Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Administration, emphasis in Higher Education Administration

The 73-hour doctoral program prepares students for leadership roles in higher education administration, teaching, and research through an emphasis in integrating theory and practice. With a concentration in a variety of areas, students are able to achieve their personal goals. The degree has several required courses as well as electives. Electives are based on the student’s support field in a related discipline and must be approved by the committee chair.

Field of Study

Higher education is a broad-based area of knowledge and study that examines the management and coordination of programs, policies, and processes pertaining to colleges and universities. Programs, policies, and processes include issues associated with access, admission, assessment, curriculum, diversity, economics, enrollment, equity, faculty, finance, governance, law, learning, organizational behavior, philanthropy, policy, resource management, students, and teaching.

Arising from the desire to reform colleges and universities through the promotion of the study of higher education, the field encompasses a variety of professional options and career paths. In order to coordinate programs, policies, and processes in colleges and universities, higher education professionals representing a variety of knowledge, experiences and skills, are needed. Educators work to impact organizational systems and culture within colleges and universities through serving as administrators, faculty, researchers, and scholar practitioners.

Vision and Mission

Our program has a specific focus on infusing an equity minded agenda that is reflected in the courses we teach, the research we conduct, and the service we provide at the local, state, and national levels. Specifically, we offer areas of emphasis including higher education administration, student affairs administration and a certificate in college teaching for aspiring postsecondary instructors. We excel at graduating scholar practitioners.

Vision

We strive to prepare students to be equity-minded leaders in higher education in Texas and beyond.

Mission

We prepare future faculty members, administrators, and scholar-practitioners with interests in working at community colleges, four-year institutions, and state, and national organizations.

Core Values

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Creating equitable access and participation for underrepresented and disenfranchised populations in our communities and postsecondary institutions

Mentoring and Teaching: Challenging and supporting students through quality mentoring and teaching

Knowledge Development: Developing critical consumers and producers of knowledge.

Service: As a land grant institution, we embrace service to our diverse communities

Why Choose Texas A&M?

We welcome prospective students who want to engage with a community of scholars devoted to advancing research, policies, and practice focused on pressing issues in higher education. We have faculty members, administrators, and graduate students committed to being leaders at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

Our program offers opportunities to

• Work alongside faculty as research collaborators
• Make a meaningful opportunity to contribute to national discourses in higher education and student affairs
• Engaged learning community
• Serve or lead at the national level
• Apply academic learning and teaching in professional practice
• Individualized and tailor the educational experience based on personal goals

Further the program offers

• Faculty committed to student success
• Faculty with a breadth and depth of knowledge and experiences beyond teaching
• Graduate Fellowship from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
• Graduate student support and involvement (e.g., GRAB/SAAHE professional organization, Black graduate student association, Hispanic graduate student association, Graduate student senate?)
• Extensive academic support available through Texas A&M University (e.g. Writing Center, World Class Research Library)

Career Paths in Higher Education

Career paths in higher education vary widely, and are dependent on academic qualifications and job responsibilities required within and across colleges and universities. For example, the career path to become a president (an institution’s chief executive officer or CEO) at a university such as Texas A&M University that is designated as a R1: Doctoral Research University, is different for a baccalaureate college or a master’s college and university. While it is possible to prepare for a position for a career in higher education administration with a bachelor’s degree, most colleges and universities require an advanced degree such as a masters or doctorate. Higher education administrators typically hold a masters or doctorate degree with areas of specialization including business, equity, faculty, finance, law, student affairs, organizational behavior, policy, research methodology, and teaching.

A graduate degree in higher education can prepare you for a career in a postsecondary or professional setting. Here are a few examples:

• Academic Administration
• Administrative Leadership
• College Teaching
• Educational Development
• Faculty in higher education (tenure and non-tenure track appointment)
• Industry
• Student Affairs
• Training and Development