant must hold at least a master’s degree from an accredited United States institution, or the equivalent from an international institution.
  
  
• Good academic standing at previous institution(s).
  
  
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on all graduate course work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirement for a graduate degree and post-baccalaureate coursework.
  
  
• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores within the last 5 years.  Preferred minimum scores include a combined total of 297 for the general portion (Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning) and 3.5 for the Analytical Writing component.
  
  
• Four (4) years of experience in a school setting or in a leadership role in the private sector.
  
  
• Background check to verify no criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for related teacher, counseling, or leadership certifications.
  
  
• Successful completion of interview and timed writing assessment.
  
  
• For international students, additional criteria may be required.  See International Graduate Admissions for more details.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• Demonstrate the ability to conduct research that contributes to the education profession.
• Demonstrate knowledge of policy development, compliance issues, and governance structures.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage institutional human capital, financial, and physical resources.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead with or without positional authority.
• Demonstrate the ability to create learning environments that foster equitable participation and development of all groups.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide advising and support to individuals and groups.

Additional Program Requirements

Additional Program Requirements

• Completion of all required EdD coursework (i.e., minimum of 63 semester hours and a minimum of 51 semester hours in residence) with a 3.25 GPA and no more than one grade of C applying toward the degree (i.e., good academic standing).
• Appointment of an approved EdD dissertation committee.
• Approval of the Dissertation Prospectus by the EdD Dissertation Committee.
• Approval of the Dissertation Proposal by the EdD Dissertation Committee.
• Met all program requirements (i.e., successful defense of final dissertation and approval of final dissertation publication by the EdD Dissertation Committee, Director of Doctoral Program in Education, Director of COEHP Office of Graduate Studies, Dean of COEHP, and CSU Library).
• Maintained continuous enrollment in EDUF 8999 (The Dissertation) until completion of the EdD dissertation.

Program of Study

RESEARCH Required Hours: 15
EDHE 8101 Introduction to Higher Education
EDHE 8102 Academic Affairs
EDHE 8103 Finance and Administrative Affairs
EDHE 8110 Policy and Politics of Higher Education
EDHE 8112 Higher Education Student Services
EDHE 8123 Research in Higher Education
EDHE 8125 Educational Evaluation
EDHE 8720 Current Issues in Higher Education

DISSERTATION Required Hours: 12
EDUF 8000 Dissertation Defense
EDUF 8129 Developing the Dissertation Prospectus
EDUF 8999 Dissertation
EDUF 8999 Dissertation
EDUF 8999 Dissertation

ELECTIVES Required Hours: 12 
12 approved semester hours in discipline as approved by advisor

Total Required Hours: 63