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Higher Education Administration - Doctorate

Availability: 100% Online

The Higher Education Administration doctoral degree (EdD) is a fully online 54-credit hour program designed to meet the needs of practitioners. The program is designed to be completed part-time in three years. Classes are offered synchronously in the evenings, which are perfect for working professionals who want a cohort-like experience while maintaining their current residence and employment.

The Higher Education Administration EdD program prepares scholarly practitioners to blend practical wisdom with professional skills and knowledge to name, frame, and solve problems of practice, and to become effective administrators and leaders in post-secondary institutions.

Higher Education faculty are skilled practitioners and productive researchers in the areas of higher education and student affairs. Their research interests include health literacy and education, cultural competence, professional practice, student life – historical and current, social justice in higher education, and the history of higher education.

CPED
USM is a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Consortium of over 125 institutions working together to redesign professional practice preparation in education for the improvement of individuals and communities.

The 54-hour program includes 12 hours of electives and 12 hours of capstone. The capstone project is completed over four semesters alongside coursework. The action-research based project is designed to address a real-world problem of practice. The capstone process is guided by program faculty.

Program Highlights

54 Credit Hours

Complete in as little as three years

100% Online

Live, interactive weekly sessions

Evening Coursework

Designed for working professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must submit the online graduate application (usm.edu/graduate-admissions) and $60 application fee, official transcripts, statement of purpose, résumé, and three letters of recommendation.

The program is completed in a cohort format with students enrolling in two classes (six credit hours) each semester (fall, spring and summer) for nine consecutive semesters (three years).

Yes! The program is delivered completely online utilizing synchronous class meetings in the evenings.

No. Ed.D. students complete a Capstone Project, which focuses on a real-world problem of practice. Over the course of four semesters (12 credit hours), students work under the direction of a faculty member to identify, research and address their problem of practice.

New cohorts are admitted each fall (deadline August 10) and spring (deadline January 5) semester.

No. Online programs are charged the in-state tuition rate, plus a $30 per credit hour online delivery fee.

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Meet the Graduate Program Support Specialist

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Carl D. Hill, MA

Graduate Program Support Specialist

601-266-5841

Email
carl.hillFREEMississippi

Additional Details

Requirements

In addition to the Admission Requirements and Procedures, the minimum standards for regular admission are as follows:

In addition to the requirements detailed in Admission Requirements and Procedures, applicants must submit the following documents:

1. A statement that addresses the following:

Philosophy – What is your philosophy of higher education practice?

Discuss what you consider to be one of the biggest challenges facing higher education professionals today. What promising practices would you suggest might help address this issue? Include references to the academic literature that has shaped your understanding of this challenge and informed potential solutions.

Share your research interests. Include references to the academic literature that has informed your understanding of this topic.

Fit with EdD – How will earning an EdD in Higher Education Administration contribute to your professional goals? How does the USM EdD program, in particular, fit your needs, interests, and goals? How will it allow you to explore your research interests?

2. CV/Résumé

3. Three Letters of Recommendation

Course Requirements (54 hours)

 

Catalog Link

Degree Plan Availability
Higher Education Administration EdD Online 100%

Program Faculty

  • Dean of Admissions
  • Residence Life Director
  • Director for Multicultural Education
  • Career Services Director
  • University Professor/Researcher
  • Dr. Ryan Bowyer, 2025
    Chief of Staff at Radford University
  • Dr. Dana George, 2025 
    Senior Major Gifts Officer at The University of Southern Mississippi
  • Dr. Marcus Carson, 2024

    Associate Dean of Career Technical Education at Bevill State Community College


  • Dr. Marshall Roache, 2024
    President at Oregon Coast Community College
  • Dr. Fabersha Flynt, 2024

    Executive Director of Adult Education at Athens Technical College