Higher Education
Doctoral Program
The School of Education offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. The Ph.D. focuses primarily on application of theory and research to the study of higher education. Students pursuing this degree should have a commitment to research, writing, and teaching in college and university settings.
Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 90 credit hours in coursework, including 45 credit hours in Higher Education and related areas.
- Qualifying examinations upon the completion of the coursework.
- A 5-year time of completion requirement to finish the dissertation (begins once qualifying exams are completed).
A research apprenticeship culminating in a journal-quality scholarly work completed under the supervision of a faculty member. This is your opportunity to work directly with a faculty member on original research, prepare for the demands of the dissertation, and to understand the publishing requirements of journals in higher education.
Twelve hours of research methodology. The assumption is made that those studying for the Ph.D. will seek positions in institutions where they will be expected to engage in their own research and/or other forms of scholarly inquiry, as well as serve on the committees of students writing dissertations.
Therefore you should:
- have a depth of competence in at least one research method relevant to the area for which you are preparing, sufficient that you can both critique and carry out such work with facility and excellence, and
- be sufficiently familiar with other methods used with some frequency in your area of expertise so that you are able to critique them appropriately.
The Future Professoriate Program:
Check out this Web site http://gradschpdprograms.syr.edu/home/ for information about The Future Professoriate Program and other professional development opportunities in the graduate school.