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    Mar 29, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Higher Education, EdD


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The EdD degree in higher education requires a minimum of 63 hours (57 if the internship requirement is waived) beyond the master’s degree.

Admission requirements


Students seeking admission should apply for either the EdD or PhD program depending on their academic preparation, prior experience and career goals. Admission to the program is selective and restricted.

In addition to the minimum requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School  and the College of Education  listed under the “Admission Requirements” heading in the appropriate section of this catalog, admission to the EdD and PhD doctoral programs in higher education is contingent upon the following:

  • The submission of GRE or GMAT scores. Contact the academic program for information concerning acceptable admission test scores.
  • The quality, quantity and relevance of the applicant’s prior undergraduate and/or graduate work and prior work experience in higher education administration, teaching and/or research.
  • The applicant’s career objectives.
  • The submission of three professional references.
  • The quality of the application essay.
  • An interview by program faculty.

Each semester has an application deadline. Contact the program for application deadlines.

After review of the application packet, eligible applicants will be invited to be interviewed by the faculty.

Both doctoral programs offered in higher education enable students to acquire knowledge about and evaluate major organizational, behavioral and learning theories applicable to higher education; to conduct applied and/or original research in the field of higher education; to become familiar with past, present and emerging patterns of organization and professional administrative practice in higher education; and to observe and participate in the actual practice of higher education administration and/or research. However, the two programs differ significantly in length and emphasis and in course work, research tool, minor field and dissertation requirements.

Doctor of Education


The EdD program with a major in higher education is designed for individuals interested primarily in the application of theory to practice. It is particularly appropriate for persons who aspire to administrative leadership careers in one or more of the following areas.

  • Senior leadership positions in four-year colleges and universities, such as dean of students, vice president for student affairs, dean of administration, vice president for administration, vice president for development, assistant to the president, dean of continuing education and dean of a college of education.
  • Senior leadership positions in two-year community colleges, junior colleges and vocational/technical institutes, such as department chair, dean of learning resource centers, chief academic affairs officer, vice president for student services, dean of business services, and president.
  • Higher education middle management administrative positions in student affairs, administrative affairs, business affairs and development in all types of institutions of higher education, including such positions as director of housing, director of financial aid, coordinator of student life/student activities, student center director, director of institutional research, director of development, and director of continuing education.
  • Senior administrative and staff positions in higher education coordinating and/or policy agencies in state, regional and federal government.
  • Administrative leadership positions with higher education accrediting agencies, professional associations, consortia and other professional organizations.

Degree requirements


The minimum total number of hours required for the EdD is 63 hours (57 if the internship requirement is waived) beyond the master’s degree.

Higher education doctoral core, 18 hours


Provides the student with a broad overview and integrated perspective of higher education as a field of study and academic enterprise.

Cognate area, 15 hours


The student completes a cognate of at least 15 hours from courses within the program of higher education. The student must work with his/her major professor to select the cognate area. Students are encouraged to focus on, but are not limited to, the following cognate areas:

  • Community college leadership
  • Student affairs administration
  • Organization and administration
  • Teaching and learning in higher education

Internship, 6 hours


An administrative internship of 6 semester hours is required of all doctoral students. Internship may be waived for students who have been employed in a full-time administrative position, or a teaching or research position in an institution, agency or association of higher education for at least one academic year, or the equivalent as determined by the higher education faculty. Administrative internships consist of at least 120 clock hours of closely supervised administrative work per 3 semester hours of credit and culminate with a written report of the internship experience.

College of Education research core, 6 hours


The College of Education requires that each student complete

Higher Education research requirement, 9 hours


Each EdD candidate must be competent in the modes of inquiry methods common to the major field of study. The higher education program requires EdD students to complete 6 hours of higher education field research courses and 3 hours in quantitative or qualitative research methodology beyond

  and  .

Higher education field research, 6 hours


Higher education field research consists of a series of two courses that must be taken in sequence and in consecutive semesters. This series is designed to help students strengthen their skills by creating research-based solutions for real-life issues in higher education administration. Prerequisites include College of Education research core (

  and  ) and 30 hours completed in the higher education program.

Advanced research methodology, 3 hours


EdD students are required to take at least 3 hours of advanced quantitative or qualitative research course work beyond

  and  . Students must work with their major professor to select courses that will equip them for dissertation requirement.

Additional requirements


Minimum grade requirement

All courses required and used toward the doctoral degree in higher education must be passed with a grade of B or better.

Residency requirement

All doctoral students at UNT are required to complete the residency requirement prior to taking the Doctoral Qualifying Exam. The residency requirement consists of two consecutive semesters at UNT with a minimum of 9 graduate hours in each term or three consecutive semesters with a minimum of 6 graduate hours in each term. The summer semester may be excluded for the purpose of determining consecutive semesters.

Doctoral qualifying exam

Students who have met the residency requirement and completed all course work on the degree plan (exclusive of dissertation) with a grade of B or better will be allowed to take the doctoral qualifying exam. Students who have met the residency requirement and are in the last 9 hours or less of course work (exclusive of dissertation) and will complete these hours in the current semester may take the doctoral qualifying exam with permission from the major professor. The higher education program doctoral qualifying exam includes written and oral components. Students who fail any part of the exam twice will be automatically dismissed from the program. Students who pass the doctoral qualifying exam, are admitted to candidacy.

 

Dissertation research requirement, minimum of 9 hours


The principal goal of the EdD dissertation is the demonstration of the student’s ability to solve practical issues in higher education by conducting independent research. The research design must be congruent with the modes of inquiry used in conducting research on higher education. EdD students are encouraged to conduct action research that applies theories in creating solutions for real-life issues in higher education. No dissertation enrollment is permitted until the student passes the doctoral qualifying exam. Only 9 semester hours of dissertation credit are applied to the degree program, even though more dissertation hours may be accumulated. Please check university policy on the requirement of continuous enrollment.

Doctoral dissertation committee


Each EdD student must select a dissertation committee prior to taking the doctoral qualifying exam. The dissertation committee consists of a minimum of three member including one major professor and two committee members. All must be UNT faculty. The major professor and at least one of the committee members must be faculty of the program of higher education. The third member may be a graduate faculty member from any appropriate UNT academic discipline. It is recommended that the third member of the supervisory committee be from the student’s cognate area. A qualified non-UNT committee member may be added as the fourth committee member.

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