College of Education Health and Human Services
School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration
www.kent.edu/ehhs/fla

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in Higher Education Administration prepares students for careers as highly effective higher education administrators and staff professionals. The coursework prepares students for the varied challenges facing two-year, four-year and graduate institutions and communities today, and helps shape educational institutions in the future.

Contact Information

• Tara Hudson | thudso15@kent.edu | 330-672-1345

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 graduate GPA is recommended)
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Program faculty will assess applicants holistically, considering academic credentials, related professional experience, academic or professional references and scholarly and professional activities, among others.

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: December 1
    All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) must be submitted by this deadline to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who completed HIED 66653, HIED 66657 and/or HIED 66671 (or their equivalents) at the master's degree level may have HIED 76657, HIED 76653 and/or HIED 76671 waived as requirements for the Ph.D. degree. These students may graduate with fewer than 93 credit hours but no fewer than 84 total credit hours.

²

Major elective courses are to be determined by the students and their advisor(s).

³

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for HIED 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter HIED 80299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Understand the administrative and financial functions performed on a college or university campus.
2. Understand the complexities of college/university budgeting process and construct a divisional or departmental budget.
3. Understand and commit to the diverse nature of higher education in the United States.
4. Articulate the challenges and opportunities associated with the provision of a diverse, multicultural educational setting, including the impact of demographic changes on higher education and familiarity with strategies to diversify higher education.
5. Understand the role of a faculty member and the curriculum development process in an institution of higher education.
6. Understand the rights and responsibilities of employees and students within institutions of higher education, as well as the responsibilities of the institutions.
7. Understand research methodology to conduct individual research.
8. Understand the internationalization of higher education institutions, including explaining the different rationales for internationalization that may motivate different stakeholders in higher education and analyzing an institution’s internationalization goals and activities in terms of both an institutional strategy and in terms of student learning outcomes.