Doctorate in Higher Education Administration

The ever-evolving field of higher education requires exceptional leaders for administrative, academic, and research positions in two- and four-year higher education institutions, national and international associations, government agencies, and other post-secondary educational settings.

Located in Washington, DC, the Higher Education Administration Doctoral program leverages its location to foster a community of scholar-practitioners, professional and research opportunities, and a commitment to diverse educational experiences. Designed for working professionals, the research-focused executive Higher Education Administration program prepares senior leadership and executive management decision-makers for administrative, academic, and research positions in diverse educational settings, agencies, and associations alike. Unique to the Higher Education program at GW, you will have the opportunity to focus your dissertation on a problem of practice you've encountered within your higher education career. By integrating theory and research seamlessly with your practice, you will be equipped with the skills necessary for professional academic and administrative career development.

Graduates will gain valuable networking opportunities and connections for college student personnel administrators throughout Washington DC.

For more information on the program's unique features, career pathways, and curriculum, please view and download Ed.D. Higher Education.
 

Highlights

Why a GW Doctorate in Higher Education Administration?

    Location: GW’s location in Washington, DC- the epicenter of policy, practice, and research - provides students with the distinct advantage of being a neighbor to national organizations including: The Department of Education, American Council on Education, ACPA and NASPA, American Educational Research Association, and a variation of colleges/universities in size and affiliation.
    Convenient Schedule: The Program offers flexible weekend classes to accommodate busy professionals who work both locally and nationally.
Curriculum

A minimum of 53 credits, including 24 credits in core courses, 9 credits of research, and 2 credits of electives.

Core Courses

EDUC 6510 Administration of Higher Education
EDUC 6520 Foundations of College Student Development
EDUC 6555 Higher Education Policy
EDUC 6565 Financing Higher Education
EDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education
EDUC 8505 Seminar: Higher Education Administration
EDUC 8525 College and University Curriculum
EDUC 8530 Leadership in Higher Education

Electives

2 credits selected in consultation with advisor

Research Courses

EDUC 8120 Group Comparison Designs and Analyses
EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods

3 credits from the following:
EDUC 8100 Experimental Courses
EDUC 8130 Survey Research Methods
EDUC 8131 Case Study Research Methods
EDUC 8140 Ethnographic Research Methods
EDUC 8142 Phenomenological Research Methods
EDUC 8144 Discourse Analysis
EDUC 8170 Educational Measurement
EDUC 8171 Predictive Designs and Analyses
EDUC 8172 Multivariate Analysis
EDUC 8173 Structural Equation Modeling
EDUC 8174 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
EDUC 8175 Item Response Theory
EDUC 8177 Assessment Engineering

Dissertation

EDUC 8280 Critical Review of Educational Leadership Literature
EDUC 8998 Pre-Dissertation Seminar (taken for 3 credits)
EDUC 8999 Dissertation Research (minimum 12 credits needed to complete requirement)

Approved dissertation proposal required
Successful completion of comprehensive exam required

Faculty
Professor
(202) 994-6161
Associate Professor
(202) 994-5123
Associate Professor
(202) 994-3205
Visiting Professor
(202) 994-7218
Assistant Professor
(202) 994-1453
Assistant Professor
(202) 994-2770
Career Outlook

Opportunities

The careers our graduates pursue are diverse and fuse leading edge research and policy with practice.

  • Sally Sagen Lorentson brings over ten years of experience in student affairs to her position as the director of orientation and family programs and services at George Mason University
  • Lindsay Mathers Addington is the Assistant Director of International Initiatives at the National Association for College Admission Counseling
  • Shaunna Payne Gold serves as the associate director of assessment programs and student development in the Office of Multi-ethnic Student Education at the University of Maryland
  • Scott Filter is currently the Associate Vice President of Public Policy for Bridgepoint Education
  • Marianne Huger Thomson serves as the Associate Dean for Orientation, Transition and Retention at American University
  • Tracae McClure served as a research intern with United Negro College Fund, the nation's largest minority serving organization

    • Our graduates are transforming the conversation and quality of experience at colleges and universities nation wide. Join our conversation

    Admissions

    Admissions

    Program Entry: Fall
    Prerequisites:Master's Degree
    Campus:Foggy Bottom

    Application Requirements

    • Online Application
    • Resume
    • Statement of Purpose
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation (academic and/or professional)
    • Transcripts (unofficial)
    • Standardized Test Scores (GRE or MAT)
    • Application Fee

    *Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants

    For more information on any of these requirements, please visit our Admissions page.

    Transformation Begins Here

    Learn more about the Doctorate in Higher Education Administration program located on campus (202-994-3023).

    In the News

    Brett Weigle, GSEHD doctoral student (higher education administration), published his first article in a peer-reviewed journal. Keeping David from Bathsheba: The Four-Star General's Staff as Nathan was published in the Journal of Military Ethics.

    Dr. Rebecca Thessin and GSEHD alumnus Dr. Chris Jones (Ed.D., educational administration and policy studies) have published a paper in the spring edition of the Journal of School Leadership. The article is entitled Sustaining Continuous Improvement through Professional Learning Communities in a Secondary School.

    GSEHD doctoral student Zainab Okolo (higher education administration) has accepted the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship for next year. The ACE Fellows Program is a customized learning experience that enables participants to immerse themselves in the culture, policies, and decision-making processes of another institution.

    Dr. Bernhard Streitwieser and Dr. Brad Beecher, GSEHD alumnus (Ed.D., higher education administration), published an article in the Journal of the Knowledge Economy entitled A Risk Management Approach for the Internationalization of Higher Education.

    GSEHD alumna Brenda C. Williams (master's in rehabilitation counseling and Ed.D. in higher education administration) was honored as Indiana Tech's PhD Faculty of the Year! Dr. Williams is the special assistant to the VP/CIO at Montgomery College and a visiting professor at Indiana Tech's Global Leadership PhD Program.