Higher Education

Doctoral Degree Programs

Opportunities for graduate studies

The doctoral degree programs in higher education at the University of North Texas provide you valuable opportunities:

• to acquire knowledge about research, theory and practices applicable to higher education
• to assess and participate in the practice of higher education administration or research
• to conduct and evaluate applied or basic research in higher education
• to study past, present and emerging patterns for organizational and professional administrative practices in higher education administration or research

The Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education is for students interested in applying theory and research to higher education. The degree is applicable if you want:

• an administrative or staff position in a state or regional higher education coordinating or governing agency
• an administrative leadership position with a higher education accrediting agency, professional associations or consortia
• a middle-management administrative position in student affairs, administrative and business affairs, or development/advancement in higher education
• a senior leadership position in a college or university

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education serves students interested in scholarly research, exploration and teaching of higher education. This degree is appropriate if you aspire to be in:

• an academic teaching or research position in a graduate program, institute or center for the study of higher education
• an applied research and senior leadership position in an institution of higher learning, medical center, government agency, consortia of higher education institution or higher education professional association
• a senior leadership position in a comprehensive or doctoral/research university
• a research and senior leadership position in a statewide higher education coordinating agency or multi-campus system office

Our program is enhanced by faculty members’ affiliations with the Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education, the Don A. Buchholz Endowed Chair in Community College Education, the Center for Higher Education and the North Texas Community College Consortium.

Collectively, our faculty members have written, co-written or edited more than two dozen books, monographs and book chapters and more than 100 articles in refereed journals. They also:

• serve or have served as editors or editorial board members for the Journal of College Student Development, the College Student Affairs Journal, and the College Student Services Journal of Research and Practice
• have presented several hundred invited and refereed papers at national, regional and state professional meetings and conferences

The College of Education’s graduate programs were rated fourth of the nine public Texas universities ranked by U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools. The programs were rated third in total grant funded research and fourth in the average annual externally funded research expenditures per faculty. It is also one of the top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors, health professionals and other school professionals in Texas.

Admission requirements

You will need to apply for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School as well as the program. The specific requirements and procedures for graduate school admission are outlined at catalog.unt.edu. You may also contact the higher education program office at 940-565-2045 or visit www.coe.unt.edu/che.

When applying to the higher education program, you are required to submit:

• a program application
• an essay on your professional goals
• a resume or curriculum vitae
• three reference letters

After reviewing these materials and the resulting admission score, you may be interviewed by faculty members.

The admission process requires time to complete these steps. Allow one to two semesters to complete the application and admission process. Contact the program office for specific deadlines and details. Admission applications for the Ed. D program are reviewed twice an academic year, and the Ph.D. admission applications are reviewed once a year.

Degree requirements

Ed. D. degree

• 15 semester hours of higher education doctoral core courses
• 15 semester hours of a minor or cognate area
• 12 semester hours of dissertation
• 9 semester hours of Ed. D. base courses
• 6 semester hours of College of Education research core courses
• 6 semester hours of an internship (if needed)
• 3 semester hours of a higher education program research course

After completing the required course work, you must pass the program’s written and oral qualifying exams.

Ph.D. degree

• 15 semester hours of higher education doctoral core courses
• 12 to 15 semester hours of a minor or cognate area
• 12 semester hours of dissertation
• 9 semester hours of Ph.D. base courses
• 9 semester hours of research tool courses
• 6 semester hours of higher education elective courses
• 6 semester hours of College of Education research core courses
• 6 semester hours of an internship (if needed)
• 3 semester hours of a higher education program research course

Financial assistance

Our department funds several scholarships to help pay for your graduate education. These scholarship amounts vary each year.We also have graduate and research assistant positions available. For more information on the scholarships and assistant positions, visit www.coe.unt.edu/che. Information about other financial assistance opportunities is at graduateschool.unt.edu or financialaid.unt.edu.