Higher Education Administration Doctoral Program (HIED)

Offered through the Department of Educational
Leadership and Community Psychology
in the College of Education, in partnership with the
Department of Counselor Education and Educational Psychology
Center for Doctoral Studies -- B121 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.4220
Fax: 320.308.4221
E-mail: graduatestudies@stcloudstate.edu
Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/graduatestudies

Department Chairperson: Dr. Niloufer Merchant
Program Office Manager : Ms. Jennifer Pearson Hennen

Director of the Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration: Dr. Christine Imbra
Doctoral Faculty: Hackman, Imbra, Macari, Mills

Mission - Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration

The mission of the Higher Education Administration doctoral program is to prepare higher education professionals for advanced leadership positions in a diverse array of post-secondary institutions. The program is driven by a commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, leadership development, and understanding of the role the academy plays in a global society for creating and distributing knowledge.

Program Overview
Individuals currently holding, or interested in, senior-level leadership positions in higher education will find this program flexible and accommodating to their needs. This program is available on the St. Cloud campus. A weekend model of course delivery makes this program a great choice for working professionals.

• The program will be offered in a cohort model with all students progressing together through the curriculum.
• Students will take six credits fall semester, spring semester, and during the summer sessions.
• Attendance in the summer is required.
• Courses will primarily be offered on weekends (Friday evening and all day Saturday) during the academic year. Summer courses may be offered in various formats.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Program

• Successful completion of a bachelor's degree with transcripts of all undergraduate work showing an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Successful completion of a graduate degree with transcripts of all graduate work showing an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores with a minimum score of 500 on both the quantitative and analytical sections.
• For admission consideration, Ed.D. applicants must meet the undergraduate and graduate GPA requirements OR the GRE score requirement.
• Having met a minimum score on one of the requirements does not exempt the applicants from the other entrance requirements. All applicants must submit a GRE score.
• An applicant who does not meet either the GPA requirement or the GRE requirement will not meet eligibility requirements to have their materials forwarded to the program for admission consideration.

Admission Materials to Submit

• Doctoral admission application and a $40 non-refundable application fee.
• One official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Official copy if available.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A resumé or vita of career progress and professional accomplishments.
• A sample of professional writing which may consist of a masters research work or thesis, published article, a paper prepared for presentation at a professional conference or a similar document (photocopies are acceptable).
• Essay - A personal statement discussing professional experience and goals, including how the applicant's educational experience has prepared him/her for success in a doctoral program (limit to three single-spaced pages).

Application materials become the property of the School of Graduate Studies and will not be available to the applicant or enrolled student for purposes other than admission consideration.

Application Deadline

• All application materials must be submitted by March 15.
• Interviews with doctoral program faculty will be required.
• Applicants will be notified of an admission decision by the end of April.

Doctoral Tuition

• Doctoral tuition is $450 a credit.
• MnSCU employees are encouraged to discuss with their union representative and Human Resources office if tuition waiver benefits will be available.

Length of Program -— Measured by Semesters

• Cohort student: nine semesters taking six credits per semester (excluding first summer).
• Courses are offered consecutively during the semester so students are able to concentrate on one administrative topic at a time. This format allows students to take two courses per semester.

Graduate Assistantship Overview

• Five graduate assistantship positions are available each academic year. Graduate assistants work 20 hours per week with faculty members in either administrative, instruction, or research roles. Graduate assistantships are year-round (including summer).

Degrees and Plans Offered

• Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration: 72 credits
  

Ed.D. — Higher Education Administration

Proposed Program of Study
The courses featured total 60 credits, and is the program of study if 12 credits from the student's Master's program are appropriate for transfer into the Doctoral program. If Master's credit are not appropriate for transfer, students would need an additional 12 credits, which could be taken in interdisciplinary fields, or students could take both HIED concentrations.

Time-to-Degree Timeline for Cohort One

Spring
Admission to the Ed.D. Program (Transition Point 1)

End of year one     
All “Core” credits complete
Written Preliminary Exam is conducted (Transition Point 2)

End of year two
All “Research” credits complete
Oral Preliminary Exam is conducted (Transition Point 3)

Beginning of third year
All “Concentration” credits complete
Dissertation Preliminary Exam is conducted (Transition Point 4)        

End of third year
All/Some “Interdisciplinary” credits complete (depending on how many the student needs)
Final Dissertation Defense (Transition Point 5)